Guy M. Bryan was born January 12, 1821, at Herculaneum, Jefferson county, Missouri, on the banks of the Missouri river below St. Louis. He spent the greater part of the first ten years of his life at Potosi, Washington county, Missouri, his mother's home, where he acquired the rudiments of an education. While he was yet a small boy his father died, and his mother afterwards married Mr. James F. Perry.
In the spring of 1831 Mr. Perry emigrated to Texas. The family and negroes traveled by land, using two-horse wagons and a carriage, and young Guy rode a mule the whole distance. They reached San Felipe, Texas, August 15th, and there Mrs. Perry and her children remained until the spring of 1832. Then they moved to their homestead on “Pleasant Bayou,” a branch of Chocolate Bayou now in Brazoria county, where Mr. Perry established a ranch. In December, 1832, he moved to Peach Point, ten miles below Brazoria, west of the Brazos, which became his permanent home.
In the winter of 1835-6 Guy Bryan and his half brother Stephen and half-sister Eliza Perry attended the school of Mr. Pilgrim, who was teaching in the neighborhood, at Coumbia. Guy's boarding-place was the home of Mr. Josiah H. Bell, who lived about a mile from the schoolhouse, in what is now West Columbia; and in his daily walks to and from school he was accompanied by Thaddeus and James H., the sons, and Lucinda, the daughter, of Mr. Bell.
Early in March, 1836, Mr. Bell came to his youthful boarder and told him that a courier from San Felipe had arrived bearing a letter from Travis in the Alamo, which told of his being besieged by the Mexicans and called on the government and the people for immediate aid. Mr. Bell said that the courier and his horse were broken down, and asked if the young man, who had a horse of his own, would not take the letter to Brazoria and thence to Velasco at the mouth of the Brazos. At Velasco was a detachment of infantry commanded by Captain Poe. That place was the chief port of entry for Texas and had most frequent communication with New Orleans by vessel. Mr. Bell's question was answered in the affirmative, and the letter went on to Brazoria at once. The bearer reached there in the afternoon, and the news he brought produced a great sensation. After a copy of the letter had been taken, he went on by Peach Point, where he got a fresh horse, to Velasco, arriving at the latter place in the night. He crossed the river at once and carried Travis's letter to Captain Poe. All the troops and people of the town were assembled at Poe's headquarters to hear the news, which caused there, just as it had at Brazoria, great excitement. In detailing his recollections of the affair in after years, Colonel Bryan said that his reception at Brazoria and Velasco made him feel like a hero, and that the impression had remained with him all his life.
The following month, in consequence of the retreat of Houston from the Colorado, all the inhabitants of Texas west of the Trinity abandoned their homes and property, taking with them their negroes and such supplies as they could carry, and fled towards the United States frontier. Joel and Austin Bryan, the two older brothers of Guy, were in the army with Houston. Mr. Perry remained with his family until they reached the east bank of the San Jacinto, when he, with the rest of the able-bodied men and trusted negroes, joined a detachment of the army under Colonel Morgan, who was fortifying Galveston. The family was encamped at Captain Scott's, about six miles below Lynch's Ferry, when the news came that the advance guard of the Mexicans was on the opposite bank of the San Jacinto at the crossing, and that all boats had been brought to the east side and scuttled to delay them. The refugees were advised to push on. Several days previous to this, Joel Bryan had arrived from the army very sick with pneumonia. Guy, then a boy of fifteen, had his horse and all necessary arms and accoutrements ready to join Houston, but the appearance of the Mexicans and the consequent hasty departure of the family prevented the accomplishment of his purpose.
Mrs. Perry and her children joined the throng of fleeing people, which extended backward and forward as far as the eye could see in an indiscriminate mass of human beings, walking and riding on horseback and in every imaginable kind of vehicle. To make things worse, the prairies were covered with water, and the roads were exceedingly muddy. While the fugitives were crossing the wide prairie between the Trinity and the Nueces they were overtaken by a messenger bringing the news of the victory at San Jacinto, 85 and as he shouted the welcome announcement in passing, exultant cheers rose round him. They had expected to hear of a battle, for they had been within the sound of the guns, and they were naturally overjoyed to learn the issue. They immediately began to retrace their steps. At San Jacinto Mr. Perry joined his family again, and they all returned home, except Austin and Guy, who remained with the army, the latter as orderly of Lieutenant-Colonel Somervell.
