Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 02.djvu/28

 BRYAN.

BRYAN.

president. In that ofRce lie used all his influence to free the slaves of Penns}"lvania bj- gradual pro- cess. In 1779 he was a representative in the state legislature, and his draft of a gradual emancipation law was introduced. He was made a judge of the state supreme court in 1780, and was one of the council of censors in 1784. He opposed the adoption of the Federal constitution, and died Jan. 27, 1791.

BRYAN, riary (Edwards), journalist, was born in Jefferson county, Fla., in 1846 ; daughter of Maj. John D. Edwards. In her childhood her father removed to Thomasville, Ga., where she enjoyed the advantage of excellent schools and made rapid progress in lier studies. While at school she married Mr. Brjan, a wealthy Louisi- anian. She began to write for the press at an early age, her first journalistic experience being on the Literary and Temperance Crusader, of which she was literary editor. She was for some time a regular correspondent of the Southern Field and Fireside. In 186G she assumed the editorship of the Natchitoches, La., Semi-Weekly Times, and in 1875 that of the Suniuj South at Atlanta, Ga. To all of these journals she con- tributed sketches, stories, poems, and not infre- quently political articles. In 1885 she went to New York to superintend the publication of her novels and was engaged as assistant editor of The Fashion Bazaar and The Fireside Companion. Subsequently she resigned this position, and, returning to Atlanta, assumed editorial charge of The Old Homestead, a monthly magazine, which gained both circulation and high literary stand- ing under her management. The more popular of her works arer'-Manch" (1879); "Wild Work ; a Story of the Red River Tragedy " (1881) ; and " Tiie Bayou Bride"' (1886).

BRYAN, Thomas Barbour, philanthropist, was born at Alexandria, Va., Dec. 22, 1828. He was graduated at the Harvard law school in 1848 and was admitted to the bar at Cincinnati, where he engaged in the practice of his profes- sion, removing to Chicago in 1852. During the civil war he rendered effective service in raising troops and providing for them in the field, belong- ing to the famous "Union defence committee," of Chicago. He was president of the Chicago sanitary fair, and was president of the soldiers' home at Chicago for twenty-five years. In 1876 he was made a member of the board of com- missioners appointed to govern the District of Columbia, and retired from the office in 1878. Mr. Brj-an was one of the originators and pi-o- moters of the World's Columbian exposition in 1893, and was sent as a special commissioner to southern Europe, where he interviewed the ruling kings and high officials and received a letter from Leo XIII. commending the enterprise.

His speech before the congressional committee had great influence in securing the fair for Clii- cago. He was appointed A'ice-president of the first board of directors ; refused to accept the salary of twelve thousand dollars, which be- longed to the office, and soon after tendered liis resignation, to avoid threatened discord in the administration. While a student at Harvard he published a German work, and manj' of his writings and translations have achieved great popularity.

BRYAN, William Jennings, statesman, was born at Salem. Marion county. 111., Jlarch 19, 1860 ; son of Silas Lillard and Mariah Elizabeth (Jennings) Brj'an. grandson of John and Nancy (Lillard) Brj-an, and great-grandson of William Bryan, born in Culpe per county, Va., about 1765. His grandfather re- moved from Cul- peper county to Point Pleasant in western Virginia shortly after liisniarriage, and in 1852 his son, SilasLil- lard, was married and removed to Sa- lem, Marion county, 111., where he was a lawyer of high stand- ing, for eight years state senator, and for twelve years a cir- cuit judge. Until his tenth, year, Wil- -<^//^„y^ liam was taught at /V^;^;^*^''^-^ ^^^'^ home, then entering // /

the public schools.

and, in 1875, Whipple academv, the preparatory school of Illinois college, at Jacksonville. When fourteen years old he joined the Presbyterian church, and in 1880 made iiis first appearance as a speaker at a political meeting. In June, 1881, he was graduated at Illinois college with the highest honors, and was also chosen class orator. In 1884, by invitation of the facult}', he delivered the master's oration, and received the degrt e- of M.A. During his college course he won five prizes. Immediately after his graduation from college he entered the Union college of law in Chicago, where he had as a classmroa Heniy. son of Lyman Trumbull, and thus gained the privilege of the use of I\Ir. Trumbull's law office for study after school hours. He was admitted to the bar, beginning liis law practice Jul}^ 4, 1883. On Oct. 1, 1884, he was married to Mary Elizabeth Baird of Perry, 111., who afterwards studied her husband's profession, and won admission to the bar, not for the purpose of practising, but in order to be in intelligent