George W. Ryan Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1174-1175 in "History of Dakota 
	Territory" by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. IV (1915) and was 
	scanned, OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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				HON. GEORGE W. RYAN. 

	Hon. George W. Ryan is one of the most successful stock raisers 
of Walworth county, where he owns seven hundred and twenty acres of 
excellent land, and he is also one of the leading men of affairs of 
that county. He has held a number of local offices and has also served 
as a member of the state senate, at all times discharging his official 
duties with ability and regard for the public welfare. A native of Erie 
county, Pennsylvania, he was born on the 30th of January, 1851, and is 
a son of James and Abigail (Allen) Ryan. The parents were natives 
respectively of Pennsylvania and New York and were married in the 
Keystone state, where they continued to reside until called by death. 
In their family were nine children, four of whom survive. 

	George W. Ryan received a good education, attending normal school 
after completing the course offered in the public schools. He remained 
under the parental roof until he attained his majority, teaching school 
for three winters and working on a farm during the summer months. He 
continued to engage in teaching until April, 1883, when he removed to 
South Dakota and located in Walworth county on a farm which he still 
owns. He worked diligently and to good purpose and as the years passed 
he prospered financially and purchased additional land, so that he now 
holds title to seven hundred and twenty acres, all of which is under 
cultivation. He raises stock of all kinds and finds that occupation 
very profitable. Mr. Ryan is also president of the elevator company at 
Java and the prosperity of the concern is largely due to his business 
ability and good management. He is a member of the Java Equity Union 
and. a director and president of the Java Equity Exchange, which is an 
organization of farmers for their protection and benefit. They deal in 
grain, coal and farm implements and are doing an excellent business. 

	Mr. Ryan was married in 1881 to Miss Mary A. Zindel, a native of 
Forest county, Pennsylvania, and a daughter of Conrad and Elizabeth 
(Babendorf) Zindel. Her father, who was a native of Germany, has passed 
away, as has also her mother. Mr. and Mrs. Ryan have become the parents 
of five children: Mabel, the wife of Robert Wagy, a resident of Freda, 
North Dakota; Ethel E., who married P. L. Nies and resides in Montana; 
Helen D., who is teaching school and resides at home; and two who died 
in infancy. 

	Mr. Ryan is a republican and takes quite an active and prominent 
part in political affairs. He was a member of the last territorial 
legislature, which convened in 1889, and he also represented his 
district in the state senate in the session of 1911. He has filled a 
number of local offices, serving as school treasurer for several years 
and for two terms, from 1903 to 1907, was auditor of Walworth county. 
Although he began his career without capital and without influence he 
is now one of the well-to-do residents of his county and is recognized 
as one of the foremost men in the locality.