DRENNAN, Ryland^{[1, 2, 3, 4]}

1877 - 1928  (50 years)

• Name	DRENNAN, Ryland
  Birth	28 Aug 1877	Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California, USA   [3]
  Gender	Male
  Color/Complexion	Medium
  Physical Description	Large scar on right side of face  [4]
  Residence	1880	Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California, USA   [5]
  Residence	1900	Australia   [6]
  Residence	1900	Santa Cruz Ward 3, Santa Cruz, California   [1]
  Membership	1910	Royal Arch Masons of Santa Cruz   [7]
  Eye color	Grey  [4]
  Hair color	Brown-grey mixed
  Height	5 feet, 8 inches
  Obituary	From San Francisco Chronicle: Capt. Drennan Drops Dead in Midst of Song Famous Mariner Started Career Here With Line 24 Years Ago --------------------------- Captain Ryland Drennan, port superintendent of the Panama Mail Steamship Company and one of the best known mariners on the Pacific, dropped dead yesterday as he finished a round of golf with two friends at the Olympic Club. He was 51 years old. Drennan, whose wit and irrepressible high spirits had made him one of the best liked men in maritime service, had played a match with John O’Connor, manager of the Donovan Lumber Company, and E. A. MacMahon another shipping man. He seemed in even better spirits than usual as he walked to the clubhouse with them. He left them with a joke to go to his locker room. He was singing to himself as he walked along the corridor. Heard Him Fall Then O’Connor heard him fall, and rushing to his side, found him strangely still. O’Connor called Dr. L. O. Kimberlin, who was standing nearby, and the physician pronounced Drennan dead from heart failure. Captain Drennan entered the service of the Pacific Steamship Company, forerunner of the Panama Mail Company, twenty-four years ago, when he sailed as the fourth officer on the liner Manchuria, then sailing between San Francisco and the Orient. His rise was rapid. Five years later he was made commander of the liner Pennsylvania and had the distinction of being one of the youngest skippers in transpacific service. In 1917 he was transferred to the Columbia, then running to China. Entered World War A year later, when the United States entered the World war, John H. Rosseter, director of operations for the United States Shipping Board and vice-president of the Pacific Mail, took Drennan to Washington, D. C. as his assistant. Drennan was there for a year. Then he returned to San Francisco to take command of the navy training ship Iris. After the war he served as his company’s agent in Shanghai and as master of the steamer Hoosier State, now the President Lincoln, until 1924, when he was installed in San Francisco as port captain of the Pacific Mail. June 1, 1925, when the firm was succeeded by the Panama Mail, Drennan retained the corresponding position of port superintendent. Drennan was born in Santa Cruz in 1877. His only survivor is his widow. Since making his home in San Francisco he had lived at 2983 Pacific avenue.  [8]
  Occupation	Sea Captain  [9]
  Residence	San Francisco, San Francisco, California   [3]
  Residence	1920	Washington, Washington, District of Columbia   [2]
  Residence	1921-1928	2983 Pacific Ave, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA   [10]
  Cause of Death	Heart Attack
  Death	19 Jan 1928	San Francisco, San Francisco Co, CA   [11, 12]
  		Ryland Drennan Obituary Santa Cruz Evening News, 20 Jan 1928, P 1 Col 7
  Burial	22 Mar 1928	IOOF Cemetery, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz Co, CA   [13]
  Notes	Santa Cruz Surf (Weekly) December 27 1890 Location: Santa Cruz Source: Santa Cruz Public Library Distressing Accident. A Boy Shot While Carelessly Playing With a Gun. An accident of a peculiarly sad and distressing handled by a boy, brought disfigurement and perhaps death to a playmate. Frank Sager and Ryland Drennan, two well known boys, were playing on Chestnut avenue with a shot gun, and in some manner, Sager, who had the gun, accidentally discharged it, the full force of the shot striking young Drennan in the face tearing away the left side and shattering the jaw-bone. It was a most unfortunate case as young Drennan was an unusually bright boy, very popular among his friends, and should he recover will carry the ugly marks, resulting from one day's careless sport, through life. The shooting was entirely accidental, the boys being great friends. Young Sager is almst crazed with grief and fright over the unfortunate occurrence. The attending physician removed the shattered remnants of the bone, and it is hope that the boy may recover, although grave fears are entertained that other complications may set in that will prove fatal. Other notes on things to still be researched: Went to sea at an early age, and eventually became a steamship captain. Some miscellaneous items: * Travel and Comment - Page 17 by James Duval Phelan - Voyages around the world - 1923 - 318 pages My ship was "The Hoosier State," Captain Ryland Drennan, a native of Santa Cruz, on the bridge, and Chief Engineer MJ Stack, a native of San Francisco, ... * The Historical Society of Southern California Quarterly - Page 25 by Historical Society of Southern California - California, Southern - 1961 ... and later in the hands of her brother, Captain Ryland Drennan, of San Francisco, another interesting bit of information was discovered. ... * The National Marine by National Marine League of the United States of America - Merchant marine - 1918 Page 42 You will also make the members of the crew directly responsible for the care of these books and periodicals. CAPTAIN RYLAND DRENNAN, Deck Department. .. * Japanese Immigration Legislation: Hearings Before the Committee on ... - Page 117 by United States Congress. Senate. Committee on Immigration - 1924 - 170 pages Ryland Drennan told me on the voyage which I took with him that he lost 14 of his crew in San Francisco on his previous voyage. ... * Inquiry Into Operations of Shipping Board: Hearings, July 24-Aug. 7, 1919 - Page 144 by United States, Merchant Marine and Fisheries, Congress, House - 1919 - 795 pages Ryland Drennan, who had been a captain of the Pacific Mail Steamship Co. and also other companies prior to that time, for many years. ... * From the days prior to the Mongolia scandal unfolding, a story in the SF Chronicle about Ryland’s new appointment on the China Mail Steamship Company: Harbor News Under the houseflag of the China Mail Steamship Company, the former Pacific Mail liner China will steam from this port Saturday at 1 o’clock, and will inaugurate a service which is to compete with the T. K. K for the mastery of the trade between San Francisco and ports of the Orient other than Japanese. Captain Ryland Drennan is to go out in command of the China, and is well known as a navigator and master out of this port. Drennan’s last command was the Pacific Mailer Newport in the Panama service, and later he went in the China trade of the company. He arrived here yesterday as chief officer of the liner Mongolia, and is to sever his connection with the Pacific Mail Company today. The position of master of the China was offered him by radiogram from this port three days ago, and he accepted at once, so when the Mongolia steams for the Atlantic, there will be another chief as second to Captain Emery Rice. Loaded to capacity with freight, the China will inaugurate the service of the of the new company to the Far East, and her cabins and steerage will be filled with passengers. Already the reservations of Chinese have filled the vessel as far as all accommodations except cabin are concerned, and at present Europeans and Americans have taken practically all the first-class accommodations on the trim liner. Ceremonies incident to the christening of the houseflag of the new China Mail Steamship Company will be held on board the liner China at pier 42 this afternoon. At that time the new company will take its place among the shipping concerns of San Francisco and a large delegation of prominent shipping men will be present. Served on the United States shipping Board, and is mentioned as being present during negotiations over the NY longshoremen’s strike in 1919. [14, 15] A blog post I wrote about Ryland Drennan in 2012: http://byrnefamily.net/ryland-drennan-siren-song-sea/
  Person ID	I95	Hugh Byrne and Nanette Asimov Lines
  Last Modified	23 Mar 2014

