xmas wish tyn

A Mix of Ryan Articles

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. My files still contain odd items about our family which don't fit into just one category. This assortment of news articles was taken from the Aberdeen Evening News, Aberdeen, South Dakota. The common link for these articles is the Ryan family of South Dakota.

There are a number of articles dealing with James J.(JJ) Boney and his killer, S.W. Hedge (or Hedges). Various articles describe Hedge's trial and sentence. He served time in the State Penitentiary in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, for murder. It is thought Hedge died in jail during the Nineteen Forties; however, I have not confirmed that yet. When first captured, Hedge told authorities his name was 'Jack Martin'. Police Officers did not believe him, but could not get Hedge to reveal his true name. The interesting part of this story is how Police discovered his real name. One of JJ Boney's out-of-town mourners was Henry Ryan. Henry's parents were Richard Ryan and Nora Boney of Allamakee County, Iowa. Nora (Boney) Ryan was James J. Boney's sister. In a ruse 'Nephew' Henry was 'arrested' by Police and incarcerated in the Chamberlain jail. While in jail Henry gained Hedge's confidence, and Hedge revealed his true identity and hometown to Henry. As Paul Harvey would say, “That is the rest of the story".

JJ Boney & Family (see Boneys)

John "Bob" Ryan (see funeral)

You will also read an article about 5 year old John Ryan who was badly burned in a Kimball fire. John and another boy were playing with matches in a barn. The barn burned down, and both boys were horribly burned. John survived, but the second lad later died of his injuries. Mom would get angry at us for playing with matches too. Both Mom and John were about the same age, and I suspect she still remembered the tragic events of that day.

Another article concerns our Grandfather, Frank Ryan, and the Kimball Post Office. Frank was proud of the second class rating given his Post Office. That meant he could hire an extra man for the next fiscal year. Ratings depended on mail volume, and ratings also determined postal employee's wage and salary.

There is an article about Neal Ryan which you have seen before; however, I added it to this list because it appeared in the Aberdeen newspaper. This article was widely distributed and printed in many newspapers throughout the US. LeRoy Ryan was involved in a serious car accident which left him in critical condition. Other 'cousins' have been involved in traffic accidents, and at least 3 were killed as a result. LeRoy survived. I can still remember when safety features (seat belts, 5 mile crash bumpers, etc.) were unknown.

Uncle Jack Ryan was a well known newspaperman living in Kimball, South Dakota. Jack bought the Pukwana and Kimball newspapers in the early Nineteen Fifties. We knew Jack bought these newspapers; however, Jack also purchased the Mitchell Gazette in Mitchell, South Dakota. One article describes the sale and another article indicates who Jack hired to manage that newspaper. The Mitchell Gazette may have been a weekly newspaper too. "Years ago Jack and I concocted a plan to buy South Dakota weekly newspapers around the state. At that time I was studying 'printing management' at South Dakota State University (SDSU) in Brookings, South Dakota. Jack was convinced we could control small town news in South Dakota by consolidating various weeklies."

Finally, there is an 1894 news article about JC Ryan who lived in White Lake. An arrest warrant was issued for JC who was accused of embezzlement. No one could find him. JC Ryan was related to Ben and John B. Ryan families of Kimball. Ben Ryan sold his mother's house to Frank and Adelaide Ryan. Ben lived with our Ryan grandparents; however, we cannot verify how or if Ben is related. Another mystery can be found in St. Margaret's Cemetery near Kimball, South Dakota. John B. Ryan's family plot is located between the John Boney and Batt Ryan family plots.

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Murder in the Marvin Ryan yard, Kimball, South Dakota

There are two articles regarding Ryans living in Kimball and White Lake. One article describes a Kimball stabbing death at Marvin Ryan's home. Marvin may not be directly related to our family, but we do know a few things about this family. Marvin's family lived in Gregory, South Dakota, and before that we know they spent some time in Tripp, South Dakota. We don't show any record of the family living in Allamakee county, but we do see records that show they lived in a neighboring county in Illinois.

For more information about this murder see Marvin Ryan's Backyard.