From the 1912 book Past and Present of Hardin County Iowa, pages 866-868:
CHARLES O. RYAN.
The history of Hardin county will be more interesting to at least the major part of our readers if the career of Charles O. Ryan be included, for it has been one of interest and usefulness and has proven that, while there is no royal road to success, life's ambitions may be attained if the proper efforts are put forth along legitimate lines. Mr. Ryan was born at Portsmouth, Ohio, on a farm, December 8, 1870, and he is the son of George W. and Barbara (Atley) Ryan. The father was a Civil war soldier in the Seventieth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Charles O. Ryan spent his boyhood on the farm and was educated at the National Normal University at Lebanon. Ohio. He came to Iowa Falls when he was twenty-one years old and soon afterward bought a country store and creamery at Cottage, and followed that business for three years, getting a good start the meanwhile. He then sold out and moved to Hubbard, where he went into the grocery business, continuing the same for three years, then was elected county recorder by the Republicans, which office he filled to the entire satisfaction of his constituents, in fact, made such a splendid record that he was re-elected two years later without opposition, also re-elected for the third term without opposition, and this is certainly evidence of his popularity in his home locality. After his term of office expired he entered the general merchandise business at Eldora. For some time he has been dealing in real state, there being no man better advised on lands in Hardin county; he has bought and sold hundreds of farms. He is deserving of a great deal of credit for what he has accomplished, having come here with no capital and without any assistance; through his own efforts he has become one of the leading and solid men of his own county. With rare foresight, which he has always manifested, he could see that this county had a great future and he decided to "grow up with it." He bought his first business of W. A. Carroway, on credit, paying for it at the rate of fifty dollars per month. He was self-reliant and developed his own resources. In 1906 he sold out his mercantile business and has since devoted his entire attention to land deals, in which he has been eminently successful. He has always maintained well furnished and attractive offices.

On January 15, 1900, he was appointed postmaster at Eldora by President Taft, for a term of four years, beginning January 26, 1910, and he proved to be a most faithful public servant, but on August 27, 1910, he resigned and moved to Greeley, Colorado, in order to secure a more healthful climate for himself and family. At the same time he resigned as president of the local school board, of which he had been a member for eight years and president for two years. He also resigned as referee in bankruptcy for this county, having held that position for two years. He was township trustee of Tipton township prior to being elected recorder, and he resigned that office.

The domestic life of Mr. Ryan began when he married Ocie Jones, daughter of Capt. Paul and Elizabeth (Clark) Jones, the mother born and reared at Portsmouth, Ohio, and the father was captain of a company in the Seventieth Ohio Volunteer Infantry during the Civil war. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Ryan, namely: Ethel, who is now in her third year at Cornell College, Mt. Vernon, Iowa, is nineteen years old; Jessie, who is sixteen years old, is in her junior year in the Greeley high school; Elvin J., twelve years old, is attending the Colorado State Normal School at Greeley, as is also Frank Willard, now seven years of age.

Fraternally, Mr. Ryan, is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Modern Woodmen. He and his wife belong to the Methodist church. When he lived at Cottage, Iowa, he was superintendent of the Methodist Sunday school for three years, and he was superintendent of the Sunday school at Hubbard for two years, and he served in this capacity in Eldora six years. He is a man of fine personality, genteel, frank, kind and obliging and trustworthy.

Returning to Eldora in June, 1911, Mr. Ryan organized the Iowa Investment Company, of which he is now president. This company has probably the finest suite of offices in Hardin county and deals in Iowa lands exclusively. Mr. Ryan has handled some of the largest real estate deals ever made in Iowa and carries at the top of his letter-head the following: "We have sold more Hardin county land during the last twelve years than all other real estate dealers combined." He has given liberally of his means to the church and to other worthy causes and no person in need was ever turned away empty handed. He has assisted in building more than a dozen churches in Hardin county. Mr. Ryan has a beautiful home in Eldora and is the owner of several fine Iowa farms. Asked what contributed most toward his success in life, Mr. Ryan replied: "Loyalty to my friends and unbounded faith in Iowa."