  
  

  Father	DRENNAN, Samuel,   b. 30 Oct 1829, Chatam, Sangamon, IL, USA d. 7 Sep 1891, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California, USA (Age 61 years)
  Mother	FERNALD, Olive Louisa,   b. 4 Apr 1839, North Berwick, York, ME, USA d. 21 Feb 1921, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California, USA (Age 81 years)
  Marriage	28 May 1868	Pacific Ocean House, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz Co, CA   [16, 17]
  		At least one living or private individual is linked to this item - Details withheld.
  		pacific-ocean-house-santa-cruz Pacific Ocean House in Santa Cruz, site of wedding for Sam Drennan and Olive Louisa Fernald
  Photos » Slide Show		Edith Anderson Drennan (Gragg) & Mabel Louise Drennan (Byrne)
  		Mabel, Dora, and Edith Drennan
  		Samuel & Louisa Drennan home, 45 Church Street, Santa Cruz. Home of Sam & Louisa Drennan. Torn down May 31, 1941 to make way for parking lot next to Wessendorf mortuary.
  Histories		History_of_Drennan_house History feature from Santa Cruz Sentinel, May 4, 1941, on the impending demolition of the Samuel & Louise Drennan home to make way for a mortuary parking lot.
  		pacific-ocean-house-santa-cruz Pacific Ocean House in Santa Cruz, site of wedding for Sam Drennan and Olive Louisa Fernald
  Family ID	F50	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	NICHOLS, Lois Mildred,   b. 2 May 1878, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California, USA d. 11 Jan 1966, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California, USA (Age 87 years)
  Marriage	9 Oct 1909	San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA   [4, 18]
  Notes	From San Francisco Call: Sailorman Takes a Wife Captain Ryland Drennan of the Pacific Mall service was married October 9 to Miss Lois Nichols. Captain Drennan is one of the younger masters in the company's service, and "until a few days ago was in command of the liner San Jose. He has not yet been assigned to another ship. [19]
  Photos		Byrne - Drennan Family Photo Photo from Barbara Byrne photo collection, likely taken by her. L to R: Unknown, Walter Charles Byrne, Unknown, Lois Nichols Drennan, Mabel Drennan Byrne, Unknown, Ryland Drennan, Unknown
  Family ID	F57	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	31 Oct 2021

