William Bryan Biography

from Logan County Biographies

William Bryan

Among the pioneers of Kentucky, and contemporary with Daniel Boone, was the grandfather of William Bryan, of Russellville, Logan County.  The first record now known of the family of Bryan dates back to the colonial days when a William Bryan emigrated from England to America and settled in North Carolina.  He espoused the cause of the Colonies and fought in the Revolution and probably died in North Carolina.  He reared a son, William, and it was he who removed from North Carolina to Kentucky shortly after the coming of Boone.  He doubtless hunted and trapped with that celebrated pioneer; and it is definitely known that they traded one with the other, as Mr. Bryan married Barbara, a sister of Boone’s, while the latter secured in marriage the hand of Rebecca Bryan, the sister of William Bryan.  Mr. Bryan soon wearied of the wild life in the wilderness of Kentucky and removed to what is now Beaver County, Pennsylvania, where he reared his family and passed the residue of life, which terminated in the close of the eighteenth century.  He reared one daughter and five sons, the second of whom was named William, he being the father of the subject of this sketch.  He was born in Pennsylvania, there reared to maturity and married Miss Phoebe Inman, which union resulted in the birth of six children.  He finally settled in Ohio, where he died in 1860; and where his widow is now living, in her eighty-seventh year.  William Bryan, of Russellville, Kentucky, was born in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, in 1840.  When nineteen he located in Russellville.  He was educated by Horace Mann, in the Antioch College of Yellow Springs, Ohio, and before removing to Kentucky, had learned the art of photography, at which he engaged for several years after going to Russellville.  In 1875, he abandoned this to embark in merchandising, and is now doing a thriving dry goods business.  He is an official member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, a director of the Logan County Female College; a member of the Masonic order, and in politics a Democrat.  Mr. Bryan was married in Russellville, Kentucky, in 1865, to Miss Sallie, daughter of George W. Weller.  Their union has resulted in the birth of four children, viz.:  Ida, Frederick W., Fannie M. and Frank Bryan.

Today In Genealogy History – May 23

Wedding Bells Ring Today!!!!

Washington County, Kentucky

Mark Manning married Margaret Herd	23 May 1798
Anthony Brown married Elizabeth Howard	23 May 1811
Peter Steuben married Catherine Shuck	23 May 1811
Joseph Leaton married Martha Bland	23 May 1826
John Smith married Lucretia Spalding	23 May 1831
Hilary Wells married Eliza Gabbhart	23 May 1831
John C. Weatherby married Mary Ann Barnett	23 May 1832
Elijah B. Adams married Nancy D. Myers	23 May 1834
David M. Beam married Margaret E. Phillips	23 May 1861
Henry Keeling married Sarah Ann Colvin	23 May 1861
John Sallee married Frances Ashley	23 May 1872
Davis Kays, Jr., married Lucy Dennis	23 May 1875
Stephen Anderson married Amanda Shanks	23 May 1876
John T. Brown married Margaret Salmon	23 May 1877

Louisa Sabin Wright

Ritchey and I were in Cincinnati yesterday, visited two antique malls and came home with many, many photos – one being the above picture.  This is a post card photo – with the CYKO symbol at the spot where you would put the stamp.  This dates the card from 1904 to 1920.  Even though that is a good bit of information to know, it was unnecessary in this case, since there is a dated note written on the back of the post card – in the most beautiful handwriting!

‘Nov. 30 – 1912.  Wilmington, Ohio

Dear Millie:  This is a picture of the three generations.  Louisa Sabin Wright, her son Paul H. and his daughter, Dorothy Evelyn Wright.  The picture was taken November 30, 1912.  Dorothy was then 2 3/4 years old.  I appreciated the picture of thy children very much.  With love, Louie S. Wright’

With the amount of information written on the back of this post card it was an easy search to find more about the lives of this family.  Louisa Sabin was born May 6, 1848, the daughter of Elijah Jefferson Sabin and Rachel Birdsall.  Elijah was born January 12, 1806, in New York, and died March 26, 1882, in Warren County, Ohio.  Rachel was born March 15, 1815, in Virginia, and died July 10, 1876.  The census records show they had three children – in addition to Louisa, two sons, Howard and George.

Louisa married Jonathan B. Wright, July 1, 1875.  Again, through census records I find they had three children.  In the 1880 census they are listed with Grace, age 4.  In 1900 they are listed with Grace L., 23, and Paul, 18.  Therefore in the photo Paul would have been 30 years old.  In the Ohio birth records I also found another daughter, Agnes R., born March 14, 1879.  She must have died very young since she is not listed in any census records.

