John Henry Ryan (1865 - 1943) was a businessman, newspaperman, and state legislator in the U.S. state of Washington.[1] [2] He lived in Tacoma, Washington. He was a member of the NAACP.[3] He was elected as a member of three different political parties.
He and his wife published The Weekly and then The Forum newspapers.[4]
In 1889, William Owen Bush became the first African American to serve in Washington’s legislature, serving at its inaugural session. Charles Stokes was elected to the legislature in the early 1950s.[5]
He served in 1921 and 1923.[6] He and other House members were included in a photo montage of members.[7] He wore glasses.[8]
He was the only African American serving in the Washington House of Representatives. He was in the Tacoma branch of the NAACP. He helped defeat a proposal for an anti-intermarriage bill.[9]
He was born in Chillicothe, Ohio. He was one of 12 children born to George R. and Mary Elizabeth (Gatliffe) Ryan. He married Ella Alexander.[2] She edited their newspaper The Forum.[2] She wrote an editorial against chain gang]]s.[1]
His grandmother was Cherokee.[1]
He compiled Ryan's Legislative Manual published in 1907.[1] He opposed a proposed bill to fingerprint vagrants.[1]
He changed his name to Senator J. H. Ryan.[1] He published Ryan's Weekly.[1]