BRYANT, Bruce A.

BRYANT, HAXTON, MCGOWAN, COLE, KILBOURN, TRUE, EATON, PARKHURST

Posted By: Jennifer Gunderson (email)
Date: 3/14/2021 at 20:11:00

For many years a prominent and successful agriculturist and stock raiser of Cerro Gordo county, the late Bruce A. Bryant, home farm adjoined Mason City on the northeast, contributed generously of both time and influence in the development and advancement of the interests of his community. A man of superior business qualifications, honest and sincere in his convictions, wise in his judgments, he well merited the high esteem and respect so cordially given him by all. Descended from a family of prominence, he was born September 17, 1835, in Chenango county, New York. His parents, Almon and Lydia (Haxton) Bryant, were both born and bred in New York state, coming from honored Scotch Irish ancestry.

Educated in the common school, Bruce A. Bryant remained at home until twenty-two years of age, assisting his father, who was a butcher by trade and a stock dealer. Coming to Cerro Gordo county in 1857, he resided for four years in Mason City, after which he purchased land just south of the place, and there lived a few years. In 1862 he enlisted as a soldier in Company B, Thirty-second Iowa Volunteer Infantry, in which he served for two years, a large part of the time, however, being ill. Returning home, Mr. Bryant purchased the farm now owned by his daughter, Mrs. U. G. McGowan, just northeast of Mason City, and immediately began its improvement. It was in its primitive wildness when he assumed its possession, but under his intelligent management it soon became one of the most attractive and best improved estates in this part of the county. Here he continued his agricultural labors successfully until his death, September 24, 1895, in the meantime adding to his landed possessions until he had title to land inMason, Lime Creek and Falls townships, his farms aggregating five hundred and seventy-one acres, all of which he personally superintended. In addition to carrying on general farming with great success he dealt extensively in stock, finding that branch of industry quite profitable. Politically Mr. Bryant was a sound Republican, and served as township trustee, while in his earlier years he was county supervisor. He was a member of C. H. Huntley Post, G. A. R., and in his religious views was liberal, favoring the Universalist belief.

Mr. Bryant married, in Mason City, Iowa, May 26, 1860, Cynthia A. Cole, who was born in Pike county, Ohio, November 11, 1839, a daughter of Edmund C. and Hannah (Kilbourn) Cole. Her parents were both born in Massachusetts, the father being of English lineage and the mother of Welsh ancestry. Mr. Cole, whose father was a seafaring man, was a farmer and a painter. Coming with his family to Iowa in 1846, he lived in Iowa City and in other places in Iowa, finally removing, about 1860, to California, where his death occurred some ten years later. His widow survived him many years, passing away in the winter of 1895-6.

Three children were born of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Bryant, namely: Almon C., who died in June, 1905, aged forty-four years; Maud, wife of U. G. McGowan ; and S. Grant. Almon C. Bryant succeeded to the independent occupation to which he was reared, and until his death was prosperously engaged in agricultural pursuits. He was twice married. He married first Hattie B. True. She died in October, 1890, leaving one child, Elwin K., who died in 1893, in the sixth year of his age. He married for his second wife Matilda Eaton, and their two daughters, Ethel May and Mildred Eveline, are living in Seattle, Washington.

U. G. McGowan, who married Miss Maud Bryant, was born May 18, 1873, in Pike county, Missouri. At the age of twenty years he came to Cerro Gordo county, and has since been actively engaged in agricultural pursuits, now having charge of the Bryant homestead. He has held various local offices of trust, and is now president of the Pleasant Hill Telephone Company. Mr. and Mrs. McGowan have three children, namely: Clarence B., aged twelve years; Wayne A., nine years old; and Earl, aged six years.

S. Grant Bryant, of Seattle, Washington, is carrying on a substantial business as a real estate dealer, a lumber dealer, and in the building of houses to sell. He married Leonora Parkhurst, and they have one child. Pulton, two years old.

Mrs. Bryant is still living, hale and hearty, at seventy-one years of age.

Source: WHEELER, J. H. History of Cerro Gordo County, Iowa. Vol. II. Lewis Publ. Co. Chicago. 1910. Transcribed by Jennifer Gunderson (Mar 2021).