Mary Elisabeth Danforth Ryle was the wife of William Ryle, reputed to be the world's largest importer of silk in the late 19th century, and a daughter of Charles Danforth, locomotive manufacturer, and one of the leading industrialists in Paterson, New Jersey.
In her father's memory, Mary Ryle donated the funding for the Danforth Memorial Library on Broadway in Paterson. The library continues to benefit the public, and is a repository of New Jersey and Passaic County history.
Mary Ryle devoted almost all of her life to philanthropic work, assisting those less fortunate, and dedicating her living years to doing God's work.
At the time of her death, the newspapers of the period reported that Mrs. Ryle's funeral was one of the largest the city had ever seen up to that time.
**********************************************************
OBITUARY, Paterson Daily Press, 12/22/1904.
MRS. MARY E. RYLE.
Mary Elisabeth, widow of William Ryle, died last evening at her home, 397 Broadway, having survived for twenty years her husband, the silk importer. Mrs. Ryle had been failing in health for many months. She suffered an apoplectic stroke last summer while in the White Mountains, and was brought home. On November 23, the day before Thanksgiving, she had a serious attack of heart failure. This was followed by other grave complications. During the past week, Mrs. Ryle had been unconscious at times, and for the last 24 hours of her life was unable to recognize anyone. She would have been 72 years old on January 8, 1905. The deceased was a daughter of the late Charles Danforth, one of Paterson's early locomotive manufacturers. Of the ten children born to William and Mary E. Ryle, five survive: Arthur, now head of the New York raw silk importing house of William Ryle; Julia, who made her home with her mother; Elizabeth, wife of Albert B. Strange of New York, a member of the William Strange Company, silk manufacturers, in this city; Ernest D. and Joseph. Three other sons, William T., the oldest, Charles Danforth, who assumed the surname of his maternal grandfather, and Harold, have been deceased for some years, and two other children died in infancy. Funeral services will be held at Mrs. Ryle's late residence Saturday at 2 P.M. The interment will be private.
As a public benefactor, as well as a lavish dispenser of private charity, Mrs. Ryle's name is the most shining on the roll of Paterson's citizens. Her chief monument is the magnificent Danforth Memorial Library at Broadway and Auburn street, now nearly finished. In 1888, she gave her late father's brick mansion at Market and Church streets as a home for the library. The value of the original gift was estimated at $50,000, and Mrs. Ryle paid $19,000 for remodeling the building. A few years later she added $16,000 for the erection of an extension.
The great fire of Feb. 9, 1902, reduced the building and its contents to ashes. The trustees recovered $72,000 insurance, and temporary quarters, still occupied, were secured on Broadway. There was talk about appealing to Andrew Carnegie for aid, but Mrs. Ryle, Feb. 18, 1902. gave $100,000 in cash toward a new building, and, with her approval, the trustees bought the James Booth mansion and grounds at Broadway and Auburn street from Catholina Lambert for $40,000. Mrs. Ryle later bought back from the trustees the site of the original building and paid them a better price than could have been obtained in open market. Mrs. Ryle's library gifts may be summarized:
Original homestead........$50,000
Remodelling....................$19,000
New Wing.........................$16,000
Gift after fire....................$100,000
Paid for old site...............$65,000
Total.................................$250,000
The Presbyterian Church of the Redeemer, at Broadway and Graham Avenue, was another large beneficiary of Mrs. Ryle's bounty. She bought the land and gave it, and the cornerstone was laid July 2, 1886. When the building was nearly finished and funds on hand did not warrant the construction of a steeple, Mrs. Ryle gave $7,000 for this. The value of the realty gift was $15,000 and others swelled the total to $30,000. Mrs. Ryle's late mother, Mrs. Danforth, gave $10,000 to the same church.
When the colored Presbyterians formed the St. Augustine Church, Mrs. Ryle gave liberally and followed up the initial donation by a yearly contribution. She was one of the most earnest supporters of the Old Ladies' Home, the Paterson Rescue Mission and General Hospital. But it would be impossible to enumerate all the benefactors of this good-hearted woman to the religious, charitable and educational interests of her native city.
The flag half masted on the City Hall this morning in respect to the memory of Mrs. Mary E. Ryle was perhaps the first time this rare tribute has been paid to the memory of a woman, but it is well deserved in this instance, for Mrs. Ryle by devoting a large part of her fortune to the comfort and intellectual benefit of her fellow citizens has proven herself worthy of all the respect that can be paid to her name. While this mark of esteem is only transitory, the magnificent free library building on Broadway that has been reared through her generosity will remain a durable monument to her public spirit. It is a matter of regret that this good woman could not have been spared to see the classic structure occupied and been present at its dedication.
