John Ruan (politician)

Along with his wife, Catherine Clark, he emigrated to the United States in 1834, landing in New York City. After living there for two years, he moved to Illinois in 1836. There, he worked as a foreman, helping to build the Illinois and Michigan Canal.

Ruan visited Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1839, staying with the family of Matthew Keenan. His visit to the city persuaded him to purchase 160 acres (0.65 km²) of land in Milwaukee County in May 1841. Once in the county, he became involved in civic life. Ruan served in the Wisconsin State Assembly in 1855 and 1860;^[1] served one year as a supervisor of Oak Creek, Wisconsin in the 1870s.

Ruan’s son James was elected as County Superintendent of Schools for Milwaukee County in 1880.^[2]

John Ruan is buried at Calvary Catholic Cemetery in Milwaukee, WI.

Ruan was a Democrat and a practicing Roman Catholic.^{[citation needed]}

This article incorporates text from the 1909 edition of Memoirs of Milwaukee County, by Jerome Anthony Watrous which is in the public domain in the United States.