EDGOOSE:
In search of Ancestry
EDGOOSE, Harry J.
1890 - 1966 (75 years) Has 20 ancestors and 4 descendants in this family tree.
1856 - 1946 (89 years)-
Name EDGOOSE, Harry J. Birth 19 Apr 1890 Aberdeen, Brown County, South Dakota, USA 
Gender Male Name Harry J. Ryan Death 31 Mar 1966 Dearborn, Wayne County, Michigan, USA Person ID I830 Edgoose Last Modified 2 Feb 2026
Father EDGOOSE, Henry, b. 9 Oct 1857, Kirton In Holland, Lincolnshire d. 21 Jun 1914, Superior, Douglas County, Wisconsin, USA (Age 56 years) Mother RENNISON, Annie Louisa, b. 21 Oct 1856, Providence Place, Great Driffield, Yorkshire d. 2 Oct 1946, Berkley, Oakland County, Michigan, USA (Age 89 years) Marriage 14 May 1877 Sheffield, Yorkshire, England Family ID F420 Group Sheet | Family Chart
Family DITTER, Emma, b. 31 Dec 1895, Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan, USA d. 7 Feb 1920, Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan, USA (Age 24 years) Marriage 10 Jun 1916 USA Children 1. EDGOOSE, Ruth Annie, b. 30 Nov 1917, Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan, USA d. 8 Jul 1920, Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan, USA (Age 2 years)2. EDGOOSE, Emma Ida Louise, b. 6 Feb 1920, Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan, USA d. 19 Jun 1961, Garden City, Wayne County, Michigan, USA (Age 41 years) [Father: natural] [Mother: natural]Family ID F600 Group Sheet | Family Chart Last Modified 27 Jan 2026
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Event Map 
Marriage - 10 Jun 1916 - USA 
= Link to Google Earth
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Biographies 
EDGOOSE, Harry J. (1890-1966)
Harry EDGOOSE was born in Aberdeen, South Dakota, USA, on 19 April 1890, the son of Henry and Annie EDGOOSE. Henry EDGOOSE had married Annie RENNISON in Sheffield, England, on 14 May 1877.
The US Federal Census of 528 Bay Street, Superior, Wisconsin, taken on 8 June 1900:
Henry EDGOOS, head, born October 1857, aged 42, married 23 years, immigrated 1889, Naturalisation Pa, day labor, 3 months unemployed;
Anna EDGOOS, wife, born October 1857, aged 42, married 23 years, mother of 9 children of whom 5 living, immigrated 1889;
Joseph EDGOOS, son, born July 1877, aged 22, single, immigrated 1889, Naturalisation Pa, day labor, 0 months unemployed;
Meriam EDGOOS, daughter, born May 1887, aged 13, immigrated 1889, at school;
*Harry EDGOOS, son, born April 1890, aged 10, born South Dakota, at school;
John W. EDGOOS, son, born September 1892, aged 7, born Wisconsin, at school;
Louise EDGOOS, daughter, born June 1895, aged 4, born in Wisconsin, at school.
(www.FamilySearch.org)
"BOY SHOPLIFTERS ARE BROUGHT IN
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Evidence That Two, Getting Long Sentences, Were Leaders of a Gang.
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John ANDROSKI aged 10 and Harry EDGOOSE, ten and twelve years of age respectively, were sentenced to the Boys Industrial school at Waukesha until they reach their majority, by Acting Judge DANIELSON in municipal court yesterday. They wered guilty of petty larceny.
Together with five other boys ranging in age from six to 12 years, all residents of Connor's Point, EDGOOSE and ANDROSKI were arrested yesterday by Detective DILL and Truant Officer EARNSHAW for stealing small items from the Bee Hive, the, and Spicer-Fanning's store.
When arainged [sic] all pleaded guilty. Evidence of Truant Officer EARNSHAW, and the police records of John ANDROSKI and Harry EDGOOSE indicated that they were leaders of an organised gang of petty thieves.
All admitted to having made the raids stealing such small articles as they could conveniently carry away in their pockets. It was shown that the two boys sentenced to the reform school had led the other and younger members of the
gang to commit larceny, hence the severity of the court.
The cases against the other five, Rudolph YOUNG, John EDGOOSE, PHILIP JOHNSON, George ANDROSKI,
and Peter BENDIXEN, were held open until Dec. 21 for further investigation by the court.