  
  

• Event Map		Birth - 28 Aug 1877 - Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California, USA Residence - 1880 - Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California, USA Residence - 1900 - Australia Residence - 1900 - Santa Cruz Ward 3, Santa Cruz, California Marriage - 9 Oct 1909 - San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA Residence - - San Francisco, San Francisco, California Residence - 1920 - Washington, Washington, District of Columbia Residence - 1921-1928 - 2983 Pacific Ave, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA Death - 19 Jan 1928 - San Francisco, San Francisco Co, CA Burial - 22 Mar 1928 - IOOF Cemetery, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz Co, CA  = Link to Google Earth
  Pin Legend	: Address       : Location       : City/Town       : County/Shire       : State/Province       : Country       : Not Set

  
  

• Photos » Slide Show		Ryland Drennan circa 1920 From passport application dated April 29, 1920.
  		Walter Fernald Byrne and Ryland Drennan
  		Ryland Drennan
  		Captain Ryland Drennan abt 1917
  		Ryland Drennan and golf buddies Unclear what's going on here, although the gentlemen are gathered around a small flag planted in the ground.
  		Ryland Drennan on ship deck
  		Ryland Drennan August 25 1917 Photo courtesy of Mimi Osborne, Michele & Wayne Watson

  
  

  Documents

  Ryland and Lois Drennan letter to Barbara Byrne 1920 (two letters together in one envelope from Ryland and Lois Drennan to Barbara Byrne) The Great Eastern Hotel LD Telegrams "Greastern Calcutta" Calcutta Dec 12 1920 Dear Barbara Many thanks for your kind letter and believe me I was glad to hear of your doings at home. Also tell Fernald I think he is a somewhat lazy young lad not to drop us a line or is he too much interested in the Milk Whats Sterd That you are also riding I am glad to hear. It sure must be fun exercise. Almost all the English people ride here in the morninggs. Today one of my business associcates had a bad fall from his horse and his wife told us he could not enter a beauty contest now. I play tennis and golf for my exercise and enjoy both very much. Your Aunt Lois says I am rather helpless in getting around to look at the sights and I guess she is right but then I keep my eyes open when I am out and have noticed many strange customs of the people and different castes. (Uncle Ryland didn't have time to finish so I'll end this with his best love to you all - Aunt Lois) ------------------------------------- The Great Eastern Hotel LD Telegrams "Greastern Calcutta" Calcutta Dec 12 1920 Dear Barbara: Needless to say both Uncle Ryan and I were delighted to receive you letters and to hear of the various episodes that take place in your family. India is very interesting there are so many different sects and castes of the people that are very distinctive. You see so many different markings upon their bodies. From xxlly the face and chest in colored daubs that denote the various sects. The xxx two differs from the almost naked coolies to the veiled ladies. I saw one of the ladies the other day she looked like a Halloweeen spook as evidently she was of the lower class and had just cut holes in a white sheet which she wore over her whole body. In the movies here they have special boxes for them and a thin net curtain hangs up from the top of the box to hide the ladies from the the public gaze. Today Uncle Ryland and I spent a couple of ours in the Indian Museum - we were fortunate in getting a very close glimpse of Clemenceau the noted French Statesman as he was inspecting the exhibits. In this museum are many fine specimens of the xxx Buddha - that have been taken from the old temples. They are so hideous in face and form that you wonder how they could worship them and yet they do even now. We saw an old mummy about four thousand years old and much of the body was exposed and the teeth all showed and seemed perfect. The finest things in the the museum were to our minds the beautiful fabrics, both cotton and silk, and also the fine brass trays and metal art xxx that are very old and such as I have never seen any where. The market place here is very interesting it covers about four city blocks and little shops are crowded one after another and you can buy fruit, vegetables, groceries, drugs, xlat many flowers, art curios. In fact almost everything from lions to elephants and love birds, small animals of course the live things are in a space by themselves. Uncle Ryland plays a good deal of golf and I'm sure you'd like his outfit. It consists of short khaki pants & long stockings and of course six inches of bare legs shows but it's quite the fashion. He must be in style - I hope to get his picture so you can see how cute he looks and perhaps your father would like to copy him. I have not forgotten your Xmas present - in fact I have here swell things for each of you girls and some time will find a way to send them. There are lots of beggars here - and many religous mendicants - or holy men - they appear only a breech clout their long hair matted with dirt and they rub their bodies all over with ashes. We often see two in the early morning going to their regular begging places - one carries a long iron staff, the other one a brass one. I'm going to write Louise a letter too, and if you can read hers for I am going to tell her different things. With love to you and your brothers and sisters. Aunt Lois

