1914 History of Delaware County, Iowa, and Its People By John F. Merry CHURCHES St. Patrick's Catholic Church St. Patrick's Catholic Church of Ryan is an outgrowth of a church established in Adams Township. Here the first mass was said by Father Parley in June, 1882, at the home of Dennis Magirl, who was then living on section 24 of Adams Township. Among those present on this occasion were Patrick Donnelly, Thomas and James Keegan, Patrick Kinley, Ed Reilly, Newton Fuller, William Drummy, John Holahan, Con Sullivan, Dennis Harrington, Philip Clark and Michael O'Hara. In the parish were seventeen families. The first house of worship was built in the summer of 1882 on section 19, in Hazel Green Township. The cornerstone was laid by Rev. Fathers M. J. Farley and Brady on the 18th of July of that year. The building was of brick, 40 by 60 feet. A steeple was attached some time after the church was finished. The original cost of this building was between seven and eight thousand dollars. Some years later $5,000 on improvements was expended. The ten acres of land upon which the church stood was purchased of Mrs. Harger, with the proviso that the building should be finished within three years from the day of purchase. This was accomplished just before the time limit. Part of the land was devoted to burial purposes and the property was known as Belmond Church and Cemetery. Dedicatory exercises were held in the summer of 1883 by Rev. P. H. Ryan and others. After the Town of Ryan began to grow and assume proportions this church was practically transplanted to that village about sixteen years ago. A frame church building was erected, 40 by 50 feet, a short distance from the present edifice, which cost about five thousand dollars. Services were held here until February 12, 1912, when the present new building was occupied. In the fall of 1907 the priest's house, a two-story frame building, 32 by 36 feet, was moved from Belmond to Ryan, a distance of two miles. The parochial school, a three- story brick building, with basement, having ground dimensions of 40 by 60 feet, was built a few years ago at a cost of $12,000. This school has an attendance of 140 pupils and is taught by six Presentation nuns of Dubuque. The property of this church is easily worth $75,000. The first pastor of St. Patrick's who succeeded Reverend Farley was Rev. Fr. P. H. Ryan, who came in 1882 and remained until October, 1906. He was followed by Fr. Patrick Lahey, who was here three years and then came the present pastor, Rev. Fr. John Maloy.