William Joel Bryan
Encyclopedia
William Joel Bryan was a Texas
soldier and land owner.
Bryan was born at Hazel Run in Sainte Genevieve County, Missouri
to James Bryan and Emily Austin Perry
. He attended school at Potosi, Missouri
until 1830. In 1831, William Joel Bryan's mother (Emily) and stepfather James Franklin Perry
followed Stephen F. Austin
to Texas. They settled in the eastern part of Brazoria County, Texas
. In 1832, the family moved to Peach Point Plantation
, in Jones Creek, Texas, where Bryan was instructed by a governess and his parents together took care of the plantation, cattle and other such property of Bryan's uncle Stephen F. Austin
. (The estate of Stephen F. Austin went in whole to Emily Austin Perry and remained her separate property until she died in 1851.)
In 1835, Texas
declared its independence from Mexico
. Bryan took his part in the revolution at his uncle's side, along with the rest of the Brazoria County Volunteers, during the siege of Bexar
. He also served with Sam Houston
in the retreat of the army across Texas. However, he became ill with the measles shortly before the battle of San Jacinto
. Between 1836 and 1839 he served in a managerial capacity at Peach Point.
In April 1840, he married Lavinia Perry, his stepfather's niece. The two of them settled at Duranzo Plantation, an extension of Peach Point Plantation given to them as a wedding gift. The couple had seven children, four of whom joined the Confederate Army. During the Civil War
, Bryan fed Confederate troops stationed at the mouth of the Brazos at his own expense.
In 1865 he granted the Houston & Texas Central Railroad a right-of-way through his land in Brazos County. A projected townsite, Bryan, Texas
was named in his honor. This name, "Bryan" can be traced back as far as to James Bryan. William Joel Bryan gave the town financial assistance and helped to establish its bank. Bryan was a member of the Texas Veteran's Association.
The Brazos County Historical Commission erected an Historical Marker for William Joel Bryan.
Though some may refer to him as W.J. Bryan, a distinction should be made between William Joel Bryan and William Jennings Bryan
.
and grandson of Moses Austin
and Mary Brown Austin
. Stephen F. Austin (his mother's brother) is his uncle.
His brothers include Moses Austin Bryan
and Guy Morrison Bryan.
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
soldier and land owner.
Bryan was born at Hazel Run in Sainte Genevieve County, Missouri
Sainte Genevieve County, Missouri
Sainte Genevieve County, often abbreviated Ste. Genevieve County , is a county located in East Central Missouri in the United States. As of the 2000 U.S. Census, the county's population was 17,842. A 2008 estimate, however, showed the population to be 17,720. The largest city and county seat is...
to James Bryan and Emily Austin Perry
Emily Austin Perry
Emily Austin Perry was an early settler of Texas and sole heir to Stephen F. Austin. She achieved significant political, economic and social status as a woman in Texas at a time when women often were not equal to men.-Early life:...
. He attended school at Potosi, Missouri
Potosi, Missouri
Potosi is a city in Washington County, Missouri, United States. Potosi is about 10 miles north of Belgrade. The estimated population in July 2008 was 2,698. It was 2,662 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Washington County...
until 1830. In 1831, William Joel Bryan's mother (Emily) and stepfather James Franklin Perry
James Franklin Perry
James Franklin Perry was an early settler and prominent citizen of Texas. James married Emily Austin Perry, operated Peach Point Plantation, and was involved in Texas land distribution.-Life:...
followed Stephen F. Austin
Stephen F. Austin
Stephen Fuller Austin was born in Virginia and raised in southeastern Missouri. He was known as the Father of Texas, led the second, but first legal and ultimately successful colonization of the region by bringing 300 families from the United States. The capital of Texas, Austin in Travis County,...
to Texas. They settled in the eastern part of Brazoria County, Texas
Brazoria County, Texas
Brazoria County[p] is a county in the U.S. state of Texas, located on the Gulf Coast within the Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown metropolitan area. Regionally, parts of the county are within the extreme southern-most fringe of the regions locally known as Southeast Texas. Brazoria County is among a...
. In 1832, the family moved to Peach Point Plantation
Peach Point Plantation
Peach Point Plantation was the homestead and domicile of early Texas settlers Emily Austin Perry, James Franklin Perry, William Joel Bryan Stephen F. Austin, and Guy Morrison Bryan...
