John J. Ryan was born in Davenport, January 11, 1869, and is the son of Daniel and Julia (Organ) Ryan, natives of County Waterford, Ireland, who came to America and settled in Ilaverstraw, New York. After remaining there a short time the elder Ryan came to Iowa and became engaged in contract work on railroads.
Judge John J. Ryan obtained his primary education in Davenport and graduated with honors from St. Ambrose College in 1886. He then taught school four months, after which he took up the study of law, and being an earnest and apt student was soon fitted to enter the law department of the State University at Iowa City. After remaining there one year, he returned to Davenport and studied one year with E. M. Sharon, and in October of 1889 was admitted to the bar by the Supreme Court, in Des Moines, but not being of age his commission was withheld until the following January, ten days after he attained his majority. He immediately afterward entered in a copartnership with E. M. Sharon, as junior member of the firm of Sharon & Ryan, their partner ship continuing until February of 1893. He was elected police judge the following April.
Judge Ryan is a member of the Scott County Hibernians, Division No. 2; also a member of the Carnival Camp No. 1, Woodmen of the World. He is a Democrat in politics and a Catholic in his church affiliations. He has a fine library, is in all respects a well equipped lawyer and occupies a leading position among the younger members of the bar of Scott County.
BIOGRAPHIES