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Showing posts with label Keith. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Keith. Show all posts

Friday, February 28, 2025

Friday's Photo: Frances L. Bryan - Bienville Parish, LA to Erath County, TX


Frances L. Bryan 1859 to 1894
This appears to be a copy of the tintype seen below. Using Mark Thompson's
Historical Photo Analyzer at ChatGpt, I can surmise that due to her age and
the style of clothing, this photo was likely taken between 1875 and 1880.
As the family left Bienville in about 1876, and they were in Erath County
by 1878, I am unable to identify the location where the photo was taken.



This is likely the original image,
and the hand-colored version was
probably a later copy.



Frances L. Bryan was born in Louisiana on February 13, 1859, to twenty-two-year-
old parents, Terrell Bryan and Harriet Louisa Albritton. Frances was the second of their ten known children—her older brother Joseph had died in infancy two years before her birth. Family stories suggest that Frances may have had an intellectual disability, or possibly epilepsy. 

Frances spent the first part of her childhood in Bienville Parish, Louisiana. In 1861, when she was about two years old, her father joined the Louisiana Infantry. During his time away, Harriet and her children lived with Harriet's mother, Hollon Albritton.  By the war's end, Frances was the eldest of three girls, with at least six more children to be born to Harriet and Terrell by 1884. 






In about 1876, the Bryan family relocated to Eastland County, Texas, looking for 
new opportunities.  Frances was almost 20 when they moved to Erath County in 1878. Unlike her siblings, who married and started their own families, Frances did not marry or have children. She passed away on December 24, 1894, in Erath County at the age of 35. 

Frances’ cemetery stone at the Old Valley Grove Cemetery near Stephenville in Erath County lists her death as occurring in 1904. However, Terrell and Harriet Bryan's family Bible records her passing in 1894 at the age of 35 years, 10 months, and 11 days. I have not found any other records or reports confirming her death. She does not appear in the 1900 census, which also states that only six of Terrell and Harriet's children were still living at that time. Those six were Terrell L. Bryan Biggs, Hollon S. Bryan Latta, Laura L. Bryan Keith, Alice A. Bryan Hammett, Dorothy (Dollie) E. H. Bryan Wylie, and my grandfather, Redic E. Bryan.


If you want to know more about the families I research, click here to like my Facebook page, where you will see each post and other genealogical finds. 

Diana

© 2025 


"Frances L. Bryan," colorized photograph, about 1880; scanned image, from the privately held photo collection of Jane Aebersold, CO, 2013.

"Frances L. Bryan," photograph, ca.1880; scanned image, from the privately held photo collection of D.B. Quinn, 2022.

Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/28974168/frances_l-bryan: accessed February 1, 2025), memorial page for Frances L. “Fanny” Bryan (13 Feb 1869–24 Dec 1904), Find a Grave Memorial ID 28974168, citing Old Valley Grove Cemetery, Erath County, Texas, USA; Maintained by LookingForFamily (contributor 47127361).

Mark Thompson’s Historical Photo Analyzer (ChatGPT), response to a question by Diana Quinn, February 28, 2025. Available at https://chatgpt.com/g/g-gbEbpBXtc-mark-thompson-s-historical-photo-analyzer. 

Memories written by Terrell Little "Bunch" Biggs, 13 July 1937; digital copy, original copy held by Pat Waas, TX.

Terrell Bryan Family Bible Records, 1836 - 1927, The Illustrated Polyglot Household Bible (Philadelphia: G. Zeigler, McCurdy, & Co., 1870), "Family Record," privately held by Diana Bryan Quinn, Virginia Beach, VA, 2021

Thursday, October 19, 2023

Family Notes from Erath County, Texas - Bryan, Biggs, Keith, Latta, and Hairston

Terrell Little Bryan and her husband, James D. Biggs

Stephenville Empire
1 August 1885 

A Serious Accident

Last Sunday a few minutes after J.D. Biggs and family left Terrell Bryan's, his wife met with a very serious accident. The horses were somewhat playful, and Mr. Biggs suggested that his wife get out and walk. The wagon was stopped, and she put her foot on the hind wheel to get out. As she was getting down the wheel turned, throwing her to the ground and under the wheel. The cap of her knee was badly injured, and she was generally bruised up, and, up to last Monday evening, was in a critical condition, not being able to move. Her delicate condition makes the accident quite serious.

