Hi:
In looking for any info about the Sarah Capps that was on the 1816 tax
list of Lawrence Co. AR I ran across this interesting history of the
Bryan/Capps connection which also mentions the Mattix family of Lawrence
Co.
I'm interested in the parents of Nimrod Capps who married Cynthia Mattix
dau of Edw Mattix/Eliz Bond. I believe it was he that moved to Crawford
Co. in 1831/32 (same time as the Hinds families) where he served as
magistrate as served as administrator of the David Hinds estate in 1843.
But, it is interesting that his daughter is still in Randolph Co. where she
is married in 1871. So, there are two Nimrod Capps evidently.
Regards,
Nan
71532.734(a)compuserve.com
=========================
Found at:
http://www.rootsweb.com/~arrandol/books/daltonbiographies.htm
HISTORY
of
RANDOLPH COUNTY
ARKANSAS
by Lawrence Dalton
Published 1946 - 1947
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Part Four
FAMILY HISTORY (first half)
FAMILY HISTORIES AND BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
Page 257
DR. JOHN WALLACE BRYAN
Dr. John Wallace Bryan was born in Todd county, Kentucky, December 20,
1826, and died February 27, 1880, in Randolph county, Arkansas.
He studied medicine and finished his education in Kentucky. He came to
Randolph county in 1853. Prior to coming here he married Isabella Bush, a
member of a prominent Kentucky family. She passed away September 3, 1869.
July 26, 1871 Dr. Bryan married Jennie Capps, daughter of Nimrod and
Synthia Mattix Capps. She died February 20, 1878.
The old records of Lawrence county show where Nimrod Capps and Synthia
Mattix were married by Isham Alcorn, justice of the peace, on June 13,
1830. Capps at one time operated the Bay Mill above Doniphan. The Mattix
family were early settlers on lower Spring river.
Dr. Bryan was the father of six children. They were, Bush, born March 23,
1857. He married Harriett Fike in 1875; Ben, born March 11, 1860. He
married Sarah McClellan in 1881; William, born March 11, 1864, and died in
1878; Mary (Mollie), born May 6, 1867. She married John T. Baker in 1884.
Mrs. Baker recently passed away; Lelie, born April 14, 1876. She married
Gifford Blanchard of Missoula, Montana, in 1903.
The old family homestead has been in the Bryan family for 93 years. Alvin
Bryan of Denver, Colorado, and Willard Bryan who lives on the farm have
owned it for years, and Willard recently bought his brothers interest and
is now sole owner. J. O. Baker, another grandson of Dr. Bryan, lives on an
adjoining farm.
The farm on which Dr. Bryan settled is located on the east side of
Elevenpoint river, about half way between Dalton and Elm Store, on the old
Thomasville road.
Page 258
When Dr. Bryan came here in 1853, he brought men here from Kentucky with
him to build the family home. It was a very modern home for that day, with
Negro cabins in the rear. He owned fours slaves, a woman and three men, who
operated the farm and helped with the home work.
Tobacco barns were built, an ice house was also built for storing ice, a
cotton gin for caring for the cotton crop and baling it for shipment, and
hogsheads were made and used to ship the tobacco crop to market. A large
orchard with many kinds of fruit was planted.
He had equipment for making of furniture and made many nice pieces from
native walnut. A solid walnut stand table is still in existence in the
family. He was a progressive farmer of the day.
Dr. Bryan was also known far and wide for his medical practice. His
territory which he visited was many miles wide. Rough roads and forest
trails were his routes of travel from one remote home to another. During
the Civil War his life was constantly in danger from attack from
Jayhawkers. When the war broke out, he was one of the physicians who were
asked to remain in the community to care for the sick, mostly women and
children. He made many calls for which he received no pay.
Besides his work as a progressive farmer and physician, Dr. Bryan also was
postmaster of the old Spring Creek office from 1857 to 1866. This office
was the forerunner of the present-day Dalton postoffice; William Dalton
moving it from original location to the present site of Dalton and changing
the name to Dalton in 1871.
Dr. Bryan was a methodist, being a member of the old New Prospect church
which is now called Bakerden.
An interesting story concerning Dr. Bryan is handed down to us from Civil
War days. As was stated above, there was grave danger for a doctor or one
who posses money
Page 259
and other property, at the hands of the roving bands of jayhawkers. The
story goes:
One evening late, a group of men on horseback, rode up to Dr. Bryans front
gate, which was more than 100feet from the front portico, and asked if they
might obtain supper. The doctor, thinking that they were soldiers, invited
them to dismount and come in and wait until the meal was prepared. The
Negro woman, Mrs. Bryan and a widowed woman school teacher, who was
boarding with the Bryan family, began to prepare the meal.
This school teacher had a 10-year-old daughter who stayed with her. During
the time occupied in the preparation of the meal her mother happened to go
into the living room. Here she saw the men (who turned out to be
jayhawkers) holding Dr. Bryan with a gun pressed to each side of his body,
while the rest searched the room for money, etc. After finding the money
they forced him to accompany them to the front gate. As they went out the
little girl, whose name was Tammie Harris, clung to his arm and would not
allow him to go alone, over the protests of the doctor and other members of
the family. They all, including the doctor, thought they meant to kill him,
as they knew he would follow them. However, at the gate they released him
and ever afterwards Dr. Bryan contended that the girl saved his life. Dr.
Bryan did follow the men and recovered his horses, which were also taken.
They found his money in the small closet under the stairway beside the
fireplace.
Dr. Bryan was a loving husband and father, a friend to his neighbors, a
valuable citizen of the community and one of the grand old pioneers of our
county.
(Contributed by his daughter).