In her father's memory, Mary Ryle donated the funding for the Danforth Memorial Library on Broadway in Paterson. The library continues to benefit the public, and is a repository of New Jersey and Passaic County history.
Mary Ryle devoted almost all of her life to philanthropic work, assisting those less fortunate, and dedicating her living years to doing God's work.
At the time of her death, the newspapers of the period reported that Mrs. Ryle's funeral was one of the largest the city had ever seen up to that time.
**********************************************************
OBITUARY, Paterson Daily Press, 12/22/1904.
MRS. MARY E. RYLE.
Mary Elisabeth, widow of William Ryle, died last evening at her home, 397 Broadway, having survived for twenty years her husband, the silk importer. Mrs. Ryle had been failing in health for many months. She suffered an apoplectic stroke last summer while in the White Mountains, and was brought home. On November 23, the day before Thanksgiving, she had a serious attack of heart failure. This was followed by other grave complications. During the past week, Mrs. Ryle had been unconscious at times, and for the last 24 hours of her life was unable to recognize anyone. She would have been 72 years old on January 8, 1905. The deceased was a daughter of the late Charles Danforth, one of Paterson's early locomotive manufacturers. Of the ten children born to William and Mary E. Ryle, five survive: Arthur, now head of the New York raw silk importing house of William Ryle; Julia, who made her home with her mother; Elizabeth, wife of Albert B. Strange of New York, a member of the William Strange Company, silk manufacturers, in this city; Ernest D. and Joseph. Three other sons, William T., the oldest, Charles Danforth, who assumed the surname of his maternal grandfather, and Harold, have been deceased for some years, and two other children died in infancy. Funeral services will be held at Mrs. Ryle's late residence Saturday at 2 P.M. The interment will be private.
As a public benefactor, as well as a lavish dispenser of private charity, Mrs. Ryle's name is the most shining on the roll of Paterson's citizens. Her chief monument is the magnificent Danforth Memorial Library at Broadway and Auburn street, now nearly finished. In 1888, she gave her late father's brick mansion at Market and Church streets as a home for the library. The value of the original gift was estimated at $50,000, and Mrs. Ryle paid $19,000 for remodeling the building. A few years later she added $16,000 for the erection of an extension.
The great fire of Feb. 9, 1902, reduced the building and its contents to ashes. The trustees recovered $72,000 insurance, and temporary quarters, still occupied, were secured on Broadway. There was talk about appealing to Andrew Carnegie for aid, but Mrs. Ryle, Feb. 18, 1902. gave $100,000 in cash toward a new building, and, with her approval, the trustees bought the James Booth mansion and grounds at Broadway and Auburn street from Catholina Lambert for $40,000. Mrs. Ryle later bought back from the trustees the site of the original building and paid them a better price than could have been obtained in open market. Mrs. Ryle's library gifts may be summarized:
Original homestead........$50,000
Remodelling....................$19,000
New Wing.........................$16,000
Gift after fire....................$100,000
Paid for old site...............$65,000
Total.................................$250,000
The Presbyterian Church of the Redeemer, at Broadway and Graham Avenue, was another large beneficiary of Mrs. Ryle's bounty. She bought the land and gave it, and the cornerstone was laid July 2, 1886. When the building was nearly finished and funds on hand did not warrant the construction of a steeple, Mrs. Ryle gave $7,000 for this. The value of the realty gift was $15,000 and others swelled the total to $30,000. Mrs. Ryle's late mother, Mrs. Danforth, gave $10,000 to the same church.
When the colored Presbyterians formed the St. Augustine Church, Mrs. Ryle gave liberally and followed up the initial donation by a yearly contribution. She was one of the most earnest supporters of the Old Ladies' Home, the Paterson Rescue Mission and General Hospital. But it would be impossible to enumerate all the benefactors of this good-hearted woman to the religious, charitable and educational interests of her native city.
The flag half masted on the City Hall this morning in respect to the memory of Mrs. Mary E. Ryle was perhaps the first time this rare tribute has been paid to the memory of a woman, but it is well deserved in this instance, for Mrs. Ryle by devoting a large part of her fortune to the comfort and intellectual benefit of her fellow citizens has proven herself worthy of all the respect that can be paid to her name. While this mark of esteem is only transitory, the magnificent free library building on Broadway that has been reared through her generosity will remain a durable monument to her public spirit. It is a matter of regret that this good woman could not have been spared to see the classic structure occupied and been present at its dedication.
