George  Bryan


          George W. Bryan, an industrious farmer of Brandywine Township, and one of her honored citizens, was born in Pendleton County, Ky., September 30, 1844. He was the youngest of eleven children, eight sons and three daughters, born to  Hampton and  Margaret (Gosney) Bryan, both natives of Campbell County, Ky., the former of whom was born in 1796, and died September 20, 1844.  The latter, who was the daughter of  Benjamin Gosney, was born August 5, 1803.  His seven brothers were:  William E.,  Benjamin L.,  Daniel B.,  Zachariah G.,  Napoleon B.,  John S.,  and  Joseph H., of whom Zachariah G., John S. and Joseph H. are deceased.  His three sisters were:   Nancy M.,  Mary M.,  and  Minerva R., all of whom are living.  As will be seen above, the father of our subject died before the latter was born.  When he was yet a child about two years old his widowed mother removed to Campbell County, Ky., where [he] was reared upon a farm.  He attended the district school in winter, in which he received the rudiments of an education.  At sixteen years of age he took up the avocation of a teacher and at that time taught two terms.  At the age of eighteen or in February, 1863, he entered the service of the Confederate Army in Company C, First Kentucky Battalion, Mounted Riflemen, with which he served until the 7th day of the following October, with which he served until the 7th day of the following October, when he was taken prisoner at Shelbyville, Tenn.  After an imprisonment of seventeen months at Camp Morton, Indianapolis, he was given his freedom, after which he remained for some time in this State.  He returned to Campbell County, Ky., in the spring of 1866, and resumed the avocation of a farmer and school teacher.  He continued to teach in winter and farm in summer, until the spring of 1870, when he returned to this State and during one summer he was engaged in private study at Franklin, Johnson County.  During the two winters that followed he taught school in that county.  His marriage to  Mary E. Murphy  occurred March 21, 1872.  She was born in Hendricks Township, this county, October 21, 1847.  She was the daughter of  Samuel  and  Sophia E. (Vaughan) Murphy,  the former a native of Lycoming County, Penn., of Irish descent, and the latter a native of Preble County, Ohio, of English descent.  Her paternal grandparents were  John and  Jane (Porter) Murphy who were natives of Ireland.  Her maternal grandparents were  Thomas  and  Sarah (Slayback) Vaughan,  the former a native of England, and the latter a native of New Jersey.  Mrs. Bryan had two brothers, and five sisters, as follows:  Sarah J.,  John T.,  Martha E.,  Annie J.,  George S.,  Ora J.,  Nellie R.,  of whom Sarah J., Annie J., and Ora J., are deceased. Immediately after their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Bryan, located upon a farm in Hendricks Township, this county.  A year later they removed to Brandywine Township, in which they have ever since resided.  They are the parents of one child, Bertha S., born April 7, 1874.  Since his marriage Mr. Bryan has given his entire attention to his farm excepting two winters, during which he taught school in Hendricks Township.  He and wife and daughter, Bertha, are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.  In politics the former is a Democrat.  He is an enterprising, intelligent and successful farmer, and he and wife are worthy and esteemed citizens.  They have a handsome farm of eighty acres, about fifty-five acres of which is in a high state of cultivation.  Their farm is fitted up with a nice residence, which, with other substantial improvements makes a very desirable location.
Atlas of Shelby Co., Indiana, Chicago: J.H. Beers & Co, 1880.
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            George W. Bryan, an industrious farmer of Brandywine Township, and one of her honored citizens, was born in Pendleton County, Ky., September 30, 1844.  He was the youngest of eleven children, eight sons and three daughters, born to  Hampton and  Margaret (Gosney) Bryan, both natives of Campbell County, Ky., the former of whom was born in 1796, and died September 20, 1844.  The latter, who was the daughter of  Benjamin Gosney, was born August 5, 1803.  His seven brothers were:  William E.,  Benjamin L.,  Daniel B.,  Zachariah G.,  Napoleon B.,  John S.,  and  Joseph H., of whom  Zachariah G.,  John S. and  Joseph H. are deceased.  His three sisters were:  Nancy M.,  Mary M.  and  Minerva R., all of whom are living.  As will be seen above, the father of our subject died before the latter was born.  When he was yet a child about two years old his widowed mother removed to Campbell County, Ky., where was reared upon a farm.  He attended the district school in winter, in which he received the rudiments of an education.  At sixteen years of age he took up the avocation of a teacher and at that time taught two terms.  At the age of eighteen or in February, 1863, he entered the service of the Confederate Army in Company C, First Kentucky Battalion, Mounted Riflemen, with which he served until the 7th day of the following October, when he was taken prisoner at Shelbyville, Tenn.  After an imprisonment of seventeen months at Camp Morton, Indianapolis, he was given his freedom, after which he remained for some time in this State.  He returned to Campbell County, Ky., in the spring of 1S66, and resumed the avocation of a farmer and school teacher.  He continued to teach in winter and farm in summer, until the spring of 1870, when he returned to this State and during one summer he was engaged in private study at Franklin, Johnson County.  During the two winters that followed he taught school in that county.  His marriage to  Mary E. Murphy  occurred March 21, 1872.  She was born in Hendricks Township, this county October 21, 1847.  She was the daughter of  Samuel and Sophia E. (Vaughan) Murphy,  the former a native of Lycoming County, Penn., of Irish descent, and the latter a native of Preble County, Ohio, of English descent.  Her paternal grandparents were  John and  Jane (Porter) Murphy  who were natives of Ireland.  Her maternal grandparents were  Thomas and  Sarah (Slayback) Vaughan, the former a native of England, and the latter a native of New Jersey.  Mrs. Bryan had two brothers, and five sisters, as follows:  Sarah J.,  John T.,  Martha E.,  Annie J.,  George S.,  Ora J.,  Nellie R., of whom  Sarah J.,  Annie J. and  Ora J., are deceased.  Immediately after their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Bryan, located upon a farm in Hendricks Township, this county.  A year later they removed to Brandywine Township, in which they have ever since resided.  They are the parents of one child, Bertha S., born April 7, 1874.  Since his marriage Mr. Bryan has given his entire attention to his farm excepting two winters, during which he taught school in Hendricks Township.  He and wife and daughter. Bertha, are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.  In politics the former is a Democrat.  He is an enterprising, intelligent and successful farmer, and he and wife are worthy and esteemed citizens.  They have a handsome farm of eighty acres, about fifty-live acres of which is in a high state of cultivation.  Their farm is fitted up with a nice residence, which, with other substantial improvements makes a very desirable location.
History of Shelby County, 1887, "Brandywine [Township]", page 606-607, Brant & Fuller, Chicago, 1887.
Contributed by Phyllis Miller Fleming
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