BRYSON, Jesse (1837-1912)

BRYSON

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 7/31/2017 at 17:08:44

Jesse Bryson
(May 3,1837 - April 12, 1912)

The Advocate-Tribune, Indianola, Iowa, Thurs., April 18, 1912, p.3
Mr. Bryson Answers Summons of Death – Former Owner of Novelty Mills Died at His Residence Last Friday, Funeral Held Tuesday
He Made Plans to Celebrate Fifty-Seventh Anniversary Monday
Jesse Bryson, former owner of the Indianola Novelty Roller mills, and one of the early pioneers of Iowa died at his residence on West Salem avenue last Friday afternoon at 2:40 o’clock, following an illness of only a few days. The funeral was held at the residence Tuesday morning and was in charge of the Masonic order, of which Mr. Bryson had been a prominent member for a good many years. Dr. E. M. Holmes, pastor of the Methodist Episcopal Church, assisted at the services. Although Mr. Bryson’s death was not entirely unexpected, it came as a shock to his family and friends. He had been in failing health for four or five months, but his rugged constitution resisted to the last the inroads of the disease, hardening of the arteries, which had threatened his life throughout the winter. While Mr. Bryson had suffered during the cold winter, his condition was not so serious as to compel him to remain indoors. On last Tuesday he was up and about his duties at his home as usual, and in the afternoon raked and seeded his lawn. Through the day he and Mrs. Bryson talked over plans for celebrating their fifty-seventh wedding anniversary Monday April 15, when their children were to have been present to enjoy the occasion with them. He apparently was in good health as usual and entered into plans for the happy occasion to which he looked forward, with unusual interest and enthusiasm.
While at his work out of doors, he contracted a violent cold of which he complained to Mrs. Bryson and his daughter, Mrs. J. H. Watson the following morning. In the afternoon he was seized with a hard chill. Dr. Wm. M. Park the family physician was called, but in spite of everything that could be done Mrs. Bryson continued to grow worse. Pleura-pneumonia set in, which, coupled with his already weakened condition rapidly reduced his remaining strength and baffled all efforts to save his life. He died at 2:40 o’clock Friday afternoon. Mr. Bryson was one of Indianola’s highly estimated and respected citizens. He came to Indianola when the town was a struggling village and therefore was closely identified with its early growth. He came to Indianola in the late sixties and associated with Mr. Pritchard and Major W. H. Hursh, made this one of the important milling centers of southern Iowa.
Jessie Bryson was born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania May 30, 1837 and was therefore almost 75 years of age at the time of his death. He started in at the age of fifteen years to learn the milling business, and at the end of two years had made such progress in that industry that he was given the management of the mill. Shortly before he was eighteen years of age, he was married to Miss Anna Elizabeth Hagans. As children they played together, and when scarcely more than children they were united in marriage. Through all their married life, they had always been together on their wedding anniversary, and Mr. Bryson’s death coming as it did three days before that event, was doubly sad for Mrs. Bryson. With his young bride, Mr. Bryson moved to the middle west, whither he was attracted by the growing demands for the milling industry. He settled first at Muscatine in 1855, where he conducted a planing mill for about a year. He then moved to Iowa City where he conducted a flour mill. He remained here until 1869 when he removed to Indianola with his family. In that year, he bought the roller mills, operated by Major Hursh and formed the partnership of Bryson and Pritchard. Later the firm was known as Bryson, Pritchard and Hursh. In 1876, Mr. Bryson built the Indianola Novelty mills which were located at the corner of North First street and East Boston avenue. The site is now occupied by the Powers gate company. The mill burned down in 1885, but was rebuilt again the same year. The new mill also burned in 1902.
Since moving here in 1869 Mr. and Mrs. Bryson made this their home with the exception of nine years spent in Menlo. Mr. Bryson had been honored in numerous ways by the citizens of Indianola during his lifetime. He was several times a member of the city council and served as a school director a number of times. He was a Royal Arch Mason and had held many of the high offices in that lodge. The early business associations of Mr. Bryson are most interesting. He came here at a time when Indianola dreamed of great things as was the case with many of the smaller county seat towns in Iowa. Among his early business associates were the late P. Gad Bryan, Geo. W. Severs, now head counsel of the Minneapolis and St. Louis railroad, “Billy” Kircher, Major Hursh and others. The Bryson home which formerly was located on South Second street always was a most hospitable one, and there are people in Indianola who were strangers here at the time remember with pleasure the cordial reception which they received while guests of Mr. and Mrs. Bryson. Mr. Bryson is survived by his wife and three children, Wm. of Bedford, Oregon, Harry J., of Ft. Dodge and Mrs. J. H. Watson of Indianola. Three other children, Mrs. H. P. Shepherd, Charles and Joseph died within the past twelve years.