Bryant, Charles W. (1834-1900)

BRYANT

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 9/24/2019 at 23:16:09

Charles W. Bryant
Dec 3, 1834 - 1900

(From the 1883 History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, by J. H. Keatley, p.63, Belknap Twp)
C. W. Bryant, of Norton & Bryant, hardware, Oakland, was born in Keutucky December 3, 1834. He is the son of James M. and Elizabeth (Sulenger) Brj'ant; his father was born in Georgia about 1808. He moved to Kentucky, and afterward to Missouri about 1836. He was married near Vincennes, Knox Co., Ind. He lived in Scotland County, Mo., for several years, and in 1843 moved to Putnam County, Mo. In 1850, he came with his family to Council Bluffs (then Kauesville). He first lived in a little log cabin, situated just west of where the Pacific House now stands. In the summer of 1850, he bought a Mormon claim, located about one mile east of the Ogden House; he died September 16, 1851. The family moved back to Scotland County, Mo., in the following spring. Our subject's mother was born in Indiana in 1813. He left her in Scotland County, Mo., and in the spring of 1853 came to Couucil Bluffs, where he worked with his uncle, A. S. Bryant, on his farm till the spring of 1860. The three following years he was in Colorado and New Mexico. He returned to the Bluffs and assisted his uncle in the Farmers' Hotel. He afterward went in partnership with Henry Thatcher, and kept a provision store on the Union Pacific Bailway, while that road was being built. They were located at different points on that road at different times. They sold out, and our subject returned to the Bluffs, and engaged in the grocery business, in connection with E. Hubbard. He sold out shortly afterward, and for some time was engaged in various occupations, finally going in partnership with his brother, R. T. Bryant, and W. B. Clark in the real estate business. They bought eighty acres of land of A. S. Bryant, situated west and north of the Union Pacific Transfer Depot. They divided it up into town lots. In September, 1870, our subject, with his brother, opened a dry goods and furniture store. In December of the same year, they moved their business to Avoca, this county, where they continued it till the election of R. T. as Clerk of the District Court, after which subject conducted the business till the spring of 1876, when he sold out. He then clerked for C. H. Norton in a hardware store in Avoca. After this he went in partnership with his brother, J. C. Norton, and opened up in the hardware business in Oakland. They added a line of furniture, and the firm still stands Norton & Bryant. Our subject was married in Council Bluffs, on March 7, 1871, by Rev. P. H. Cleland, to Louisa F. Brockie, born in St. Louis, Mo., in 1852. She was the daughter of Henry and Jennie (Wells) Brockie, both natives of Glasgow, Scotland. They came to this country in 1850, landing in New Orleans. La. They lived for a time in St. Louis, and came to Council Bluffs in 1857. The father is dead, and the mother is at present living in Mills County, this State.