List I realize Ryan and Shea and other Irish surnames are very common. I have some Ryan and Shea connections, but they are all from Iowa and Nebraska from the mid 1800's. My great great grandfather was Thomas RYAN. He married Mary SHEA My Great Grandfather was William Ryan. He married Annie Dougherty. My Grandmother was Augusta Ryan. She married John P. McFadden. Notes on the Ryan families: A June 26, 1880 Crawford County Iowa Census has James Ryan, age 48, farmer and wife Bridget, age 60, and son Mike age 18, tending farm. Don't know if this Thomas RYAN is a relative or not. Vail, Iowa Beginnings It was not until 1867 that the first settlers arrived at what was to become the town of Vail. Thomas Ryan, an employee of the Northwestern Railroad, arrived here that year. He had charge of the section in this area and lived in the section house built at the place where it was hoped to locate a town. In 1869 Mr. Ryan helped the surveyors lay out the town of Vail. Thomas Ryan was born in Tipperary. Ireland, and came to the United States in 1852. He led a life of adventure and hard work, spending several years steam boating on the Mississippi. During the war, he lived in Michigan, and after the war he entered the employ of the Northwestern Railroad. William Ryan traveled with his family from Vail, IA to Dixon, NE around 1900. Wm was the depot agent in Dixon (Chicago, Burlington & Quincey) and the family lived upstairs over the station. He also was the telegrapher and handled the incoming and outgoing freight. Richard Williamson Tucson, AZ **************Vote for your city's best dining and nightlife. City's Best 2008. (http://citysbest.aol.com?ncid=aolacg00050000000102)