Bryant, Evan D.

BRYANT

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 6/13/2021 at 13:57:20

EVAN D. BRYANT
born Oct 28, 1833, Indiana

Captain Evan D. Bryant, a farmer, ex-County Treasurer and one of the well known and highly respected citizens of Warren county, Iowa, was born near Indianapolis, in Hendricks county, Indiana, October 28, 1833. He was the third of eight children born to Silas and Nancy (Tincher) Bryant. Five of the children are now living, namely: Mary Jane, wife of A.P. Keeney, of Indianola; Evan D., the subject of this sketch; Fannie S., now Mrs. John S. Jones, of Las Animas, Colorado; Sallie, wife of Wesley Johnson, of Danville, Indiana; and Nancy E., now Mrs. Estep, also of that place. The father, Silas Bryant, was born in Kentucky in 1802, and he resided there until twenfive years of age, removing thence to Hendricks county, Indiana, where he spent theremainder of his life. He was a farmer and stock-raiser by occupation, had a long and successful business career, and was a broad-minded and public-spirited gentleman. Mr. Bryant was a devout Christian from early manhood, and during his entire life his energies were largely devoted to religious matters. For many years he was a local minister of marked ability and influence, and for a long time also he was a zealous member of the Masonic order. Mr. Bryant departed this life June 12, 1872, at the age of seventy years; his wife died a few years afterward. The first American ancestors of the Bryant family came to this country in early Colonial days; settling in Virginia.
Edwin D. Bryant, the subject of this sketch, spent his early life in Indiana. August 20, 1861, he joined the “boys in blue,” enlisting in the first three years regiment the Seventh Indiana, that left the State, going out as First Lieutenant of Company H. They were first under fire at Greenbrier mountain, later at Winchester under General Shields, was engaged in fighting “Stonewall” Jackson, joined the Army of the Potomac and took part in all the battles engaged in by that army. The day before the battle of Port Republic Mr. Bryant was promoted to the position of Captain of his company, and in that fight he was wounded by the bursting of a shell, which killed and wounded seventeen men. Mr Bryant was struck by a ball in his right side, fracturing two ribs and was imbedded in his side. It was subsequently extracted, and is still in his possession, a striking memento of a marvelous escape from death. A few weeks afterward Captain Bryant joined his regiment, and from that time on was always found in the discharge of his duty at the head of his company, never again having lost a day from active service. He was not again seriously wounded, although many times exposed to the chances of battle. He participated in the second battle of Bull Run, Rappahannock Station, Chancellorsville, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Gettysburg, Mine Run, Wilderness, Spottsylvania, Bethesda Church, Cold Harbor, Chickahominy, Petersburg and many minor engagements. Captain Bryant's company was a part of the First Brigade First Division of the First Army Corps, and known as the “Old Iron Brigade,.” When leaving the breast-works at Petersburg to start for home his company showed nine muskets, the remainder of the company being sick, wounded, in hospitals or dead. Captain Bryant was mustered out of service September 7, 1864, at Indianapolis, having honorably and ably served his country in the field for more than three years, a record to which his descendants can point with pride for generations after Captain Bryant shall have “gone over to the silent majority.” Returning home, he spent the winter in a long needed rest. In April, 1865, he located in White Oak township, Warren county, Iowa, where he has since made his home. An energetic, broad- minded business man, Captain Bryant has always been successful in his business ventures. He now owns a fine farm of nearly 400 acres in sections 21 and 22, all under fence, with a stream running through the entire place, making it a valuable stock farm. He has made a specialty of that occupation for a number of years. Captain Bryant is recognized as the ablest auctioneer of this entire region, possessing a magnificent physique, added to a genial manner and a wit which is irresistible. He averages fully 100 sales per year in this and adjoining counties. Captain Bryant is one of the most widely known and highly respected men in this part of the State. In political matters, he is an earnest and uncompromising Republican. For many years he served as School Director, and in 1878 was elected to the position of County Treasurer, serving in that capacity with credit to himself and to the entire satisfaction of the county for the full four years of his incumbency. In his social relations, the Captain is a member of the I.O.O.F., having joined that order in 1856, and has been an earnest worker in the same for forty years. He recently became a member of the A.O.U.W. In 1869 our subject was united in marriage with Sarah Samantha Robison, a native of Ohio and a daughter of Robert and Mary (Trimble) Robison, also natives of that State. The father is deceased, but the mother still survives. Samuel Trimble, the grandfather of Mrs Bryant, is also still living, aged nearly 100 years. Mr. and Mrs. Bryant have six children, viz: Nancy Ellen, Charles Edgar, Silas Robert, Mary Belle, Evan D., and Nellie May. Source: A Memorial and Biographical Record of Iowa, Lewis Publishing Co., Chicago, Illinois, 1896, vol.1, p.259