Daughter Grace Lillian Wright married Walker McClun Bond.  She was born June 11, 1876 and died February 17, 1928.  There are no children listed in the census records.

I found no marriage records for Paul – no mother for little Dorothy – perhaps it will take another try.

Louisa and Jonathan are living together, just the two of them, in the 1910 census.  He died March 01, 1916.  I found his death certificate.

This gives us his date and place of birth – April 14, 1850, Highland County, Ohio; his parents, Joseph Wright and Lydia Cowgill, and his occupation – professor!

I was still puzzled – who is ‘Millie’ – to whom the post card was sent?  I found that Louisa had a brother, Howard Sabin, who married Aramantha Jackson.  They had a daughter Mildred, born in 1879.  By 1912 she was 33 years of age, and could easily have sent a picture of her children to her Aunt Louisa.  Also note the signature “Louie B. Wright” – sent to someone she with whom she was very familiar.

After Jonathan died in 1916, Louisa continued to live by herself and is listed in the 1920 and 1930 census.  She died November 4, 1931.  By this point her husband, two daughters, parents and most of her siblings had passed on.  Louisa must have been a strong woman to continue on her own.  And now we know much of her story!

Today In Genealogy History – May 22

Caroline Kittle and James Levi Carrico were married 156 years ago – May 22, 1857 – in Red Wing, Minnesota.  James was the son of James William Carrico and Elizabeth Littlejohn.  Caroline and James had 5 children:  John William, Phoebe, Nannie, James M. and Emma Carrico.

Mary Green Hutton Obituary

from The Harrodsburg Herald, Mercer County, Kentucky

Thursday, July 11, 1907

Monday night, after an illness of several weeks, death claimed Mrs. Mary Hutton, the venerable mother of Mr. D. M. Hutton, associate editor of the Herald.  She was seventy-four years of age, a member of the Christian Church, and a high example of noble Christian womanhood.  She was a native of Boyle County, and before her marriage was Miss Mary Green.  Her husband died several years ago, and Mr. D. M. Hutton is the only child.  Her life was quiet and unaffected, but the beauties of her Christian belief and faith, and her devoted motherhood reached farther than she ever dreamed, or thought of.   The sympathy of every one is extended to her only son in his bereavement.  The funeral took place at the residence Wednesday morning, the services being conducted by Dr. J. G. Hunter.  The interment took place in Spring Hill Cemetery.

Mary Hutton, 1834-1907

Today In Genealogy History – May 21

James E. Stone died 128 years ago – May 21, 1885 – in Hancock County, Kentucky.  James was the won of William D. Stone and Millane (Milly) Edwards, born February 23, 1808.  James married Catherine Dunnington Lewis October 1, 1835.  They had 8 children:  William Lewis, Ann Million, Mary E., Francis Winter, Catherine Matilda, Stephen W. D., Sarah Dunnington and James E. Stone.

Forsythe Bible Records

Forsythe Bible Records

Mercer County, Kentucky

• Matthew Forsythe of South Carolina was born March 10th 1769.
• Jane McAfee Forsythe, daughter of Robert and Anne McCoun McAfee, was born July 26th, 1769.
• Robert Forsythe was born February 22nd, 1793, and married Cuzzie (Keziah) Cardwell, February 21, 1823.
• Andrew Forsythe was born December 24th, 1795, married Narcissa McAfee.
• John Forsythe was born March 10th, 1798, married Isabella Berry, and died 1870.
• Annie Forsythe was born January 27th, 1800.
• Rev. William H. Forsythe was born April 14th, 1802, married Louisa Moore and died 1870.
• Samuel Forsythe was born September 25th, 1804.
• Sally Forsythe was born January 15th, 1807.
• James McAfee Forsythe was born January 18th, 1809, married 1834 to Eliza M. Washburn, married second Mary Irvine and third, in March 1871, to Miss Buchanan.
• Julia Franklin Forsythe was born June 23rd, 1811, married Willis Burford, of Missouri.
• Matthew Forsythe, died August 7, 1846, Mercer County, Kentucky.
• Jane Forsythe, died February 17th, 1839, Mercer County, Kentucky.
• Robert Forsythe died September 24th, 1865, Mercer County, Kentucky.

1860 Census – Mercer County, Kentucky

• Robert Forsythe   66
• Keziah   55
• Louisa   21
• Elizabeth   18
• Robert   16
• John   14