Background
He was born in Lancaster, Pennsylvania and his family moved to Hamilton, Ohio in 1832.
He was born in Lancaster, Pennsylvania and his family moved to Hamilton, Ohio in 1832.
Miami University.
He received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Miami in 1839 and his Bachelor of Laws from Cincinnati in 1842. Ryan was prosecuting attorney of Butler County, Ohio (1848-1862) and clerk of courts (1852-1858). He was appointed by Ohio Governor William Dennison a Colonel in the 50th Ohio Infantry in the Civil War but he died in October 1861 before he was able to serve.