James Ryan (March 24, 1830 – January 5, 1913) was an Irish American newspaper publisher, Democratic politician, and Wisconsin pioneer.

At the time of his birth, this was unorganized land in Brown County, Michigan Territory, and Ryan was one of the first American children born in what would become the state of Wisconsin.

[1] His parents had arrived there from New York in 1826, just a few months after the completion of the Erie Canal, which facilitated migration to the western territories.

[1] At the outbreak of the American Civil War, Ryan volunteered for service, but was refused, failing the physical examination.

[3] After coming to Green Bay, Sam Ryan served as quartermaster at Fort Howard and was named a colonel of one of the first two militia regiments in the Wisconsin Territory.