John
Ryle was born in Bollington in 1817. He emigrated to New York and
settled in Paterson, New Jersey, USA, in 1839 where he established
the American silk industry and became known as the 'father of the
US silk industry'. He became the most significant inhabitant of
Paterson, establishing the public park and the public water supply.
He was a major employer in his silk mill.
He was one of 17 children born to Peter Ryle, a major Macclesfield
silk manufacturer, and his wife Sarah Brunt. Twelve of the children
died in infancy or childhood. He emigrated to the US at the age
of 22.
John Ryle returned in retirement, with his daughter, to visit
Macclesfield. Sadly while here he died in his daughter's arms.
His body was returned to Paterson and interred in Cedar Lawn Cemetery.
A large obelisk was erected over the grave in memorial to a great
achiever, an Englishman who undoubtedly epitomised the American
dream.
Birth: 22 October 1817, Bollington
Emigrated: 1 March 1839 to New York
Occupation: Silk mill owner and manufacturer
Marriage: 1841, Sarah Morfitt
(1825-1867), a Lancashire lass
Children:
Nine children, one dying in infancy
Death: 6 November 1887, Macclesfield, age 70
Buried: Cedar Lawn Cemetery, Paterson NJ
See further details on Find
a Grave
.
There is a full
history on Wikipedia.
