Harrison County Iowa Genealogy

HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY, IOWA, 1891
BIOGRAPHIES
Page 557
THOMAS J. BRYCESON

Thomas J. BRYCESON, one of the respresentive farmers of Jackson Township, located on section 22, has been a resident of the county since the spring of 1873, when he bought the place he now occupies, which at the time contained sixty-three acres, and was partly improved, with a small frame house upon it, and about ten acres broken, the same costing $10 per acre. He broke the remainder of his land out, built a house 16x30 feet, with a wing 14x20 feet, built sheds, cribbing, etc., and now has forty acres under the plow, and the balance in timber and pasture land. He also provided his place with a good orchard and a natural grove.

He was born in England, October 3, 1829, and is a son of William and Mary BRYCESON, who are natives of England, and has a family of seventeen children, our subject being the seventh child. Eleven of these children are living in England, the remainder are deceased except Thomas and Ann, who live in this country. Our subject remained in England with his parents until he arrived at his majority. When he came to America, he landed at New Orleans, came up the Mississippi River as far as St. Louis, where he was engaged one year as sign painter and grainer. He went from St. Louis to Salt Lake City, where he continued to work his trade. While there he painted Brigham YOUNG's house, and for which services he has not yet received his pay. He remained in Salt Lake City four years, then went back to New Orleans, where he followed painting for five years. We next find him in Coles County, IL, where he remained one year, and then came to Monona County, Iowa, bought a farm, and remained twelve years. He next came to Harrison County.

He was united in marriage, March 20, 1853, to Mary SHINER, the daughter of Christopher D and Frances SHINER, natives of Scotland, who reared a family of thirteen children. Mr. and Mrs. BRYCESON are the parents of nine children, born in the following order -- Mary (September 1, 1855), Frederick W (August 28, 1857), Edwin W (June 25, 1859), Arthur (June 5, 1861, now deceased), Albert A (October 18, 1864), Fannie R (September 29, 1866), Elizabeth A (December 14, 1868), Frank E (June 5, 1871), and Nellie (October 24, 1873, now deceased).

Our subject is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and stands high in the community in which he lives.

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