After the armistice entered into by Generals Houston and Santa Anna the day following the battle of San Jacinto, General Burleson was sent forward with a detachment of troops to watch the movements of Filisola and see whether he complied with the terms agreed upon. Austin Bryan went with General Burleson, and Guy stayed with the main body of Texans which was encamped at San Jacinto, and which, after considerable delay, also followed the retreating Mexicans. In the course of a week or ten days Austin returned, and the two brothers were together until Guy had measles, which left him in such bad health that he was forced to go home. Immediately afterwards he had an attack of pneumonia, from which he came near dying. When he recovered, there being no prospect of active hostilities, he was regularly discharged from service.
That fall and part of the next spring Guy and his half-brother, Stephen Perry, attended the school of a Mr. Copeland on Chocolate Bayou at the place now known as Liverpool. In the fall of 1837 Guy entered Kenyon College, Ohio, where he remained five years, graduating and returning home in 1842. One of his fellow-students at Kenyon was Rutherford B. Hayes, afterwards President, who was his class-mate and intimate friend.
When Mr. Bryan returned home, the Texan troops intending to invade Mexico under General Somervell had assembled at San Antonio, and he was anxious to join them; but Mr. and Mrs. Perry, who opposed his going, threw so many obstacles in the way that the army had marched before he was ready to leave, at which he was greatly disappointed.
Before leaving college Mr. Bryan had had trouble with his eyes, which proved so persistent as to interfere with his purpose of studying law. After a time, however, they began to improve, and he undertook to read for the profession in the office of William H. Jack; but he was induced by Mr. Jack to give up the plan in order to avoid a recurrence of the trouble. Then he took up a life of active outdoor exercise, sometimes helping Mr. Perry in the management of Mrs. Perry's business affairs. In the spring of 1844 he visited Little Rock to look after some business connected with his father's estate, and went thence to Wytheville, Virginia, to look after a land claim that his mother had inherited from her father, Moses Austin. His route was by steamboat to Guyandotte on the Ohio river, thence on horseback up the valley of the Kanawha and over the mountains to White Sulphur Springs, and thence by stage to his destination. Having finished his business at Wytheville, he went on to Richmond, Washington, Philadelphia, and New York, and back through Ohio and by New Orleans to Texas. After his return he continued his attention to his mother's estate.
Meanwhile annexation became the all-absorbing topic. England and France were particularly anxious to prevent it, and through their efforts Mexico was induced to offer to recognize the independence of Texas if the latter would refuse to join the American Union. There was great fear among the people of Texas, especially in Brazoria and Colorado counties, that President Jones would favor the rejection of the terms offered by the United States and acceptance of the overtures of Mexico, and a convention of influential citizens was held at Brazoria to give public expression to their views. Mr. Bryan was appointed by this meeting to go to Galveston and do what he could to secure from the prominent men of that city their endorsement of what had been done at Brazoria, and their influence in bringing about like meetings throughout the Republic. Whether the President required any such stimulation or not, he followed the wishes of the annexationists and called a State convention and an extra session of the Texas Congress to pass on the offer of the United States. This offer was accepted, and on February 19, 1846, he formally surrendered the executive office to the first governor of the State, J. Pinckney Henderson. 86
After the outbreak of active hostilities in the Mexican War, General Taylor made a requisition on the governor of Texas for re-enforcements, and Mr. Bryan volunteered in response to the call. He went out as a private in a company from Brazoria, and was for some time in camp with Taylor's army near Point Isabella. There his half-brother, Stephen Perry, who had accompanied him, became desperately ill, and Mr. Bryan had to carry him home, thus missing his share in the battle of Monterey.
In the summer of 1847 Mr. Bryan was elected Representative from Brazoria county, with E. M. Pease as his colleague. He served six years in the lower house and was then elected Senator from the district composed of Brazoria, Matagorda, Wharton, and Fort Bend counties, for a term of four years ending in 1856. Meanwhile, in 1852, he had served as elector at large on the democratic presidential ticket and had canvassed the Western Congressional District of Texas in behalf of Pierce and King. The State then had only two congressional districts, one east and one west of the Trinity river. He was a delegate to the National Democratic Convention of 1856, and in 1857 was nominated for Congress by the first regular Democratic State Convention held in Texas, which met at Waco; and that fall he was elected, his colleague representing the Eastern District being John H. Reagan.
