Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 699 - 700 

ROBERT E. RYAN, editor of the Sunday Growler, Wichita, the records say was born at Milltown, Ind., on the 4th day of February, 1844. He attended the common schools of the county until 1860, then was graduated at St. Mary's College, Marion County, Ky. School-teaching in Indiana then engaged his energies for a short time, but being of a patriotic turn of mind, he enlisted in the 38th Indiana Volunteers, and went on Sherman's "famous march to the sea." When Gen. Johnston surrendered the rebel flag to Union hands he thought it time to repair to the city of Washington and receive an honorable discharge, which he did. He then returned to his native heath and began to study medicine, and attended medical lectures at Louisville, Ky., in 1869 and 1870. The study pleased him, but to the practice he was averse.

            Mr. Ryan struck journalism next, starting the Democrat at Leavenworth, Ind. He afterward went to Cloverport, Ky., and started the Transcript, and there he became the correspondent of the Louisville Courier-Journal. It is gratifying to know that both the above papers were prosperous. In 1874 he went to Indianapolis and did editorial work on the Saturday Herald for the well-known George C. Harding, in an acceptable manner to its management. From there he went to Louisville, Ky., and followed his journalistic work for twelve years, principally in the way of writing special articles for leading journals throughout the country, over the nom de plume of "Roland Rivers." During this time he had charge of the Press Department of the Louisville Exposition for seven consecutive years.

            In March, 1887, Mr. Ryan came to Wichita, and at once took a prominent position in the profession to which he is so devotedly attached. He is a writer of unusual ability, and is so recognized by all who read his productions.

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