Biographical History of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton,
Warren and Pulaski Counties, Indiana Illustrated, Volume 1, pp.
1043-1045
Lewis Publishing Company, 1899
DAVID BRYAN
One of the best known citizens of Lafayette is this gentleman, who is a
member of the firm Bryan & Son, engaged in the real estate and loan
business, and are agents for a number of the leading insurance firms of
this country, the office of the firm being at No. 4 North Third Street.
In the various fraternities MR. BRYAN stands high, and among those with
which he is identified are the following: Tippecanoe Lodge, No. 55,
I.O.O.F., and Star City Encampment, No. 153; Columbian Lodge, No. 334,
Knights of Pythias; Uniformed Rank, Knights of Pythias, No. 1, Lafayette
Division; John A. Logan Post No. 3, G.A.R.; Union Veteran League;
Rebekah Lodge of the Odd Fellows, and Rathbone Sisters of the Knights of
Pythias. He was one of the charter members of Kern Lodge, No. 111, and
Columbian Lodge, No. 334, and also of the encampment, of Odd Fellows.
The parents of DAVID BRYAN were DAVID and CAROLINE (NORRIS) BRYAN,
natives of Pennsylvania and Ohio, respectively. The father was a farmer
by occupation, and in November, 1839, he removed with his wife, whom he
had married in Ohio, to Tippecanoe County. Settling on a farm near
Battle Ground, he resided there until 1861, when he sold out, and for
five years made his home in Lafayette. He then located on a farm three
miles west of Battle Ground, and there his death occurred in 1881, when
he was nearly eighty-four years of age. His first wife died in 1847,
and he chose for his second wife MRS. AMANDA SMITH, who had two children
by her former marriage. To her second marriage, on son, GEORGE W., was
born. She departed this life in February, 1898. Both she and her
husband were members of the Christian church, he being a trustee in the
same. For over twenty years he held the office of justice of the peace,
and, without exception, his acquaintances held him in high esteem. His
father, who died in Pennsylvania, was of Irish descent, and his mother,
who survived her husband, passed her last years in Tippecanoe County,
dying at an advanced age. Of the ten children born to our subjects own
parents, only four are yet living. His brother, JAMES M., lives in
Elgin, Kansas; WILLIAM H. is a resident of Sedan, Kansas; and SARAH H.,
MRS. ADAM H. SMITH, the only sister, also lives in that state, her home
being in the town of Lowe.
DAVID BRYAN, of this sketch, was born in this county, on his fathers
farm, near Battle Ground, December 29, 1839. There he passed his youth,
engaged in the accustomed pursuits of farmers boys, and attending
school in an old log cabin. When he had reached his manhood his father
gave him, as he had done with his other children, a sum of money with
which to make a start in life. The young man wisely invested his money
in land, and engaged in the cultivation of the same for a year or more,
but his labors were just then interrupted by the Civil War, and
afterward he sold this property.
As he was not yet married and had no one dependent on him, DAVID BRYAN
was not the kind of man to stay at home when his country was in danger,
and bravely did he fight for her preservation, on many a field of
battle, for three years and five months. He enlisted as a private
soldier in Company H, Fortieth Indiana Infantry, and was promoted to the
rank of Second Lieutenant for meritorious service. At the battle of
Resaca he was wounded, and to give a complete account of his sufferings
and hardships would exceed the limits of this article. Suffice it to
say that his fortunes were such as fell to the lot of many others of the
brave boys in blue who with him gallantly participated in the battles of
Resaca, Shiloh, Corinth, Perryville, Stone River, Chattanooga, Mission
Ridge, Chickamauga and Knoxville, besides numerous others, and also the
long weary campaign in Georgia.
After the war he was employed by Peck & Abbott, of Lafayette, for the
long period of eighteen years, which speaks well for his faithful and
appreciated work. He was then elected county recorder, and served in
that office for four years, since which time he has carried on his
present business. He has always been a loyal Republican, but has not
been a politician.
December 6, 1866, MR. BRYAN married MARY E., daughter of HARRISON and
MARTHA (McBETH) BENNETT. They became the parents of four children,
namely: HARRY L., who is engaged in business with his father, married
IDA ANSON and has two children, ROBERT and GENEVA; ELLA MAY, who is
unmarried; and GEORGE W. and MINNIE, deceased. The mother of these
children died, and MR. BRYAN afterward married her sister, HARRIET J.,
by whom he had one child, BESSIE. This wife also died, and MR. BRYAN
wedded ALMA S. BIRCH, daughter of SYLVESTER E. BIRCH. Two children
bless their union, HAZEL B. and BENJAMIN HARRISON. MR. and MRS. BRYAN
are members of St. Pauls Methodist Episcopal church. Since 1887 the
family has resided at the corner of Howell and Fifteenth streets, the
property having been purchased that year by our subject.