(www.genealogybank.com: Duluth News-Tribune (Duluth, MN), 12 December 1902, Page 8)
Judge DANIELSON of the municipal court has decided that instead of sending John ANDRESKI and Harry EDGOOSE to the state reform school, he could have them publicly flogged. It is understood the parents prefer the whipping sentence. The whipping was to have taken place yesterday, but it was postponed, as the jailer refused to do it.
(The Minneapolis Journal, 17 December 1902 Page 17)
It was reported on 21 December 1902 that Judge DANIELSON did not make an appearance at the municipal court the previous day but instead telephoned the clerk to enter on the dockets of John ANDROSKI and Harry EDGOOSE 'Continued until Dec. 26'. The request of the boys' parents that they be whipped instead of being sent to the state reform school still stood.
(Sunday News Tribune, 21 December 1902)
The parents of Harry EDGOOSE, the Connor's Point boy found guilty of petty larceny and sentenced to the state reform school, verbally petitioned Judge DANIELSON for the second time on 31 December 1902. Both father and mother appeared before the court and pleaded that their son be given a public whipping followed by parole instead of breaking up their family by sending him to Waukesha. Said the father: "I believe that the best way to make an impression on the boy's mind is to whip him. It will be better than sending him away from home for several years." Judge DANIELSON reluctantly agreed to consider the matter further.
(Duluth News Tribune, 1 January 1903)
"PAROLED BOYS HAVE BEEN GOOD
Not a Black Mark Against the Two Prospective Whipping Victims.
Tomorrow morning will terminate the days of grace alloted by the court to John ANDROSKI and Harry EDGOOSE, who were found guily of petty larceny two weeks ago and sentenced to the state industrial school for boys, but later released and placn parole pending the action of Judge DANIELSON, who has the question of administering a public whipping, instead of executing the industrial school sentence, under advisement.
The judge will finally settle the subject tomorrow morning. The boys were found guilty two weeks ago, but were alllowed to go to their homes under close surveilence of the police until the day folllowing Christmas, but when they came up on. 26 Judge DANIELSON was not ready to pronounce the final sentence and the case was adjourned until Jan. 3.
The parents of both boys have made verbal petition begging the court to apply the lash rather than break up their homes. In the case of the ANDROSKI boy the petition of the parents was supplemented by that of the family priest. The ANDROSKmily has already been well broken up by the court, two sons now serving industrial school sentences.
During the two weeks in which the boys have been out on parole--although the police have been diligent in their surveilence--no black mark has been recorded against them. At school their teachers say their conduct had been excellent up to tlose of the sessions for holidays."df ccc
(www.genealogybank.com: Duluth News-Tribune (Duluth MN), 2 January 1903, Page 6)
Judge DANIELSON adjourned the EDGOOSE-ANDROSKI case (known as the whipping case) when it was called before him on 7 February 1903. The two boys remained on parole.
(Duluth News Tribune, 8 February 1903)
The final outcome of the 'whipping case' is not yet known.
Harry EDGOOSE was again in trouble in January 1904. He was one of six boys aged between 12 and 14 years who were arrested after a complaint by Carl TROJAN. TROJAN claimed that the defendants made life difficult for him at Connor's Point by making him and his residence a target for snowballs and ice, interspersed with disrespectful remarks. Judge HAILY adjourned the case until 6 February so that further enquiries could be made and released the boys on parole.
(Duluth News Tribune, 29 January 1904)
"PUPILS PREPARE LAST EXERCISES"
J. Harry EDGOOSE appeared in the list of successful students from the Kimball school.
(www.genealogybank.com: Duluth News-Tribune (Duluth, MN), 10 June 1904, Page 8)
"GRADE PUPILS TO ENTERTAIN"
The program featured Harry EDGOOSE singing the song Drifting Along.-
(www.genealogybank.com: Duluth News-Tribune (Duluth MN), 11 June 1904, Page 6)
"PUPILS MAKE FAREWELL BOW"
The list of the successful students from the Kimball School included J. Harry EDGOOSE.
(www.genealogybank.com: Duluth News-Tribune (Duluth MN), 13 June 1904, Page 3)
From then on, mentions of him in the Duluth News Tribune were of a different nature: He appears to have involved himself in the activities of the Kimball School and, later, playing baseball for the O'Brien Colts.
(Duluth News Tribune, 10, 11, and 13 June 1904; 12 March 1905; 7 June 1906; 6 June 1910; and 1 August 1910)
He is listed in the Superior City directories at 527 New Bay with his mother and brothers in 1906 and 1907, and with his brothers John W. and Joseph E. EDGOOSE only in 1908 and 1909.