Note: Terrell "Bunch" Bryan was the wife of J. D. Biggs.  The Terrell Bryan mentioned was her father. Her son, Terrell Bryan Biggs was born shortly after this accident, on 3 September 1885.


Dallas Morning News    
5 Jul, 1891   

JAIL DELIVERY.  The Acting Jailer Overpowered by Two Outside Men. 

STEPHENVILLE, Erath Co., Tex., 4 Jul

Terrell Bryan (1836-1920)
Four prisoners escaped from the county jail about 1 o’clock this afternoon.  Sheriff
Shands and his deputy attended the celebration at Huckaby today and left R. Dunn in charge.  When Dunn went up to give the prisoners their dinner he was seized just as he entered the corridor by two strong men who had secreted themselves and had been laying for him since breakfast.  One of them held him secure while the other opened the cell,  They then told all the inmates who desired to celebrate independence day to vacate quickly.  Four prisoners walked out and four remained in their cells.  Mr. Dunn was then incarcerated, the lock thrown on and the four men ran down stairs, jumped the fence and were at liberty.

About 2 o’clock Mr. Terrell Bryant’s [Bryan] attention was attracted to the jail by Dunn’s loud cries for help, and going there he learned the facts.  After releasing Dunn they raised the alarm and soon every man that could muster a gun and horse was in pursuit.  T. M. Creswell brought in a pair of the boys this evening and the other two, Phil Roberts, wanted in Tennessee for assault to murder, and Jack Kimball, charged with horse theft here, are still at large.  A strong posse still pursues them.  The prisoners have with them a Winchester, and it is thought will make a fight when overtaken.


Stephenville Tribune
24 July 1896

R. E. Bryan will teach at the school at Center Grove this year.


Erath Appeal
Redic E. Bryan and J. Myrtie Hairston
21 Jul, 1898

Redic Bryan had the misfortune Monday night to have a wagon run over his leg
below the knee, fracturing the larger bone.

26 Feb, 1903
Harve Keith and his wife will soon move to Fort Worth where Mr. Keith has a position.

29 Sept, 1904
Mrs. Terrell Bryan went down to Fort Worth Sunday for a fortnight’s visit to her daughters, Mrs. Lon Latta and Mrs. Harvey Keith.


Stephenville Tribune
21 Jul 1905

Reddick Bryan will go to San Angelo to prospect and also to
visit relatives.

18 Aug 1905

Reddick Bryan and wife have returned from their visit to
Robert Lee, San Angelo and other points west. He reports lands out there as
higher than the same class can be bought for in Erath county.

Note: Redic was probably visiting his sister, Dollie Wylie, and her husband, Tom, in Robert E. Lee, Coke County.

11 Nov, 1905

Reddick Bryan and P.A. Hairston, who recently disposed of their property in Erath County, are nicely located on a fine piece of property they paid $20 per acre. They bought all the corn on the farm at 25 cents. They have already taken possession of their new homes.

1 Dec, 1905

Rev. R.A. Cox who recently purchased the Phil Hairston place will preach at Sylvan Saturday and Sunday. Mr. Cox has been in the ministry a good many years.

Note: P. A. Hairston was Redic's father-in-law. Redic, his wife, Myrtie, and their children along with Philip and Lodema Hairston, Myrtie's parents moved to the Levelview community of Baylor County in 1905.

15 Nov, 1909

Judge Terrell Bryan celebrated his seventy-third birthday on 17 Nov, and is receiving congratulations galore.  He served in the Confederate army and was desperately wounded, and has suffered untold torture from then up to the present time.  He has four children living and all are married.


Stephenville Tribune
March 4, 1910

During the serious illness of Mrs. T. L. Biggs  Mr. B. was unable to attend to his farming operations, but his neighbors evidenced the true christian spirit and he will not suffer from a loss of crops.  The came and broke his land, hauled wood, and did other neighborly acts for all of which he is deeply grateful.  And the dear, good women did their part nobly. 
It is now believed that Mrs. Biggs will recover.  She suffered from blood poisoning.

Note: Terrell Little"Bunch" Bryan was the daughter of Terrell Bryan and Harriet Albritton and the wife of J. D. Biggs.  

These excerpts were recorded on my web pages almost twenty years ago. Those web pages have not been updated since about 2012 but can still be found at my Rootsweb Freepages site. However, Ancestry, who now owns Rootsweb, is retiring the pages in 2024, and when and if they are returned, the pages will be static (I will not be able to make changes). 

If you want to know more about the families I research, click here to like my Facebook page, where you will see each post and other genealogical finds. 

