Captain John
Ryan Memorial Park
John Ryan was born in West Newton
Massachusetts August 25, 1845, a town whose very beginnings go back
to King Phillip’s War and the American Revolution. Although
John’s father, the first Irishman to live in Newton wanted
John to follow in his footsteps as a carpenter, John heeded the
“call to arms” and at the age of 16 joined the Frontier
Army in the newly organized 28th Massachusetts Irish Brigade. John
Ryan was thirty one years of age when he joined the police force,
but what makes him an interesting figure is his prior military
record. His military record reads like a what’s what of
American combat experience: Battle of Second Bull run, 1862; Battle
of Antietam, 1862; the Siege of Petersburg, 1864; the Battle of
Washita, 1868; the Yellowstone Campaign, 1873; the Black Hills
Expedition, 1874; and finally the Battle of the Little Big Horn,
1876.
Among the 7th Cavalrymen fighting at the Little Big Horn, Ryan
stands out as the sole member who also took part in so many other
classic engagements, campaigns or expeditions. His only rival for
such renown would have been George Armstrong Custer himself, who,
ironically, he located and buried after the Battle of the Little
Big Horn June 25, 1876.
Indeed, between his Civil War and Indian War experiences, Ryan took
part in more than 40 engagements and was wounded many times. Yet,
after surviving the perils of so much combat, he moved on to carve
out a fascinating career as a high ranking officer in the Newton
Police Department.
On January 21, 1878 John Ryan, was appointed as patrol officer. He
would retire 35 years later with the rank of Captain of
Police.
John retired on December 31, 1913 with wide acclaim and praise as a
popular and highly-respected member of the Newton Police
Force.
John “M” Ryan died in his home town of West Newton on
October 14, 1926. This park was dedicated to him in 1993.
Engraved on a stone in the park is the following:
“A kind and decent man of courage whose life exemplified
service to family and country”
Credit for the above biography to “The Past Times" and
“The history of the Newton Police Force”.
You get extra credit if you can find out what John's middle initial
stands for, and the name of General Custer's horse!
A little FTF prize and little room for much else.
BYOP and please replace exactly where found. Thanks
EXTRA CREDIT TO DR. MORO FOR ANSWERING THE
BONUS QUESTIONS!