History of Warren County, Iowa from Its Earliest Settlement to 1908, by Rev. W. C. Martin, Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, Illinois, 1908, p.975
EVAN D. BRYANT
Warren county's citizens are ever glad to pay honor to the memory of Captain Bryant, while his associates in life speak of him in terms of the highest respect and cherish his memory as a sacred treasure. This is not because he won national renown or did special work which called to him wide attention but because in the everyday duties of life he was faithful and in all of his relations with his fellowmen was honorable. He possessed, too, qualities of friendship that were manifest in a genial spirit and a kindly interest in those with whom he came in contact. Aside from the service which be rendered his country as a soldier of the Civil war, he capably filled the position of county treasurer of Warren County, while in his business career he was known as a leading farmer.
Captain Bryant was born near Indianapolis in Hendricks County, Indiana October 28, 1833, a son of Silas and Nancy (Trochee) Bryant. Of their family of eight children four are now living: Mary Jane, the wife of A. P. Kinney of Indianola; Fanny S., the wife of S. Jones, of Las Animas, Colorado; Sallie, the wife of Wesley Johnson of Danville, Indiana; and Mrs. Nancy E. Estep, also of Danville. The father. Silas Bryant, was born in Kentucky in 1802 and at the age of twenty-five years left his native state for Hendricks County, Indiana, where he spent his remaining days. He was successful in his undertakings as a farmer and stock-raiser and was thus enabled to provide a comfortable home for his family. He was also a broadminded and public-spirited gentleman and a devout Christian man, who was always a close student of the Bible and who exemplified in his life the teach­ings of the Christian religion. For many years he was a local minister of marked ability and influence and for a long time was classed with the exemp­lary members of the Masonic fraternity. He died June 12, 1872, at the age of seventy years, while his wife passed away a few years later.
Captain Bryant, whose name introduces this review, was reared upon the home farm in Indiana and early became familiar with the best methods of tilling the soil and caring for the crops. He responded to the country's call for aid on the 20th of August, 1861, joining the first three years' regiment of his state, known as the Seventh Indiana Infantry. He went to the front as the first lieutenant of Company H and hurried at once into active duty, being under fire at Green Briar Mountain, while later he was at Winchester under General Shields, meeting the enemy under General "Stonewall" Jack­son. Joining the army of the Potomac, he took part in all of the battles in which it was engaged and the day before the battle of Port Republic he was promoted to the captaincy of his company. In that engagement he was wounded by a bursting shell, which killed and injured seventeen men. Mr. Bryant was struck by a ball in his right side and two ribs were broken. The ball was subsequently extracted and is now in possession of Mrs. Bryant. A few weeks after his injury, Captain Bryant rejoined his regiment and from that time on was continuously with his company, never again losing a day from active service. Although he was frequently in the thickest of the fight, he did not again suffer from the enemy's bullets and by his own valor and bravery he inspired his men to deeds of courage. He participated in the sec­ond battle of Bull Run and also the engagements at Rappahannock Station, Chancellorsville, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Gettysburg, Mine Run, the Wilder­ness, Spottsylvania, Bethesda Church, Cold Harbor, Chickahominy, Petersburg and many minor engagements. Captain Bryant's company was a part of the First Brigade, First Division of the First Army Corps, known as the "Old Iron Brigade." When leaving the breastworks at Petersburg to start for home, his company showed nine muskets, for the remainder of the Com­pany were ill, wounded, in the hospitals or dead. Captain Bryant was mus­tered out of service September 7, 1864, at Indianapolis having honorably and ably served his country on the field of battle for more than three years. Captain Bryant spent the winter in a long needed rest and in April 1865, became a resident of Warren County, Iowa, where he remained until called to the home beyond. He first settled in White Oak township and as the years passed he gained a place among the most prosperous, progressive and energetic farmers of the community. Making judicious investments in land, he became the owner of a fine farm of nearly four hundred acres on sections 21 and 22, and this he converted into productive fields. It was well watered by a running stream, which made it a valuable stock farm, and for a considerable period Captain Bryant made a specialty of raising stock, in which he met with gratifying success. He was also recognized as the ablest auctioneer of this entire region, for he possessed a magnificent physique, a genial manner and ready wit which was irresistible. He held, on an average, fully one hundred sales per year in Warren and adjoining counties and he not only successfully conducted business for others who sought his services in that respect, but also won friends wherever he went.
In 1869 Captain Bryant was married to Miss Sarah Samantha Robeson, a native of Ohio and a daughter of Robert and Mary (Trimble) Robeson, also natives of that state. Her father was a farmer and in 1860 removed from Ohio to Iowa, settling in White Oak Township. He was a veteran of the Mexican war and both he and his wife died in Creston, Iowa. Their daughter, Mrs. Bryant, was born in Knox County, Ohio, in 1850. Captain and Mrs. Bryant began their domestic life on the farm, where they continued to reside until the death of Captain Bryant, September 24, 1905. In November of the same year, Mrs. Bryant removed to Indianola, where she now makes her home.
Captain Bryant is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen and for almost a half century was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, having joined the organization in 1856. His political support was unfalteringly given the Republican Party and for many years he served as school director, while in 1878 he was called to the position of county treas­urer and proved a most faithful incumbent in that office. Captain Bryant made friends wherever he went and his death was the occasion of deep and widespread regret. He was always loyal to any cause he espoused and in citizenship was as faithful in days of peace as when he followed the old flag on southern battlefields: None questioned his business integrity and none ever found that through intention did he ever encroach upon the rights of another.