Mary Elisabeth Danforth Ryle was the wife of William Ryle, reputed to be the world's largest importer of silk in the late 19th century, and a daughter of Charles Danforth, locomotive manufacturer, and one of the leading industrialists in Paterson, New Jersey.
In her father's memory, Mary Ryle donated the funding for the Danforth Memorial Library on Broadway in Paterson. The library continues to benefit the public, and is a repository of New Jersey and Passaic County history.
Mary Ryle devoted almost all of her life to philanthropic work, assisting those less fortunate, and dedicating her living years to doing God's work.
At the time of her death, the newspapers of the period reported that Mrs. Ryle's funeral was one of the largest the city had ever seen up to that time.
**********************************************************
OBITUARY, Paterson Daily Press, 12/22/1904.
MRS. MARY E. RYLE.
Mary Elisabeth, widow of William Ryle, died last evening at her home, 397 Broadway, having survived for twenty years her husband, the silk importer. Mrs. Ryle had been failing in health for many months. She suffered an apoplectic stroke last summer while in the White Mountains, and was brought home. On November 23, the day before Thanksgiving, she had a serious attack of heart failure. This was followed by other grave complications. During the past week, Mrs. Ryle had been unconscious at times, and for the last 24 hours of her life was unable to recognize anyone. She would have been 72 years old on January 8, 1905. The deceased was a daughter of the late Charles Danforth, one of Paterson's early locomotive manufacturers. Of the ten children born to William and Mary E. Ryle, five survive: Arthur, now head of the New York raw silk importing house of William Ryle; Julia, who made her home with her mother; Elizabeth, wife of Albert B. Strange of New York, a member of the William Strange Company, silk manufacturers, in this city; Ernest D. and Joseph. Three other sons, William T., the oldest, Charles Danforth, who assumed the surname of his maternal grandfather, and Harold, have been deceased for some years, and two other children died in infancy. Funeral services will be held at Mrs. Ryle's late residence Saturday at 2 P.M. The interment will be private.
As a public benefactor, as well as a lavish dispenser of private charity, Mrs. Ryle's name is the most shining on the roll of Paterson's citizens. Her chief monument is the magnificent Danforth Memorial Library at Broadway and Auburn street, now nearly finished. In 1888, she gave her late father's brick mansion at Market and Church streets as a home for the library. The value of the original gift was estimated at $50,000, and Mrs. Ryle paid $19,000 for remodeling the building. A few years later she added $16,000 for the erection of an extension.
The great fire of Feb. 9, 1902, reduced the building and its contents to ashes. The trustees recovered $72,000 insurance, and temporary quarters, still occupied, were secured on Broadway. There was talk about appealing to Andrew Carnegie for aid, but Mrs. Ryle, Feb. 18, 1902. gave $100,000 in cash toward a new building, and, with her approval, the trustees bought the James Booth mansion and grounds at Broadway and Auburn street from Catholina Lambert for $40,000. Mrs. Ryle later bought back from the trustees the site of the original building and paid them a better price than could have been obtained in open market. Mrs. Ryle's library gifts may be summarized:
Original homestead........$50,000
Remodelling....................$19,000
New Wing.........................$16,000
Gift after fire....................$100,000
Paid for old site...............$65,000
Total.................................$250,000
The Presbyterian Church of the Redeemer, at Broadway and Graham Avenue, was another large beneficiary of Mrs. Ryle's bounty. She bought the land and gave it, and the cornerstone was laid July 2, 1886. When the building was nearly finished and funds on hand did not warrant the construction of a steeple, Mrs. Ryle gave $7,000 for this. The value of the realty gift was $15,000 and others swelled the total to $30,000. Mrs. Ryle's late mother, Mrs. Danforth, gave $10,000 to the same church.
When the colored Presbyterians formed the St. Augustine Church, Mrs. Ryle gave liberally and followed up the initial donation by a yearly contribution. She was one of the most earnest supporters of the Old Ladies' Home, the Paterson Rescue Mission and General Hospital. But it would be impossible to enumerate all the benefactors of this good-hearted woman to the religious, charitable and educational interests of her native city.
The flag half masted on the City Hall this morning in respect to the memory of Mrs. Mary E. Ryle was perhaps the first time this rare tribute has been paid to the memory of a woman, but it is well deserved in this instance, for Mrs. Ryle by devoting a large part of her fortune to the comfort and intellectual benefit of her fellow citizens has proven herself worthy of all the respect that can be paid to her name. While this mark of esteem is only transitory, the magnificent free library building on Broadway that has been reared through her generosity will remain a durable monument to her public spirit. It is a matter of regret that this good woman could not have been spared to see the classic structure occupied and been present at its dedication.