From the 1905 Wisconsin State Census, Superior City, Douglas, Wisconsin, USA.
George WALL, head, aged 35, married, born in England of English parents, labourer, employed 12 months in past year, home rented;
Annie WALL, wife, aged 48, born in England of English parents;
Joseph E. EDGOOSE, stepson, aged 28, single, born in England of English parents, shipbuilder, employed 8 months in last 12;
Mariam B. EDGOOSE, stepdaughter, aged 18, married, born in England of English parents;
*Harry EDGOOSE, stepson, aged 15, single, born in Dakota of English parents, student;
John W. EDGOOSE, stepson, aged 12, born in Wisconsin of English parents;
Louisa EDGOOSE, stepdaughter, aged 10, born in Wisconsin of English parents;
Leslie O. BUCHAN, aged 2, born in Wisconsin of English parents;
Fred J. BUCHANN, aged 22, married, born in Canada of Canadian parents, labourer, 12 months employed during past year.
The 1910 census lists the family at 527 Bay Street, Superior City, Douglas County, Wisconsin:
Annie WALL, head, aged 54, married for 2 years, 9 children of whom 5 were living, born in England, arrived in the USA in 1890, owned her own house;
Joseph E. EDGOOSE, son, aged 32, born in England, arrived in the USA in 1888, not naturalised, worked as a stocker in a shipyard, was employed but had been unemployed for 36 weeks in 1909;
*Harry EDGOOSE, son, aged 20, born in South Dakota, worked as a machinist in a shipyard, and was unemployed for 12 weeks in 1909;
John W. EDGOOSE, son, aged 17, born in Wisconsin, worked as a tinner(?), and was fully employed in 1909 and 1910;
Louisa EDGOOSE, daughter, aged 14, born in Wisconsin, and had not been to school since at least 1 September 1909;
John F. BUCHAN, head, aged 27, married 6 years, born in Canada, arrived in the USA in 1883, was a machinist by trade but had been unemployed since at least the beginning of 1909;
Miriam BUCHAN, wife, aged 23, married 6 years, two of her three children were living, born in England, arrived in the USA in 1890;
Leslie BUCHAN, son, aged 6, born in Wisconsin, had not started going to school;
Margaret BUCHAN, daughter, aged 3, born in Wisconsin.
(www.ancestry.com Series T624 Roll 1707 District 93 Sheet 47).
Harry changed his name from EDGOOSE to RYAN before his marriage to Emma DITTER on 10 June 1916. One possible reason for the change was that several court reports of his father's trial referred to Henry EDGOOSE (1857-1914) as Harry. His brother John changed his name to Ryan as late as 1940, and Joseph Edward retained the name EDGOOSE until he died.
Hurry [sic] RYAN, aged 26, from Detroit, Michigan, birthplace South Dakota, Auto worker, father's name Henry, mother's maiden name Anna RENNISON, not previously married, date of marriage 10 June 1916, place of marriage Springwells, Michigan, H. METZER, pastor; John HAMILTON and Ida DITTER from Detroit were witnesses. Emma DITTER was aged 20, from Detroit, Michigan, born in Michigan; father Henry DITTER; mother Lena BURNOFSKI.
(Ancestry: Michigan Marriage Records, 1867-1952)
They had two children. The first, Ruth Annie, was born at Detroit in 1917 and died there just over two years later. Her death was registered under the surname RYAN. The second, Emma Ida Louise, was born at Detroit on 6 February 1919. She died in 1961.
His World War 1 draft registration card provided the following details:
Age: 27
Address: 1442 Military Road, Detroit, Michigan.
Date & Place of Birth: 19 April 1890, Aberdeen, South Dakota.
Present occupation: machinist, boiler maker, Ford Motor Company, Detroit.
Exemption from draft claimed on account of family.
Signed Harry Ryan
Registrar's report: medium height, medium build, dark gray eyes, dark brown hair
Precinct 13 Ward 16 Detroit, Michigan.
He has not been traced in the 1920 US Federal Census.
His wife Emma died on 7 February 1920.
(Death Certificate)
He was an opera singer and prize fighter and used the professional name Harry RYAN. He and his brother John were known as the "Fighting Ryans". There were many boxing groups in the 1920s and 1930s that went around the country fighting in gyms and bars (e-mail from Carolyn SANDS 14.02.2006). She said that It was possible he dropped the use of the name EDGOOSE altogether.
