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Ryan Library and Archives - James Ryan, Jr.

Downtown Waukon in 1900. A few years earlier, in 1889, James Ryan Jr. decided to make a run for county Sheriff. In those days, the newspapers were defined by their party affiliation. The Waukon Standard, along with the Lansing Mirror, were Republican machines promoting right-wing propaganda. The Waukon Democrat, on the other hand, was the Democratic propaganda engine, but appeared less volatile in its verbal attacks on the Republican candidates.

The articles that follow are related to James Ryan, Jr., a brother to Bat Ryan.

James and Bat Ryan built the Central House in the late 1870s, about the same time as the railroad came into Waukon. By 1880 the Central House was home to a number of local citizens, as well as home for some of the people who worked at the hotel. In addition to the James Ryan household, Bridget (Hill) Ryan's sister, Margaret, was also an employee of the hotel. Margaret would later marry a local young man by the name of John Fitzgerald.

Also attached to the hotel was a saloon, and that is where our story begins.

Lansing Mirror, Friday October 18, 1889. In 1889, James Ryan Jr. decided to run for political office, and threw his "hat" into the run for county sheriff.

The "Mirror" reported the results of the Democratic convention, and while it suggested a weakness of the Democratic ticket, they were more "pointed" in their remarks about James Ryan, Jr. The major issue that separated the two parties was prohibition - the Republicans wanted to outlaw liquor totally, while the Democrats wanted to tax the local saloons to make them more responsible.

The Mirror told its readers that James Ryan, being an ex-saloon keeper, had no integrity, and that you cannot pick "any Tom, Dick and Harry and make a sheriff of him." Lansing, Iowa, was home to a number or Republican candidates, and suggested that all its readers vote Republican.

Waukon Standard, Thursday October 17, 1889. This was generally an impartial view of the Democratic Party Convention, and it makes an interesting read on the rhetoric associated with conventions of the day. The major issue was prohibition of alcohol, and an article adjacent to this article shows the emotions of the day?

"Telegrams were received from the Dakota's giving the results of the elections which were received with a "general rising," a Chautauquo salute, after which Mrs. Foster kneeling in her place gave thanks to God for this victory for Prohibition.

James Ryan was voted as candidate during the 8th round of votes, and was something the Republicans focused their negative comments around.

Waukon Democrat, Wednesday October 23, 1889. The "Democrat" published a response to the charges levied by the Lansing Mirror. It told its readers that James Ryan was a "temperate man, never gets intoxicated", and that he never directly or indirectly managed the saloon located at the Central House.

It was this article that prompted the Allamakee Historical Society to do some further research on the Central House. They had never heard of this enterprise before, and the linkage to the 1889 election made it a fascinating study. Before he and Bat built the Central House, he farmed west of Waukon. The Ryans were long-time farmers in the area, and by 1917, James Ryan Sr.'s children were no longer found on the maps. Maps of Allamakee.

Waukon Standard, Thursday October 31, 1889. Allamakee County was a Democratic county, and newspapers like the "Standard" and the "Mirror" were telling the voters of the County to "break the stronghold" of the Waukon ring (party candidates). James Ryan, by the time he ran, had some experience with the sheriff's office, but they were castigating him for a far greater crime - pandering to the Germans.

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Waukon Standard, Thursday October 31, 1889. The Republicans ran J. B. Minert, from Waukon, against James Ryan Jr. The voters were asked to either vote for "drunkards" or Republicans.

Postville Review, Postville, Allamakee Co. Iowa , October 19, 1889. The candidates were making their way through the little towns of Allamakee, as this note shows:

J.B. MINERT and J.P. RAYMOND, republican candidates for sheriff and superintendaent, were in town yesterday.

Jas. RYAN, the democratic candidate for sheriff was over on Tuesday

So did James Ryan become Sheriff? The answer is "no". Perhaps this run and the smear campaign he endured, was one of the factors for moving his family to Canada to live. Eventually he ended up in Cushing, Oklahoma; and it was here that he ran into greater fortunes.