In her father's memory, Mary Ryle donated the funding for the Danforth Memorial Library on Broadway in Paterson. The library continues to benefit the public, and is a repository of New Jersey and Passaic County history.
Mary Ryle devoted almost all of her life to philanthropic work, assisting those less fortunate, and dedicating her living years to doing God's work.
At the time of her death, the newspapers of the period reported that Mrs. Ryle's funeral was one of the largest the city had ever seen up to that time.
**********************************************************
OBITUARY, Paterson Daily Press, 12/22/1904.
MRS. MARY E. RYLE.
Mary Elisabeth, widow of William Ryle, died last evening at her home, 397 Broadway, having survived for twenty years her husband, the silk importer. Mrs. Ryle had been failing in health for many months. She suffered an apoplectic stroke last summer while in the White Mountains, and was brought home. On November 23, the day before Thanksgiving, she had a serious attack of heart failure. This was followed by other grave complications. During the past week, Mrs. Ryle had been unconscious at times, and for the last 24 hours of her life was unable to recognize anyone. She would have been 72 years old on January 8, 1905. The deceased was a daughter of the late Charles Danforth, one of Paterson's early locomotive manufacturers. Of the ten children born to William and Mary E. Ryle, five survive: Arthur, now head of the New York raw silk importing house of William Ryle; Julia, who made her home with her mother; Elizabeth, wife of Albert B. Strange of New York, a member of the William Strange Company, silk manufacturers, in this city; Ernest D. and Joseph. Three other sons, William T., the oldest, Charles Danforth, who assumed the surname of his maternal grandfather, and Harold, have been deceased for some years, and two other children died in infancy. Funeral services will be held at Mrs. Ryle's late residence Saturday at 2 P.M. The interment will be private.
As a public benefactor, as well as a lavish dispenser of private charity, Mrs. Ryle's name is the most shining on the roll of Paterson's citizens. Her chief monument is the magnificent Danforth Memorial Library at Broadway and Auburn street, now nearly finished. In 1888, she gave her late father's brick mansion at Market and Church streets as a home for the library. The value of the original gift was estimated at $50,000, and Mrs. Ryle paid $19,000 for remodeling the building. A few years later she added $16,000 for the erection of an extension.
The great fire of Feb. 9, 1902, reduced the building and its contents to ashes. The trustees recovered $72,000 insurance, and temporary quarters, still occupied, were secured on Broadway. There was talk about appealing to Andrew Carnegie for aid, but Mrs. Ryle, Feb. 18, 1902. gave $100,000 in cash toward a new building, and, with her approval, the trustees bought the James Booth mansion and grounds at Broadway and Auburn street from Catholina Lambert for $40,000. Mrs. Ryle later bought back from the trustees the site of the original building and paid them a better price than could have been obtained in open market. Mrs. Ryle's library gifts may be summarized:
Original homestead........$50,000
Remodelling....................$19,000
New Wing.........................$16,000
Gift after fire....................$100,000
Paid for old site...............$65,000
Total.................................$250,000
The Presbyterian Church of the Redeemer, at Broadway and Graham Avenue, was another large beneficiary of Mrs. Ryle's bounty. She bought the land and gave it, and the cornerstone was laid July 2, 1886. When the building was nearly finished and funds on hand did not warrant the construction of a steeple, Mrs. Ryle gave $7,000 for this. The value of the realty gift was $15,000 and others swelled the total to $30,000. Mrs. Ryle's late mother, Mrs. Danforth, gave $10,000 to the same church.
When the colored Presbyterians formed the St. Augustine Church, Mrs. Ryle gave liberally and followed up the initial donation by a yearly contribution. She was one of the most earnest supporters of the Old Ladies' Home, the Paterson Rescue Mission and General Hospital. But it would be impossible to enumerate all the benefactors of this good-hearted woman to the religious, charitable and educational interests of her native city.
The flag half masted on the City Hall this morning in respect to the memory of Mrs. Mary E. Ryle was perhaps the first time this rare tribute has been paid to the memory of a woman, but it is well deserved in this instance, for Mrs. Ryle by devoting a large part of her fortune to the comfort and intellectual benefit of her fellow citizens has proven herself worthy of all the respect that can be paid to her name. While this mark of esteem is only transitory, the magnificent free library building on Broadway that has been reared through her generosity will remain a durable monument to her public spirit. It is a matter of regret that this good woman could not have been spared to see the classic structure occupied and been present at its dedication.
Family Members
Siblings
Children
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