The 1930 US Federal Census of Central Detroit City, Wayne County, Michigan:
Robert E. FERGUSON, head, aged 37, owner of a house worth $11,000, unemployed salesman, veteran of World War I, born in Illinois;
Louisa FERGUSON, wife, aged 34, born in Wisconsin of English parents;
Leslie R. FERGUSON, son, aged 2 years 2 months (possibly 7 months), born in Michigan;
William R. FERGUSON, son, aged 8, born in Michigan;
*Harry RYAN, brother in law, aged 40, widower, insurance salesman, born in South Dakota;
Emma RYAN, niece, aged 10, born in Michigan;
Anne EDGOOSE, mother in law, aged 73, widow, immigrated 1889, naturalised, born in England;
Joseph EDGOOSE, brother in law, aged 53, single, immigrated 1889, naturalised, unemployed labourer at Baseball Park, born in England.
(www.ancestry.com)
Louisa FERGUSON's brother John William EDGOOSE and his family lived next door.
The 1940 census of 6621 Mead Street, Dearborn, Wayne County, Michigan, USA:
Robert E. FERGUSON, head, aged 45, married, Elementary School 7th grade, born in Illinois, foreman at tanning plant earning $1600;
Louisa FERGUSON, wife, aged 44, married, Elementary School 7th grade, born in Wisconsin;
William R. FERGUSON, son, aged 17, High School 4th Year, born in Michigan;
Leslie R. FERGUSON, son, aged 12, Elementary School 7th grade, born in Michigan;
David J. FERGUSON, son, aged 2, born in Michigan;
Annie L. EDGOOSE, mother-in-law, aged 83, widow, Elementary School 6th grade, born in England, alien;
George SCHULTZ, lodger, aged 41, single, Elementary School 6th Grade, born in Michigan, church janitor earning $300;
*Harry J. RYAN, brother-in-law, aged 49, widower, High School 4th year, born in South Dakota, seeking work, 2 weeks unemployed, salesman, hospitization corporation, earning $100.
(Roll T627_1826 Page 5A)
He lived at 48126 Dearborn, Michigan. His Social Security Number was 369-12-9152.
He died of lung cancer at Dearborn, Michigan, on 31 March 1966. He and his wife Emma were buried at Woodmere Cemetery in Detroit, Michigan.
Les Buchan wrote:
" I guess it was so long ago I forgot whatever it was I was going to send...Uncle Harry was very interesting to me as I was growing up. He was the only one in our family that smoked (for some unknown reason, I thought that was really neat). It ended up killing him with lung cancer in the end. He used to tell me stories of when he was a young man. He and his brother John used to be what called "prise (sic) fighters". Now we just call them boxers. He also used to love to sing. I don't ever recall him working for anyone other that (sic) a cousin as a salesman. Before I really knew him, I believe he was an insurance man like his brother John. Hated to see him die the way he did. at that time Hospice didn't exist and to die with lung cancer was terribly painful. My cousin Bill in Dearborn (Louisa's son) lived with Uncle Harry for years. Either him or his brother Les would remember a lot more about Uncle Harry.
I will try to stay in touch as I try to put some things together"
(e-mail dated 14 February 2006)
UNDERTAKER'S RECORD OF FUNERAL:
Date of Entry March 31 1966
Name of Deceased Harry J. Ryan
Widower of late Emma
Residence 6621 Mead, Dearborn Mich.
Charge to Louisa Ferguson
Address 6621 Mead, Dearborn, Mich.
Order given by Louisa Ferguson
Occupation Retired Salesman
Social Security Number 369.12.9152
Employer and Address Insurance
Date of Death March 31 1966
Date of Birth April 19 1890 Age 75
Name of Father Henry RYAN
Maiden Name of Mother Annie Rennison
Date of Funeral April 4 Monday 1pm
Services at Dearborn Gospel Tabernacle
Clergyman Rev. Parvin Lee
Religion of the Deceased Protestant
Birthplace South Dakota
Place of Death Oakwood Hospital
Cause of Death Carcinoma of Lung
Cemetery Roseland Park Cemetery
Lot No. 69
Section No. 32
RYAN
Harry, March 31, of 6621 Mead, Dearborn. Father of the late Emma Johnson;
four grandchildren; four great grandchildren; dear brother of Louisa Ferguson.
At the Memorial Funeral Home, Wayne, until Monday morning. Funeral
Dearborn Gospel Tabernacle, Schaefer near Warren, Monday at 1.
(revised 09.02.2026)