Mom would tell me about her grandma Mary Ellen (Faherty) Ryan who died when Mom was one. So she only passed down what she'd heard. Mary played piano in the Catholic church, took in orphans, was a bit messy of a housekeeper (I have that gene), owned a 1926 Velie 6 automobile. There was also an earlier Velie. 1918? She died 93 years ago today. (1852-1931). She's not in the picture of the earlier car unless she's hidden in the back passenger side.
Christopher (1852-1924) and Mary Ellen Faherty Ryan (1852-1931) with one of the orphans they took in
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Christopher's parents were both dead by the time he reached 20, and he was the oldest of the children. I think that greatly influenced his decision to take in orphans.