Diana
© 2023 

"A Serious Accident," Stephenville Empire, Stephenville, Texas, 1 August 1895. Transcribed by C. Shipman and shared with Diana Quinn before 2011.

"Jail Delivery. The Acting Jailer Overpowered by Two Outside Men," Dallas Morning News, Dallas, Texas, 5 August 1891. Transcribed by C. Shipman and shared with Diana Quinn before 2011.

Redic Bryan at Center Grove, Stephenville Tribune, Stephenville, Texas, 24 July 1896. Transcribed by C. Shipman and shared with Diana Quinn before 2011.

Reddick Bryan, Stephenville Tribune, Stephenville, Texas, 21 July 1905. Transcribed by C. Shipman and shared with Diana Quinn before 2011.

Reddick Bryan, Stephenville Tribune, Stephenville, Texas, 18 August 1905. Transcribed by C. Shipman and shared with Diana Quinn before 2011.

Reddick Bryan, Stephenville Tribune, Stephenville, Texas, 11 November 1905. Transcribed by C. Shipman and shared with Diana Quinn before 2011.

The Phil Hairston place, Stephenville Tribune, Stephenville, Texas, 1 December 1905. Transcribed by C. Shipman and shared with Diana Quinn before 2011.

Redic Bryan fractured leg, Erath Appeal, Stephenville, Texas, 21 July 1898; Dolph Briscoe Center for American History, 2005. 

Harve Keith and wife, Erath Appeal, Stephenville, Texas, 26 February 1903; Dolph Briscoe Center for American History, 2005. 

Mrs. Terrell Bryan, Erath Appeal, Stephenville, Texas, 29 September 1904; Dolph Briscoe Center for American History, 2005. 

Terrell Little Bryan and James D. Biggs, photograph, ca.1880; scanned image, from the privately held photo collection of Patricia Pierce Waas, TX, 2006. 

Redic E. Bryan and J. Myrtie Hairston, photograph, 1900; scanned image, original in the privately held photo collection of D.B. Quinn, 2023.

Terrell Bryan, photograph, ca. 1900; scanned image, original in the privately held photo collection of D.B. Quinn, 2023.

Sunday, August 19, 2018

The Terrell Bryan and Harriet Albritton Family


Terrell Bryan and Harriet Louisa Albritton
Date Unknown (Best guess is about 1880)

Terrell Bryan and Harriet Louisa Albritton were married on February 20, 1855 in Bienville Parish, LA.   Terrell, the son of Reddick and Elizabeth Regan Bryan, was born in Georgia (probably Houston County) on November 17, 1836.  Harriet, the daughter of Peter and Hollon Albritton, was born in Twiggs County, Georgia on August 15, 1836.  

Terrell farmed in Louisiana until the Civil War.  He was a private in the "Castor Guards," part of the 16th Louisiana Infantry.  Terrell was wounded at Shiloh and at Missionary Ridge.  During the war, Harriet and her children lived at the home of Harriet's mother in Louisiana.  By 1877, Terrell and his family were living in Eastland County, Texas. They moved to Erath County in 1878 or 1879. 


On the back is Terrel and H. L. Bryan  Stephenville, Texas  age 65 May 1899. 


In Erath County, he did some farming, served as Justice of the Peace for a few terms, managed the Poor Farm, opened a wagon yard, and even tried selling books. He attended the Methodist Church and was active in local politics, the Masons, and Woodmen of the World. 

Terrell and Harriet had ten children; Joseph H. Bryan, Frances L. Bryan, Terrell (Bunch) Bryan Biggs, Hollon S. Bryan Latta, Alice Amanda (Allie) Bryan Hammett, Redic Eli Bryan (my grandfather), Dorothy Elizabeth Harriet (Dollie) Bryan Wylie, Laura Louise Bryan Keith, Willie A. Bryan, and James T. Bryan. 

Harriet died on February 9, 1909 at her home in Erath County, Texas and Terrell died on May 16, 1920 at the Wylie home in Coke County, Texas.  Both are buried in West End Cemetery in Stephenville, Erath County, Texas. 

I have written many posts about Terrell and Harriet. Here are just a few. 




Children of Terrell and Harriet Albritton Bryan


1.   Joseph H. Bryan    b: February 18, 1857 in Bienville Parish, LA    d: August 11, 1857 in Bienville Parish, LA.  


Birth and death dates found in Terrell Bryan's family bible.
Joseph H. Bryan's burial place is unknown.