, in Jones Creek, Texas, where Bryan was instructed by a governess and his parents together took care of the plantation, cattle and other such property of Bryan's uncle Stephen F. Austin
Stephen F. Austin
Stephen Fuller Austin was born in Virginia and raised in southeastern Missouri. He was known as the Father of Texas, led the second, but first legal and ultimately successful colonization of the region by bringing 300 families from the United States. The capital of Texas, Austin in Travis County,...
. (The estate of Stephen F. Austin went in whole to Emily Austin Perry and remained her separate property until she died in 1851.)
In 1835, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
declared its independence from Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. Bryan took his part in the revolution at his uncle's side, along with the rest of the Brazoria County Volunteers, during the siege of Bexar
Siege of Bexar
The Siege of Béxar was an early campaign of the Texas Revolution in which a volunteer Texan army successfully defeated Mexican forces at San Antonio de Béxar . Texians had become disillusioned with the Mexican government as President Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna's tenure became increasingly...
. He also served with Sam Houston
Sam Houston
Samuel Houston, known as Sam Houston , was a 19th-century American statesman, politician, and soldier. He was born in Timber Ridge in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, of Scots-Irish descent. Houston became a key figure in the history of Texas and was elected as the first and third President of...
in the retreat of the army across Texas. However, he became ill with the measles shortly before the battle of San Jacinto
San Jacinto
San Jacinto is Spanish for Saint Hyacinth; as a place name, it may refer to:* San Jacinto, Bolívar, Colombia* San Jacinto, Chiquimula, Guatemala* San Jacinto, Comondú, Mexico* San Jacinto, Lerdo, Mexico* San Jacinto, Ancash Region, Peru...
. Between 1836 and 1839 he served in a managerial capacity at Peach Point.
In April 1840, he married Lavinia Perry, his stepfather's niece. The two of them settled at Duranzo Plantation, an extension of Peach Point Plantation given to them as a wedding gift. The couple had seven children, four of whom joined the Confederate Army. During the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, Bryan fed Confederate troops stationed at the mouth of the Brazos at his own expense.
In 1865 he granted the Houston & Texas Central Railroad a right-of-way through his land in Brazos County. A projected townsite, Bryan, Texas
Bryan, Texas
Bryan is a city in Brazos County, Texas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 76,201. It is the county seat of Brazos County and is located in the heart of the Brazos Valley . It shares its border with the city of College Station, which lies to its south...
was named in his honor. This name, "Bryan" can be traced back as far as to James Bryan. William Joel Bryan gave the town financial assistance and helped to establish its bank. Bryan was a member of the Texas Veteran's Association.
The Brazos County Historical Commission erected an Historical Marker for William Joel Bryan.
Though some may refer to him as W.J. Bryan, a distinction should be made between William Joel Bryan and William Jennings Bryan
William Jennings Bryan
William Jennings Bryan was an American politician in the late-19th and early-20th centuries. He was a dominant force in the liberal wing of the Democratic Party, standing three times as its candidate for President of the United States...
.
Family
William Joel Bryan is the half brother of Stephen Samuel PerryStephen Samuel Perry
Stephen Samuel Perry managed Peach Point Plantation, and is credited with amassing and preserving significant historical manuscripts related to Texas history....
and grandson of Moses Austin
Moses Austin
Moses Austin played a large part in the development of the American lead industry and is the father of Stephen F. Austin, a leading American settler of Texas. He was the first to be allowed to gather Anglo Americans for settlement in Spanish Texas...
and Mary Brown Austin
Mary Brown Austin
Mary Brown Austin had dramatic influence on early Texas history. Perhaps her most important contribution to history is writing a letter to her son, Stephen, two days before the death of her husband, Moses Austin, imploring Stephen F. Austin to carry out the dying wish of his father—that Stephen...
. Stephen F. Austin (his mother's brother) is his uncle.
His brothers include Moses Austin Bryan
Moses Austin Bryan
Moses Austin Bryan was an early settler of Texas. Moses served as Secretary for his uncle, Stephen F. Austin.-Family:...
and Guy Morrison Bryan.
Further reading
- Hudnall, Ken (2005). Spirits of the Border V: The History and Mystery of the Lone Star State. El Paso: Omega.