Bryan, Moses

BRYAN, RICHARDSON, NEAL

Posted By: Mary H. Cochrane, Volunteer
Date: 6/28/2019 at 06:20:56

MOSES BRYAN

MOSES BRYAN, section 33, Grand River Township, is a native of Kentucky, born near Lexington, February 22, 1822, a son of RICARD and NANCY (RICHARDSON) BRYAN, his father a native of Virginia and his mother of Kentucky. When he was ten years of age his parents died of cholera, there being four days difference in their deaths. Their family consisted of ten children – PRESTON, ROBERT, HARVEY, MOSES, THOMAS, RICHARD, JANE EMILY, ELIZA, and ZERILDA. After the death of his parents MOSES found a home with JAMES SHY, a prominent horse-dealer and owner of race horses, and remained with him until manhood. In this youth he had the care of horses and rode them at races, and thus became familiar with the life of a horseman. When twenty years of age he went to St. Louis, Missouri, where he lived ten years, and then when to Hannibal, Missouri, and for twelve years was engaged in pork-packing. From there he went to Illinois, and engaged in farming for a time, and then moved to Bremer County, Iowa, and lived near Waverly until 1874, when he changed his location to Decatur County, and has since lived on his present farm in Grand River Township. Mr. BRYAN was married in 1865, to SARAH ANN NEAL, and to them have been born five children – PRESTON, THOMAS, ANNA, EVALINE and LIDA. In politics Mr. BRYAN is independent, giving his suffrage to men, not party. His first vote was cast in Kentucky, for HENRY CLAY for President. He has devoted much time to the study of astronomy and the signs of the weather, and is considered the best weather prophet in Southern Iowa, being an advocate of the theories of Professor RICE.