2.  Frances L. Bryan    b: February 13, 1859  in Bienville Parish, LA   d: December 24, 1894 in Erath County, TX


According to this cemetery stone, Frances died in 
1904. However, it is written in the family  bible as 
1894; age 35 years, 10 months, and 11 days.  This 
would  make the 1894 year correct. I have never 
found another record or report of her death. 







3.  Terrell (Bunch) Little Bryan    b: July 13, 1861 in Bienville Parish, LA    d: April 02, 1939 in Wheeler, TX



Terrell "Bunch" Bryan married James "Jim" Daniel  Biggs in
Erath County on May 16, 1880.

Read this blog post for additional information about Bunch - Friday's Photo: Terrell Little "Bunch" Bryan.

4.  Hollon (Holly) Span Bryan    b: August 24, 1865 in Bienville Parish, LA    d: September 01, 1906 in Fort Worth, Tarrant, TX



Hollon Bryan married James Alonzo Latta in
Erath County on September 4, 1881.

These blog posts have additional information about Hollon and her family.

        



5.  Alice (Allie) Amanda Bryan    b: November 21, 1867 in Bienville Parish, LA    d: June 12, 1953 in Post, TX

Alice Amanda "Allie" Bryan married John Regan Hammett in 
Natchitoches, Louisiana on September 11, 1887.

Read this blog post for additional information about Allie's family - Sunday's Obituary: John R. Hammett



6.  Redic Eli Bryan    b: August 02, 1870 in Bienville Parish, LA    d: August 29, 1929 in Seymour, TX


Redic Eli Bryan married Johnie Myrtlene "Myrtie" Hairston in 
Erath County, Texas on February 7, 1900 in Erath County, Texas.

Read these blog posts for more information about Redic and his family.



7.  Dorothy (Dollie) Elizabeth Harriet Bryan    b: January 17, 1873 in Bienville Parish, LA    d: November 26, 1948 in Robert E. Lee, Coke Co, TX

        
Dollie Bryan married Thomas Sumter Wylie in 
Erath County, Texas on July 21, 1889.

Read these blog posts for additional information about Dollie and her family.




8.   Willie A. Bryan    b: August 21, 1875 - probably in Bienville Parish, LA    d: October 26, 1878 in Erath County, TX


Birth and death dates found in Terrell Bryan's family bible. 
Willie A. Bryan is buried in Old Valley Grove Cemetery; age three years, two months, 
and three days. 




9.  Laura L. Bryan    b: April 28, 1878 in Erath County, TX    d: July 18, 1908 in Erath County, TX

Laura Louise Bryan married William Harve Keith in 
Erath County, Texas on June 25, 1899.
        

These blog posts contain additional information about Laura and her family.



10.  James T. Bryan    b: February 02, 1884 in Erath County, TX    d: March 17, 1884 in Erath County, TX


Birth and death dates found in Terrell Bryan's family bible. 
The Stephenville Empire, February 9, 1884.
Both Terrell and Harriet would have been 47 years old when James T. Bryan was born. 

James T. Bryan is buried in Old Valley Grove Cemetery. According to the family bible, he died at age six weeks.  


If you want to know more about the families I research, click here to like my Facebook page where you will see each post and other genealogical finds. 

Diana

© 2018

Sources

Family photographs and documents from the collection of Diana Bryan Quinn.

Family photographs and documents from the collection of Marguerite Cook Clark. Accessed April 28, 2014, September 14, 2014, and November 9 to 11, 2016. Used with permission.

Family photographs and documents from the collection of Sue Pierce and Pat Waas. Accessed 2006. Used with permission.

Jones, Ken.  Frances L. Bryan (1869-1894). Find A Grave Memorial. Web. 30 Aug. 2015. Used with permission. <https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/28974168/frances-l.-bryan>.

Jones, Ken.  James J. Bryan (1884). Find A Grave Memorial. Web. 30 Aug. 2015. Used with permission. <https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/28974392/james-j.-bryan#source>.

Jones, Ken.  Willie A. Bryan (1875-1878). Find A Grave Memorial. Web. 30 Aug. 2015. Used with permission. <https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/28975523/willie-a.-bryan>.