October 20, 1858, Mr. Bryan was married to Miss Laura H. Jack, the daughter of Col. William H. Jack, his old law preceptor. Feeling that the demands of Washington social life, which she enjoyed greatly, were strongly in conflict with what she regarded her duty as wife and mother, she besought him not to be a candidate for Congress again, and he acceded to her wishes.
In the winter of 1860 Mr. Bryan moved to Galveston. In that year he was one of the delegates to the national Democratic convention, and was elected chairman of the delegation, the other members being Governor Runnels, F. S. Stockdale, F. R. Lubbock, Judge Crosby, and General Greer. Immediately after the withdrawal of the delegates of the Gulf States from the Charleston convention, he was sent by the Texas delegation back to the State in order to explain its action to the people. He did this by means of an address published in the papers of the State, and then hastened back to join the other delegates and participate in the convention of the nine States that had been appointed to meet at Richmond. The subsequent conventions, the various nominations made by them, and the attitude of the Texas delegation relative thereto are too familiar to need mention here.
After Mr. Bryan's return home he devoted himself to his private business. He and his brother Austin were joint owners of several thousand head of stock, and this property required his attention. At the same time, however, he took an active interest in the pressing public questions of the day. As secretary of the committee of safety for Galveston, he coöperated with the Texas secessionists, and this committee did much towards shaping their policy in the State.
When secession had become an accomplished fact, Mr. Bryan joined himself as private to one of the companies raised for the service of the State in Galveston. General Hebert, commander of the Texas department, appointed him volunteer aid-de-camp, to assist in the work of military organization, and sent him to Richmond to obtain orders from President Davis, from whom he brought a letter instructing General Hebert to coöperate with General Hindman in Arkansas as soon as a sufficient force had been organized in Texas to justify an aggressive movement.
Mr. Bryan was also instructed by President Davis to bring about a conference of the governors of Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, and Missouri relative to the affairs of the Trans-Mississippi department. To this end he communicated personally with Governors Lubbock of Texas, Moore of Louisiana, and Rector of Arkansas, at the capitals of their respective States, and by letter with Governor Jackson of Missouri, who had been driven from his own State and was then in Northern Texas. They all met at Marshall, Texas, except Governor Rector who was represented by proxy. Mr. Bryan was present and explained the objects of President Davis in calling the conference.
Afterwards Mr. Bryan received from Richmond a commission as assistant adjutant general with the rank of major, with orders to report to the commander of the Trans-Mississippi department. General Holmes had recently been appointed to this office, and his headquarters were at Little Rock. Major Bryan reported for duty and was sent to Marshall, Texas, to recruit the regiments of the Sibley brigade and send it to Richmond. He went to the headquarters of General Sibley, at Marshall, and showed his orders. The general treated him courteously, but declined to give him any information about the regiments; so he decided to go on and seek it at Galveston, the headquarters of General Hebert.
He started on his trip with General Granbury on the top of a stage, the interior being full, in a very cold norther. On his return from Richmond the previous August, he had found the whole Mississippi bottom under water and had been forced to cover the ninety miles from Vicksburg to Monroe in a skiff, rowing when the water was deep enough, and wading and pushing the boat when it was not. This exposure doubtless had a serious effect on his constitution. When he reached Huntsville on the night of October 28, 1862, he was sick with pneumonia and was suffering so that he could go no further. He stopped at Wilson's hotel, where he received unremitting attention from friends. By the tenth day his life was despaired of, and an express rider was sent to Waco for his wife. She came as quickly as possible, having to travel by stage from Waco to Millican and from Navasota to Huntsville. Only for the few miles of the journey between Millican and Navasota, was a railroad available. About the same time arrived Austin Bryan, who came from Brazoria county. He and Mrs. Bryan brought with them each a body servant of the patient. Major Bryan's illness proved typhoid pneumonia, and for weeks he lingered in a most critical condition; but by the careful and tireless nursing of his wife and the two servants his life was finally saved. During his convalescence, however, he was stricken with rheumatism from the knees down, to which he remained subject at intervals throughout his subsequent life. 87
At the outset of his illness, when Major Bryan found that it would likely prove serious, he communicated with his senior adjutant general at Little Rock, who sent back a courier with despatches to him. He requested his friend Judge Campbell to act as amanuensis while he dictated replies. Judge Campbell at first refused, asserting that the excitement that would be produced by the effort to discharge such important business would endanger the sick man's life. Major Bryan replied that to neglect the replies would annoy him and endanger it more; and the courier did not return without them.
