Minahan received a public school education, and then entered the State Normal School at Oshkosh, Wisconsin, where he graduated in 1880. He went to work as a teacher for two years at Cedarburg, Wisconsin, where he saved money to continue his education. In 1882, he moved to Chicago with his wife and brother to study at Rush Medical College. While Robert studied, John worked as a street car operator to pay for expenses. After earning his M.D. in 1886, Robert went to work at Calumet Harbor, Wisconsin, and paid for his brother, John, to enter medical school.
