PROFILE of
EDWARD RYAN
Women carrying banner in parade
8th MO Infantry (US)
Company E
 
War Memorial in background; the 8th Missouri participants
in the downtown St. Louis Veterans Day parade

Edward Ryan (alias Edwin Hinds), was born in Ireland.   He enlisted in the Army in May 1861, in St. Louis, Missouri, under the name of EDWARD RYAN (his real name).   He entered Company ‘E’ of the 8th Missouri, also known as the "American Zouaves".
 
On April 7th 1862, he received a wound at the battle of Shiloh.   His right arm was fractured from a shell, and he was treated at Corinth.   He was in this regiment till about 1863.   Then he went home having no discharge.
 
Edward Ryan stayed at home till Sep 1, 1864, when he re-entered the Army in Ohio.   He joined the Ohio Volunteer Infantry 25th Regiment, Company ‘E’.   His name was changed to EDWIN HINDS.   Since he was not able to read or write his name, the name remained wrong throughout the enlistment.
 
At the battle of Honey Hill, South Carolina (Nov 30, 1864), he received gunshot wounds to the left side and right shoulder.   He was in General Hospital at Hilton Head, South Carolina for 2 months.   Edward Ryan (alias Edwin Hinds) was honorably discharged July 15, 1865, from Charleston, South Carolina.
 
His records state that he was 5’ 8” tall with dark complexion, dark hair, and light eyes.   His occupation before the war was Blacksmith.   He lived in Norwalk, Huron County, Ohio after the war, where he was married to ANNA WATTERS, by Rev. F. Thomas Thorp.


RECORDS AT THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES

EDWARD RYAN alias EDWIN HINDS
Soldier’s Certificate # 196689
CAN # 3775
BUNDLE # 35


HIS OBITUARY

EDWARD RYAN Obituary March 16, 1905, Newaygo, Michigan Newspaper
After suffering many weeks from heart trouble caused by a wound received while in the Army, EDWARD RYAN died at his home Sunday March 12th at 11:30 pm, aged 63 years.    
Deceased was born in Ireland in 1842, while still a young man he came to this country and enlisted in the Army.   After serving 3 years in a Missouri Regiment, he was honorably discharged and went to Ohio, in which place he again enlisted and fought during the last year of the war.   In 1865 he was united in marriage to Miss ANNA WATTERS of Norwalk, Ohio.   Their union was blessed with 13 children 6 of which survived him, namely:
 
    Mr. FRANK RYAN and Mrs. W. WILSON of Chicago, Illinois;
    Mrs. JAMES WHALEN, Grand Rapids, Michigan;
    Mrs. WILLIAM SUMNER, Mt. Pleasant, Michigan;
    Miss MATILDA RYAN of Newaygo, Michigan.
 
After residing in Ohio 11 years he came to Michigan, residing 1 year in Kalamazoo, Michigan, after which he came to Newaygo, Michigan, where he lived until his death released him from his earthly troubles.
 
The Funeral was held from the Catholic Church Wednesday morning at 10:30, Rev. Father Delanty officiating.


SOCIETY ARCHIVES AT THE NEWAYGO COUNTY LIBRARY

Newaygo Cemetery Sexton's Record
EDWARD RYAN
12 March 1905
Interment: H Lot 182 Grave 4
Cause of death: Augurea Pectoris


RECORDS AT THE MICHIGAN STATE LIBRARY:
Civil War Pension Records

US ARMY
EDWARD RYAN (Alias) EDWIN HINDS
Pg. 2 S.D. 4 ED 213 Newaygo, Michigan
Application # Invalid 283.330 Certificate # 196.689
Sep 1, 1864 to July 25, 1865 10 Months & 21 days
Widow ANNA RYAN Application # 835.231


The above information comes from Bill Paret, a descendent of Edward Ryan.   Bill Paret’s Scenario of the ‘alias’: EDWARD RYAN went back into the Army under an assumed name (EDWIN HINDS) because he was absent without leave, or have been paid to go into the service for someone else, then again it might have been a honest mistake.