In the latter part of January, 1863, Major Bryan was well enough to be moved to more comfortable quarters at the residence of Judge Campbell. Two or three weeks later he was able to go in an ambulance, attended by his wife and servants, to Waco, where Mrs. Bryan and her son were living with their aunt, Mrs. Earl. There he stayed until the last of May, when he returned to the army, reporting at Shreveport to General Kirby Smith, then commander of the Trans-Mississippi department.
When Major Bryan presented himself to General Smith, he asked for assignment to duty in the field; but the general replied that he knew of the esteem in which Major Bryan was held by President Davis and understood how useful he would be in dealing with Texas, in which State lay the resources of the department, and that he would need him as confidential adjutant general. So he established still closer relations with Major Bryan by taking him into his house and treating him as one of the family.
The possession of the Mississippi by the Northern troops cut off supplies that might have been obtained by General Smith by way of that river, and what he had from foreign sources was chiefly in exchange for cotton carried in wagons across the Rio Grande and shipped from Mexican ports. In order to facilitate this traffic General Smith desired the establishment of a “cotton bureau” in Texas, and he directed Major Bryan to effect this by whatever means his own discretion might approve. So the Major went to Houston and with the help of W. P. Ballinger got J. W. Hutchins, George Ball, and James Sorley to consent to organize such a bureau as its chief officials, under such regulations as they and he might adopt subject to the approval of General Smith. When he reported, General Smith commended his work, and said that he intended to establish a like bureau for the whole department and wished him to take charge of it. Major Bryan replied that he had obeyed every order thus far willingly, but that he felt compelled to excuse himself in this instance if possible. On being asked for his reason, he said that he had spent his life in trying to win an irreproachable reputation and hoped that he had succeeded; but that he could not hope to retain it in such a position, and that another could be found whose habits and training had fitted him for such a place far better. He was excused and remained at General Smith's headquarters, serving as the medium of communication with the Texas authorities. One duty that fell to him was to relieve some complications that had arisen between the Confederate cotton bureau at Houston and another that had been established by the State. This he accomplished by securing first an agreement by the officials of the two bureaus and then the approval of it by Governor Murrah. He then started back to headquarters accompanied by Judge T. J. Devine, who went as the agent of Governor Murrah to secure certain concession desired from General Smith.
On arriving at Shreveport Major Bryan and Judge Devine heard that Smith had defeated Banks, 88 who was advancing against that place, that Banks had retreated down Red river and his coadjutor Steele towards Little Rock, and that Taylor was following Banks and Smith was in pursuit of Steele. They pushed on and overtook Smith at Camden on the Washita. When Major Bryan reported General Smith told him that he was just in time to witness the capture of Steele, who was shut up in Camden by his force with three thousand Confederate cavalry under Fagan and a smaller number under Marmaduke on the other side of the river to cut off the retreat of the Federal troops. The next morning, however, it was learned that Steele had crossed the river quietly during the night on pontoons, most of which he destroyed after getting over, and had continued his retreat. Smith constructed a temporary bridge, crossed the river, and hurried on in pursuit. He overtook Steele in the act of crossing the Saline and attacked him at once; but the obstinate resistance of the Federals, together with a rapid rise of the river, enabled the retreating force to get safely away. 89 In the course of the battle Major Bryan was called upon to follow General Smith to the field and assist in rallying Waul's brigade, which was soon accomplished. Among the incidents which served to impress the day's work on Major Bryan's memory was the wounding of General Waul just as they separated after a brief conference.
