On Thursday morning of last week, John W. Ryan was found dead in his bed at his home northwest of town, death having occurred but a short time before. He had retired the night before apparently in his usual good health, a nephew, a lad about 10 years old, sleeping with him. At about 4 o’clock in the morning, the boy says, his uncle got up and went out to the barn, soon returning with the information that he found a fine young colt out there. Soon after returning to bed he noticed that his uncle clenched his hands and drew them up to his heart as though in pain, but in a minute or two he sank to slumber, as the lad thought, and he, too, soon passed into dreamland, to awaken soon after daylight, and feeling that something unusual had take place aroused his grandmother, who on entering the chamber of her son, learned that he was no more, death having claimed him as his own but a short time before, his body being yet warm. The coroner was notified, but he declared that no action on his part was necessary, as death was undoubtedly caused by heart failure.

The funeral was held Saturday, the interment taking place in the Catholic Cemetery at Fremont, the services being conducted by Rev. Fr. O’Sullivan of the Fremont Catholic Church.

John W. Ryan was born Feb. 2, 1868, at Ft. Calhoun, his parents moving to the farm on which he died when he was only twelve days old, where he has resided ever since. He never married, but has always lived at home with his mother, who with two sisters, Mrs. John Miller and Mrs. Henry Laaker, both living near Blair, survive him.

He has been ailing for several years, but this spring he has been unusually well, and his friends were very much encouraged because of the bright prospect of his ultimate recovery. Less than a week before his death Mr. Ryan was in Arlington and seemed to be in a very happy frame of mind, his improved appearance being noticed by those who met him.

The parents of “Jack” Ryan, as he was familiarly known, came to Washington County away back in the ‘50’s, they coming here from New Jersey, where they were wed. The father died several years ago, but at the age of 85 the mother still lives at the old home, enjoying fairly good health, and makes occasional trip to town. –Review Herald