Quinn, Diana B. Moments in Time, A Genealogy Blog: #52ancestors Post Eleven: The Bryan Family Bible. Blogger, 2018. Web. 19 Aug. 2018. <https://momentsintimeagenealogyblog.blogspot.com/2018/03/52ancestors-post-eleven-bryan-family.html>

The Stephenville Empire (Stephenville, Texas), Vol. 12, No. 23, Ed.1 Saturday, February 9, 1884. Accessed 25 June 2017. The Portal to Texas History.

Sunday, June 3, 2018

#52ancestors Post Twenty-Two: Kathryn Keith - Why was she so far from family?



Eddye Kathryn Keith was my father's first cousin. I don't believe they met. However, it is very likely my father's older sisters knew her when they were children.   

Eddye Kathryn Keith
According to writing found on a baby photo, her name was Eddye Kathryn. She was born January 21, 1902 and was the second of three children born to Laura Louise Bryan and William Harve Keith.  The first daughter, unnamed, was born and died in 1900. Kathyrn's younger sister, Laura Louise was born in 1905. 

Kathryn's mother, Laura Louise Bryan Keith, was the daughter of Terrell Bryan and Harriet Albritton and, my grandfather's youngest sister. She passed away from complications related to typhoid in 1908. 

Laura Louise and Eddye Kathryn Keith





In 1910 and 1920, the Keith girls were living with their grandmother, Martha Keith, and several Keith family members.  Kathryn was listed as "Eddie C. Keith" in 1910 and "Cathryne Keith" in 1920.

Kathryn played the piano and was an accomplished vocalist. As early as age 11, mention of her singing with a local music club was found in Erath County newspapers. Later she sang at church programs and at weddings. 

Kathryn was attending John Tarleton Agricultural College in 1921 and 1922. She was a member of the J. T. Actors' Club and on the yearbook staff where her job title was "kodak." I assume this had something to do with photography. 

Kathryn married Wayne Merrill Chandler on June 21, 1922, at the Keith home. A wonderful description of the wedding can be seen by clicking on this link to The Portal to Texas History.

According to information at Find A Grave, Kathryn died on June 12, 1925 and is buried in West End Cemetery. It is reported she died in Colorado.

The writing prompt for this week's #52ancestors is So Far Away. I immediately thought of Kathryn Keith as I had always wondered why she died so far away from family. However, as a good researcher, I need to determine if this information is correct.  I hope there will be more to this story. 

If you want to know more about the families I research, click here to like my Facebook page where you will see each post and other genealogical finds. 


Diana

© 2018

Sources

Family photographs and documents from the collection of Diana Bryan Quinn.

Family photographs and documents from the collection of Marguerite Cook Clark. Accessed April 28, 2014, September 14, 2014, and November 9 to 11, 2016. Used with permission.

Find A Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 03 June 2018), memorial page for Kathryne Ruth “Eddye” Keith Chandler (21 Jan 1902–12 Jun 1925), Find A Grave Memorial no. 12950933, citing West End Cemetery, Stephenville, Erath County, Texas, USA ; Maintained by Find A Grave (contributor 8).

The Tribune. (Stephenville, Tex.), Vol. 22, No. 8, Ed. 1 Friday, February 20, 1914, newspaper, February 20, 1914; Stephenville, Texas. (texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth881188/m1/2/?q=%22kathryne%20Keith%22: accessed June 2, 2018), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Stephenville Public Library.

Stephenville Tribune (Stephenville, Tex.), Vol. 29, No. 26, Ed. 1 Friday, June 24, 1921, newspaper, June 24, 1921; Stephenville, Texas. (texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth881895/m1/3/?q=%22kathryne%20Keith%22: accessed June 2, 2018), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Stephenville Public Library.

John Tarleton Agricultural College. The Grassburr, Yearbook of John Tarleton Agricultural College, 1922, yearbook, Spring 1922; Stephenville, Texas. (texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth541961/m1/18/?q=%22kathryne%20Keith%22: accessed June 2, 2018), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Tarleton State University.

Stephenville Tribune (Stephenville, Tex.), Vol. 29, No. 49, Ed. 1 Friday, December 2, 1921, newspaper, December 2, 1921; Stephenville, Texas. (texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth881220/m1/8/?q=%22kathryne%20Keith%22: accessed June 2, 2018), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Stephenville Public Library.

Stephenville Tribune (Stephenville, Tex.), Vol. 30, No. 26, Ed. 1 Friday, June 23, 1922, newspaper, June 23, 1922; Stephenville, Texas. (texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth877718/m1/7/?q=%22kathryne%20Keith%22: accessed June 2, 2018), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Stephenville Public Library.