The next day when General Smith and his staff were returning to Shreveport, he had a private interview with Major Bryan, indicating a desire that he should undertake a confidential mission to President Davis. Major Bryan tried to excuse himself, but the general insisted. In the midst of their discussion Dr. D. W. Yandell, who was then a surgeon on Smith's staff, rode up and, observing the reluctance of Major Bryan, offered to go himself; but General Smith held firmly to his first choice. That night the two had a long talk over the matter in General Smith's tent, and before it ended Major Bryan had consented to go. He was directed to ask, in view of the fact that Federal control of the Mississippi had so completely cut off the Trans-Mississippi department from the rest of the Confederacy, for more independent authority for its head. He was also to give a report of the campaign, and full information relative to the status of affairs in that department. He was told that a faithful scout who knew the country well would guide him across the Mississippi, await his return, and accompany him back.
Preparations for the trip began at once. The guide, whose name was Pinson, was sent for, and Major Bryan was furnished with his despatches. He was to be accompanied by another officer, named Hopkins, and he allowed two Texans also, who wished to rejoin their commands on the east side of the river, to go along with them.
The party made its way on horseback to St. Joseph on the Mississippi. Just before they reached the river, Pinson went forward to reconnoiter and make arrangements to cross. Early that night he returned and reported that he had secured a skiff with two men to pull it, and that he thought they could get over safely. The river was patrolled by gunboats; and, watching their opportunity, they began crossing immediately after one had passed. Pinson first took Major Bryan over, swimming his horse beside the skiff. The river was about a mile wide at the point where they had undertaken to cross, and when they were about two-thirds of the way over they saw the fires of an approaching gunboat. The night, however, was very dark; and by keeping quiet and rowing cautiously they escaped discovery. Pinson then went back for Hopkins; but just as they pulled away from the bank another gunboat appeared, and they had to put back to the west side till it passed. The next trial carried them over safely, and in a short time the whole party had crossed.
Soon after sunrise they reached the hills and stopped at the house of a planter, by whom they were very hospitably entertained. Leaving Pinson there, the others went on to Brandon, where Major Bryan and Hopkins took the train for Richmond.
Having reached his destination Major Bryan called at once upon President Davis and made his report. When he had done this, Mr. Davis offered him a position on his staff as aid, with the rank of colonel, saying that he desired the services of some one who was well acquainted with the affairs of the Trans-Mississippi department, and in whom he had thorough confidence. Major Bryan asked until the next day to think it over. Meanwhile he was urged by Mr. Oldham of Texas, a member of the Confederate Senate who knew of the offer, to accept it; but he replied that he thought he could serve Texas better in his position on the staff of General Smith, and that he had already decided to decline and to recommend instead Governor Lubbock, who had just completed his term, and who had precisely the knowledge that Mr. Davis desired.
Major Bryan and Mr. Hopkins then started back to Texas. They were accompanied by Captain Burke, a Texan scout belonging to Lee's army. One morning as they were proceeding along the Rodney road some distance beyond Port Gibson, Mississippi, they saw a man approaching with his horse in a run and covered with sweat. He proved to be a scout, who brought news that a large body of Federal troops was coming along the road ahead of them. Major Bryan instructed Captain Burke to learn what he could of the approaching force and report to him at the house of a Mrs. Valentine, at which they had spent the night, and which they had just left. Mrs. Valentine, however, begged them earnestly not to remain in her house, for she was sure that if they were found there the Northern troops would burn the house. She told them of a dense cane brake near by, where they could hide themselves and their horses; and there they waited, suffering greatly from the intense heat, until Captain Burke returned. He said that he had seen the rear of the reported force, and that it had taken another road. Then in order to avoid scouting parties, they went to a house some distance from the road and belonging to a Mrs. Young, to which Mrs. Valentine directed them. On the way they heard heavy firing of artillery and small arms near at hand. Mrs. Young for additional security sent them on to the house of a relative of hers still further from the ordinary thoroughfares. There they were kindly received, and there they remained till the afternoon of the next day. Then they learned that the force they had come so near encountering was Ellis's brigade, a body of Northern troops who were quartered on a gunboat that went up and down the Mississippi, and who made raids from time to time on both sides. When they first heard of the proximity of the brigade, it was on its way to seize a lot of cotton which its commander had heard was in the neighborhood. But a regiment from a Confederate conscript camp near by marched to intercept the expedition and made such a furious attack on Ellis's men that they retreated forthwith to their boat, leaving the cotton unmolested and the roads open. When the travelers knew this they pushed forward in the afternoon, and late that night they were joined by Pinson, who had been watching for them. He conducted them safely across the river to a plantation known as the Montgomery place, 90 where they spent one day. Then they went on to Shreveport.
