CROSS CO, AR - T. D. BRYANT - Bio

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Submitted by: Jason Presley <daclyde@usa.net>
        Date: 16 Sept 2009
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
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SOURCE:  Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Eastern 
Arkansas. Chicago:Goodspeed Publishers, 1890.
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     T. D. Bryant, pastor of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, of Nolton,
and a man thoroughly respected by his fellow citizens, is originally from
South Carolina, as were also his parents, Joab and Mary (Stewart) Bryant,
of Scotch and English descent.  Joab Bryant was a leading farmer of his
county, and though not educated was a well-informed and a good business
man.  Mr. and Mrs. Bryant were married in 1831, and were the parents of
twelve children, nine of whom are living: Louisa (now Mrs. Reid), F. A.
(a Methodist ministor of Texas), J. R. (also of Texas), Minerva (now Mrs.
Hemphis), Elizabeth (who married F. L. Dullard), W. J., J. W., T. D. 
(our subject), M. L., B. W. (a manufacturer of Mississippi), G. W. (a
resident of South America) and Joseph (a resident of this county).  The
grandfather (on the father's side), James Bryant, was a solder in the 
War of 1812.  Joab Bryant and wife were connected with the Methodist
Episcopal Chouch, South.  The senior Bryant died in 1874, and his wife
in 1889.  He was a Mason.  T. D. Bryant was reared to farm life.  In his
boyhood days the advantages for schooling were very limited, but by close
application to study he has educated himseld, mostly at home.  At the age of
fourteen Mr. Bryant enlisted in the Confederate service, joining the First
Regiment of Heavy Artillery of South Carolina, which was stationed at Fort
Sumpter, and in 1862 joined the regular army; was in a number of hard-fought
battles, and witnessed the bombardment of Fort Sumpter on April 7, 1863, and
was present at its capitulation.  He was captured at Smithfield, but escaping,
was recaptured the same night.  Mr. Bryant served as orderly and was promoted
to sergeant.  While in the army he was wounded four times, once in the head
by a piece of shell, again on James Island, by a bayonet thrust into his left
side, which entered between the fifth and sixth rib; then again in the knee
joint and also in the arm bya bayonet.  After the war he returned home and
the following year moved to Kentucky, where he engaged in farming in the 
eastern part of the State and also taught school.  In 1867 he removed to
Dwyer County, Tenn., where he farmed, following this for two years, then
taught for two years in McNairy County, Tenn.  He returned to South Carolina
and busied himself with farming and teaching for twelve years.  In 1882 he
removed to Arkansas, settling on his present property, which comprises 120
acres of land, with thirty-five under cultivation.  Mr. Bryant was born in
1846.  He has been twice married, first in 1866 to Miss N. J. Fitzgerald, of
South Carolina, who died in 1871, and who was the mother of three children:
George (a resident of this county), Edgar (a resident of South Carolina) and
Elector (a teacher in South Carolina).  Mr. Bryant was married the second 
time to Miss D. E. Fitzgerald, in 1872.  They have been given seven children,
all living: Lillie, Joseph, Milas, Lelier, Lulu, Thomas and Talmage.  Mr.
Bryant began preaching in 1885, three months before joining the presbytery,
and he is the founder of the Creek Cumberland Presbyterian Church, as well
as the Cumberland Presbyterian Church of Woodruff County.  Mr. Bryant preaches
in Cross, Woodruff, Poinsett and Jackson Counties, and is very active in all
religious and educational enterprises.  He is a Royal Arch Mason.