  
  

  Histories

  The Scandalous Ship Mongolia Story of Chinese laborer smuggling scandal, in which Ryland Drennan was featured. Author: Robert Barde, Published in "Steamboat Bill", P 112-118, issue #249, Spring 2004, Journal of the Steamship Historical Society of America

  
  

• Sources

  [S13] Ancestry.com, 1900 United States Federal Census, (Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2004), Ancestry.com. 1900 U.S. Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT: MyFamily.com, Inc., 2004. Original data: United States. 1900 United States Federal Census. T623, 1854 rolls. National Archives and Records Administration, Washington D.C. Santa Cruz, California, ED 90, roll T623 112, page 18B. [S15] Ancestry.com, 1920 United States Federal Census, (Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2005), Ancestry.com. 1920 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT: Ancestry.com, 2005. Indexed by Ancestry.com from microfilmed schedules of the 1920 U.S. Federal Decennial Census. Data imaged from National Archives and Records Administration.1920 Federal Population Census. T625, 2,076 rolls. National Archives and Records Administration, Washington D.C. [S141] World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918, Ancestry.com. World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, 1917-18 [database online] Provo, UT: Ancestry.com, 2002. National Archives and Records Administration. World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918. M1509, 4,277 rolls. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration. [S410] Passport Applications: Chicago, New York City, New Orleans, San Francisco and Seattle, 1914-1925 -> 1918-1920 . [S11] Ancestry.com and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1880 United States Federal Census, (Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2005), 1880 U.S. Census Index provided by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, © Copyright 1999 Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved., All use is subject to the limited use license and other terms and conditions applicable to this site. [S410] Passport Applications: Chicago, New York City, New Orleans, San Francisco and Seattle, 1914-1925 -> 1918-1920 , “Resided in Mexico for six months in 1911, and Australia for 16 weeks in 1900”. [S283] Freemasons California, Proceedings of the Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of the State of California, (v. 55-56 1910), Royal Arch Masons:...Drennan, Ryland..., p 501, Santa Cruz Chapter #38. [S508] Capt. Drennan Drops Dead in Midst of Song. [S410] Passport Applications: Chicago, New York City, New Orleans, San Francisco and Seattle, 1914-1925 -> 1918-1920 , Letter from Pacific Mail Steamship included: “Captain Drennan is paid by the company on a salary basis, and has been connected with Pacific Mail Steamship Co since 1904”. [S508] Capt. Drennan Drops Dead in Midst of Song, Since making his home in San Francisco he had lived at 2983 Pacific avenue. [S54] California Death Index 1905-1929, Drennan, Ryland, Age=50, County = 90 (San Francisco), Date = 1/19/1928, Case #=4655, 2905. [S230] Index of Cemetery Records of Santa Cruz County, Santa Cruz IOOF Cemetery Records, (Santa Cruz Genealogical Society), Drennan / Ryland / / Died 22 Mar 1928 / Age = 50. [S230] Index of Cemetery Records of Santa Cruz County, Santa Cruz IOOF Cemetery Records, (Santa Cruz Genealogical Society), Drennan, Ryland, Born = blank, Buried 22 Mar 1928, Age 50, P. 138. [S456] Harbor News. [S533] Hylan’s Strike Conference Fails, Ryland Drennan of the United States Shipping Board. [S213] Santa Cruz Sentinel, (Santa Cruz, CA 1850s to present), May 30, 1868, pg. 2 col. 5. [S229] Unpublished records of the families of California pioneers / gathered by the various chapters from original sources, DAR California Pioneers, (California : State Committee of Genealogical Research, Daughters of the American Revolution, [1927- ]), She (Louisa Fernald) taught for three or four years and was married May 28, 1868 to Samuel Drennan at the Pacific Ocean House which was the first brick hotel of the town and built by Amasa Pray, her brother-in-law., Vol 4, page 165. [S1013] Drennan Family Bible, Ryland Married Lois M Nichols Oct 9, 1909. [S411] San Francisco Call.