General Smith was greatly pleased to see Major Bryan again and gave him a place on a military court at headquarters with the rank of colonel. The success of the mission was soon proved by an order from the Confederate Secretary of War conferring the amplest powers on the commander of the Trans-Mississippi department.
Shortly afterwards Colonel Bryan was appointed by Governor Murrah representative of Texas at the headquarters of the Trans-Mississippi department, an office which had just been created by the Legislature of the State. By agreement between Governor Murrah and General Smith, he at first retained his commission in the Confederate service, acting at the same time as representative of Texas; but after Lee's surrender he resigned his commission as Confederate officer and qualified in the other capacity. He was ordered to report to Governor Murrah at Houston and was there when General Smith surrendered.
The war being over, Colonel Bryan took his family back to his home in Galveston and lived there till the spring of 1867, when he moved to his ranch opposite the city on the mainland. The year 1871 he spent mainly in health-seeking and visiting relatives and friends. He made a short visit to his old friend and classmate, R. B. Hayes, who was then governor of Ohio, and another to Mr. Burchard, the uncle of Governor Hayes, who lived at Fremont, Ohio, and who was also one of his old friends. At New York he was for three weeks under the treatment of Dr. W. A. Hammond, and at Waukesha he renewed his acquaintance with Chief Justice Chase, with whom he had very pleasant social relations. There he met also Horace Greeley, who had recently returned from a visit to Texas. In November, 1871, he returned to Galveston and engaged board for his family at his own residence, which was then rented. Here, on December 16th, Mrs. Bryan gave birth to her youngest son, and on January 1, 1872, when it seemed that she had recovered, she died from some disorder of the heart. The stricken husband and his children then found a home in the house of his brother-in-law, Judge Ballinger.
The loss of his wife fell heavily upon Colonel Bryan. Heart-broken and failing in health he went to Sour Lake and spent a month in seeking to regain his strength. Instead of this, he become worse, almost unto death; but one of the faithful old servants that had been with him when he was so ill at Huntsville came to him and nursed him back to health.
In November, 1873, Judge Cleveland, chairman of the Galveston Democratic committee, sent for Colonel Bryan and told him that the Democrats had decided to make an effort to recover the State from the misrule which had been inherited from reconstruction, and that he must help the ticket by becoming a candidate for the legislature. After taking the matter for one day under consideration, he consented. He canvassed the counties of Brazoria, Matagorda, and Galveston, and was elected with John A. Harris and W. L. Moody as his colleagues in the House, and Judge Ben Franklin as Senator. 91
The legislature met on January 18, 1874, and Colonel Bryan was elected Speaker with but one dissenting Democratic vote; but, though the new government was backed by a majority of over fifty thousand in the State, the Republican governor, E. J. Davis, refused to recognize it. He fortified himself with armed force under his adjutant general in the basement of the capitol, and called upon President Grant to protect him in his office with Federal soldiers. He also refused to give up the election returns for the State offices; but the chairman of the House election committee succeeded, after a week's time, in getting the returns for governor and lieutenant-governor. Immediately the vote was counted in joint session of the two houses; and, as the result, it was announced that Richard Coke and R. B. Hubbard had been elected respectively governor and lieutenant-governor for the ensuing two years. These gentlemen were forthwith inaugurated in the presence of an immense concourse of the citizens of Texas.
The morning after the inauguration Governor Coke sent for Colonel Bryan and informed him that the capitol and its grounds were committed to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House. Colonel Bryan then returned to the House and swore in Gen. W. P. Hardeman, Col. John S. Ford, and Capt. William Hardeman as assistant sergeants-at-arms. He gave them instructions and placed them in command of the capitol and grounds, and for more than a week they faithfully discharged their duties amid the most exciting scenes. Finally Governor Davis, having ascertained that President Grant would not support him, abandoned the executive office to Governor Coke.
At the next election, Colonel Bryan refused to become a candidate.
Soon after the inauguration of President Hayes, he wrote to Colonel Bryan that he desired help from him and wished him to come to Washington. Such an invitation was not to be declined; and its recipient spent three weeks at the While House while the difficulties relative to the Louisiana and South Carolina legislatures were in process of settlement. When he left, he was assured that he had been of great service and that much of the president's kindly feeling towards the South was due to him. Twice again during the same administration he spent several days in the White House by invitation of the president, but these were only friendly visits, and without political significance.
