Grand Island Daily Independent 26 July 1923, p. 1 & 4

Former Mayer Ryan Leaves
End of a Lifetime of Service to community Which He Loved

The Citizens of Grand Island area again called upon to witness the departure from their community activities of one who not only ranked among their foremost workers from the viewpoint of intelligently directed effort, but also of one who had outstandingly good qualities of heart and mind. They are today called upon to mourn the loss of Hon. Charles G. Ryan, whose closest, most serviceable and generally notable relation to them was as mayor for three terms and as the first president of the present organization known as the Chamber of Commerce. wholly unnecessary it would seem to be to add that the sincerest sympathy of all of Grand Island goes out, in their dark hours, to the beloved wife and daughter and to the distant brother and sisters, and that Grand Island feels its own keen loss of an especially capable and dutiful citizen.

Charles G. Ryan, whose death occurred at his home late on Wednesday afternoon, was born on December 4, 1861, and had, therefore, reached the age of 61 years and seven months. His parents at the time lived on a farm near Virden, Ill. After graduating from the Virden high school he took the law course at the University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor, graduating with the class of 1885, of which he was elected president. The year following he spent with a surveying force in Texas, Colorado and New Mexico. While returning to his home from this engagement, in November, 1887, he stopped off in Grand Island to visit with his college mate, R. R. Horth, which visit with his friends led to the establishment of his law practice in this city, a practice that has been continued uninterruptedly for the thirty-six years intervening, nearly all of it being in close partnership, not only in business but in a social way, with the man whom he has regarded, and who has regarded him, as affectionately as a brother; for in all of these years—a fact indicative of the high character of both—not once has there been even the slightest breach of friendship or sincere regard. for many years the two practiced law under the firm name of Horth & Ryan. Only lately has the firm been enlarged to Horth, Ryan, Cleary & Suhr.

Mr. Ryan was married in December, 1896, to Miss Evelyn Murphy, only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. M. Murphy, formerly prominent citizens of this city. the union has been blessed with one daughter, Miss Evelyn, who has for the past few years been attending one of the higher educational institutions of the east.

Exceptional Community Service
Mr. Ryan was elected as county attorney in 1896, his terms being featured by the prosecution of several of the most important cases in the history of the courts of the county. He was elected mayor in 1911 and his administration was so successful, and so generally acceptable to the people, that he was one of the two ever re-elected for a third term in succession. It may be said that his service to his fellowmen in this capacity was marked by that spirit of conservatism which proceeds safely and surely to meet the needs of a growing city, without endangering it to the so often serious reactions that follow overbooming. A clear thinker, a reliable and conscientious advisor in financial affairs, especially in connection with not only national, state, but also local governments, he led the community along sound lines. Moreover, this was done in a way often exhibiting a most commendable tolerance with the differing opinions of others, notwithstanding the fact that he was a man of strong individual convictions once being formed. As the official head of the city, therefore, for six successive years, his service was preeminently valuable and richly deserving of the homage paid him since and now.

But not only does Grand Island owe him a debt of gratitude for the community service her rendered as the executive of the city, but scarcely less noteworthy were his efforts in other respects. HE was elected as the first president of the organization known as the Chamber of Commerce. This was about the year 1906 or 1907. for five years he was the head of this voluntary community service organization, resigning only when his duties as mayor became such as to make the retirement necessary. during this term of years much was done by him to advance various interests in Grand Island.

He was a leader in his high profession—not only locally but throughout the state, and was several years ago the president of the Nebraska State Bar association. further indicative of the high regard for his ability he was offered the position of judge of the supreme court by Governor Sheldon. the latter was a republican and Mr. Ryan was a life-long member of the democratic party, though declining to leave the conservative wing of the same during the Cleveland-Bryan break over the free silver issue. This tender on the part of the governor, to what may well be regarded as the highest office in the state, was, however, respectfully declined, Mr. Ryan being too greatly devoted to the practice of the profession which he had chosen as his life's work.

He was the president of the Equitable Building & Loan association for fifteen years, following the death of the lamented Louis Veit, and had for fifteen years prior thereto been a director of this upbuilding organization. He was for many years vice president of the Grand Island National bank and in later years a prominent stockholder in the First National; he was vice president of the Grand Island Gas company; for some years the president of the Koehler Hotel Building company; was the vice president of the Dolan Fruit company, and was the legal adviser and friendly counsellor of the recently organized mutual insurance company. He was a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and retained a constant membership in the oldest social organization of the city, the Liederkranz, its public service in the way of maintaining a public auditorium always appealing to him, as dis also the industry and the tenacity with which the pioneer settlers adhered to their original purposes during the trying Civil War time and the plagues that followed. Democratic politically, he was even more thoroughly democratic in the broader sense, class, race, or religion creating not a vestige of unwholesome bias in his mind. Movements along popular, democratic, entire-community lines, if of merit, almost without exception met not only his approval but were given his effective assistance. during the late war he was chairman of the Red Cross and of the county fuel administrations.

In Social Affairs.
In strictly social affairs he was first a lover of his family and home. A lover of literature and of the other arts, he was in his earlier years not only himself eloquent of speech as required by his profession, but loved the drama, and often participated in dramatic efforts. Music, too, ever had in him a supporter and devotee. In matters of religion his connection was with the St. Stephen's Episcopal church. Often called upon by the older families of the county to deliver funeral addresses, he always evidenced a sound, deep conviction of the eternity of the soul, and of a reuniting in the hereafter. In his own personal commercial affairs—a life of active service and of sound principles of thrift, by an unusually capable man, could not otherwise than be successful.

Besides his devoted wife and daughter he is survived by one brother, John, of Los Angeles, Cal., and two sisters, Mrs. J. W. Weedmark, of Porterville, Cal., and Mrs. E. Deeds, of Chicago.

The funeral will take place on Friday afternoon, at 2:30 o'clock, from the St. Stephen's Episcopal church, the rector, The Rev. J. G. Creede, officiating, assisted by the Rt. Rev. Bishop George A. Beecher. It is requested that there be no flowers.