Hudson-Mohawk Genealogical and Family Memoirs: Riordan

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Hudson-Mohawk Genealogical and Family Memoirs:
Riordan

[This information is from Vol. III, p. 1244 of Hudson-Mohawk Genealogical and Family Memoirs, edited by Cuyler Reynolds (New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, 1911). It is in the Reference collection of the Schenectady County Public Library at R 929.1 R45. Some of the formatting of the original, especially in lists of descendants, may have been altered slightly for ease of reading.]

Riordan, Reardon, O'Riordan are forms of the same name frequently met with in the United States and in Ireland, from whence the Troy family originally came. There are many distinguished men in the church and political life of the United States bearing the name of Riordan. Bishop Riordan, of Halifax, Nova Scotia, was a cousin of the Troy family, as are also Emigration Commissioner Riordan, of New York City, Father Carroll, of Troy, and Father Carroll, of Clinton, New York. The Troy branch was founded in the United States by John Riordan, son of Jeremiah O'Reardon, of county Limerick, Ireland, where he lived and died. He was married and had issue;

James, died in 1881 in Troy; came to the United States and learned the trade of stone cutter; married, but his issue is all deceased.
Mary, married William Gleason, a very wealthy man of Watervliet; both deceased.
Joanna.
Catherine.
Margaret.
John, see forward.
Anna.
Michael, died aged fifty-three; he was a priest of the Roman Catholic church, was both pastor and instructor in the college.

(I) John, son of Jeremiah Riordan, was born in county Limerick, Ireland, 1812, died in Troy, 1868. He came to the United States in 1831, landed in New York City, but came directly to Hoosic, where he found a warm friend in ———— Tibbetts, with whom he remained about three years. He came to Troy, and on the advice of Mr. Tibbetts, who loaned him a part of the purchase price, he bought a lot of land on Fourth avenue, now the center of the city. Here he erected a store, and stocking it with groceries, began business, being one of the pioneer grocerymen of Troy. He prospered and gained a fortune. His store and home was headquarters for all newly arrived emigrants from the old country, and he made it a home indeed for many of them. He secured positions and work for them, often advancing money or otherwise standing their friend. He was a father to them all and his memory is warmly cherished by many who obtained their start in life from the warm-hearted, sympathetic John Riordan. He was a devout, liberal member of the Catholic church and trustee of St. Mary's of Troy. His wife was Bridget Casey, born in county Limerick, Ireland, died in Troy, New York, 1900. Children of John and Bridget Riordan are:

Amelia A., a graduate of Troy high school and was for many years a teacher: she is the last survivor of the family; on the lot in Troy where her father's store stood for so many years she has had erected in his memory a fine apartment block; she resides in Troy.
John Henry, died in Troy, 1889: he was a member of the legal, profession and practiced in Troy.
Gerald Griffin (deceased); he was also a lawyer.
Belinda (deceased), was an accomplished artist, graduating with the highest honors from the Emma Willard Art School.

Hudson-Mohawk Genealogical and Family Memoirs:Riordan

Hudson-Mohawk Genealogical and Family Memoirs:
Riordan