In 1878, while Colonel Bryan was spending the summer and fall with his two daughters, who were at school in Virginia, he was nominated and elected representative to the 16th Legislature from Galveston. He was a member also of the 20th and 21st.
It has already been stated that after the death of his wife he and his children went to live with Judge Ballinger. In 1880, however, when his oldest daughter had finished her course at school, he made his home once more at his place near Galveston. In 1890 he moved to Quintana, where his oldest son was living. In 1898 he changed his residence finally to Austin, where he wished to spend his remaining days, and where he died, after a brief illness, June 3d, 1901.
Colonel Bryan was a member of the Texas Veterans' Association from the time it was organized in May, 1873. It was he, in fact, who delivered the oration at that time. In 1892 he became president of the association, and he continued in that office till his death. He was also one of the vice-presidents of the Texas State Historical Association from its organization.
The children of Colonel Bryan are four in number: two sons, Willie Jack, and Guy Morrison, living respectively in Houston and Galveston; and two daughters, Laura, who in 1891 married Mr. E. W. Parker, and has been for some years a resident of Washington, and Hally Ballinger, whose home since her father's death is with her sister.
Such are the uncolored annals of a life at once modest and unobtrusive, but strenuous in all good works. It is not considered unfit to close the sketch with the following characterization from a memoir accompanying resolutions adopted by the Faculty of the University of Texas relative to Colonel Bryan's death:
“The State pride of Colonel Bryan was intense, and his devotion to the interests of Texas unbounded. At the time of his death he was president of the Texas Veterans' Association and first vicepresident of the Texas State Historical Association. He left nothing undone that lay in his power to promote love of the traditions and study of the history of the Republic and the State, of which he had a peculiarly extensive and accurate knowledge; but no man was more zealous for the exact truth, or more earnest in the correction of historical errors. Not the least of his invaluable services to Texas has been his jéalously careful preservation of the Austin Papers, which are the sources of the history of the beginnings of its Anglo-American colonization, and which are, beyond question, the most valuable single collection in the Southwest.
“Colonel Bryan was a man of singularly pure and refined character. One could not know him without being impressed by his sincerity and manly courage, and yet withal by his broadly liberal toleration of other convictions than his own. His political and social leadership was of the kind that makes legalized injustice and corruption in high places impossible, and contact with him was full of inspiration for young and old to nobler and better living.”
85. According to Colonel Bryan's recollection, it was William Hardin, of Liberty.
86. An interesting reminiscence of Colonel Bryan's serves to illustrate the conflicting motives of the old Texans at that juncture in the history of their beloved commonwealth. He used to relate that when he saw the Lone Star flag on the capitol descend to be replaced by the stars and stripes he felt the tears running down his face, and on looking round he saw many others exhibiting the same emotion. Overjoyed as they were by the consummation of the policy they had so much desired, they could not give up the republic without heartfelt sorrow.
87. In treating Major Bryan during his illness, it became necessary for him to have brandy administered by teaspoonfuls constantly. This was furnished by Mrs. Bryan's brother-in-law, W. P. Ballinger, of Houston, who sent first several bottles, and later, on two different occasions, a five-gallon demijohn. Meanwhile Major Bryan was informed by his physician. Dr. Rawlins, that Gen. Sam Houston, who was then living in Huntsville, was also seriously ill with pneumonia, and that he needed brandy, but could get none. Thereupon Major Bryan sent him a bottle and received in return the general's most grateful acknowledgments.
88. This engagement was called by the Federal troops the battle of Sabine Cross Roads, but it is generally known in Texas as that of Mansfield.
89. The name given by the Federal troops to this engagement was the battle of the Saline, while the Confederates called it that of Jenkins's Ferry.
90. Not long after Pinson was captured at this same place, with a party which he was conducting, and sent to a northern prison, where he died.
91. Shortly after the election, Judge Franklin died.
How to cite:
Garrison, George P., "GUY MORRISON BRYAN ", Volume 005, Number 2, Southwestern Historical Quarterly Online, Page 121 - 136. http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/publications/journals/shq/online/v005/n2/article_4.html
[Accessed Mon Nov 23 19:59:36 CST 2009]
