John A. Ryan, BiographyPorter County biographical sketches . . . .
Transcribed biography of John A. Ryan
JOHN A. RYAN, M. D. - One who has the distinction of being the second oldest physician now practicing in Valparaiso and who has in the intervening years attained success in his profession, and is a man of broad scholastic and ethical training, was born in South Bend, Indiana, on September 23, 1852. His parents were John L. and Eliza (Nixon) Ryan, the former of whom was a native of Rhode Island and the latter of New York. The descent on the paternal side is of Scotch-Irish, and on the maternal side of English stock. Doctor Ryan is one of seven children born to his parents, of whom he is the third in order of birth; the others are: Mary Ellen, wife of George Becher of North Liberty, Indiana; Elizabeth Ann, deceased; Emma, now Mrs. William Grimes of LaPorte, Indiana; Nixon A., deceased, formerly of Rockford, Illinois; Linnie Margaret of Valparaiso; and Carrie Bell, deceased, who was Mrs. Hiram Dille. An unusual circumstance was the fact that at the time of the birth of our subject, his father was in California mining gold and did not see his son until he was five years of age. In 1840 John L. Ryan removed to South Bend, and a year later was united in marriage, after which they followed farming for a number of years. Dr. John A. Ryan attended the schools of South Bend, and after the completion of his high school course he taught school in the rural districts near South Bend. He then entered the Bennett Medical College of Chicago, where he remained for one year, after which he attended the University at Cincinnati; he later returned to Bennett College, which is now a part of Loyola University. He received his medical degree in 1878, and did post-graduate work in Bellevue Hospital, New York. He established his practice in Valparaiso in 1878 and has since continued in the practice of his profession, having attained a splendid professional success and personal popularity. He does general practice besides specializing in eye, ear, nose, and throat work. Doctor Ryan was united in marriage with Carrie Margaret Wood, the daughter of Augustus and Jessie (Brown) Wood of Hobart. Indiana. Their marriage was solemnized on May 20, 1879, and to them were born three children: Claude Augustus, who died at the age of eleven in 1891; Mabel Blanche; and Glenn W., who is now the owner of a cotton plantation near Canton, Mississippi. Glenn was married to Bernice, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. E. Barnes of Valapaiso, in 1918. Doctor Ryan is a member of the Indiana State Medical Association, Porter County Medical Society, and the Valapraiso Lodge of Masons.
Source: Cannon, Thomas H., H. H. Loring, and Charles J. Robb. 1927. History of the Lake and Calumet Region of Indiana Embracing the Counties of Lake, Porter and Laporte. Volume II. Indianapolis, Indiana: Historians' Association. 827 p.
Page(s) in Source: 529-530
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Biography transcribed by Steven R. Shook