Three Bryan Cemetery Monuments Beautifully Restored in Bienville Parish, Louisiana

Elizabeth Regan Bryan, Georgia Ann Frances Bryan Pitman Wimberly, Reddick Bryan

The earliest marked
grave in this cemetery

In the fall of 2017, my distant cousin, Jane Stewart Slater, sent photos of damaged cemetery monuments in the Bryan Cemetery in Bienville Parish, Louisiana. Jane and I are both descendants of Reddick and Elizabeth Regan Bryan who settled near Ringgold in 1838. A large tree had fallen and damaged Reddick and Elizabeth's cemetery monuments along with the monument for their daughter, Georgia Ann Frances Bryan Pitman Wimberly. 

In March 2018, I posted #52ancestors Post Twelve: The Bryan Cemetery in Bienville Parish - History, Photographs, and Disrepair and later posted Repairing Cemetery Stones in Bienville's Bryan Cemetery. By June 2018, descendants of Reddick and Elizabeth Bryan donated enough funds to begin repair of the monuments. 

Jason Campbell at Campbell Monument Company in Provencal, Louisiana accepted the job. Elizabeth Bryan's monument was quickly repaired at the cemetery. Reddick Bryan's needed a small excavator to remove it and this was hampered by many months of bad weather. Both his monument and Georgia's needed to be repaired away from the cemetery. 

Thank you to Jason Campbell for the amazing restoration, to Jane Stewart Slater for making all arrangements, and to the descendants of Reddick and Elizabeth Bryan who donated the needed funds. 

The pictures below show the now beautifully restored monuments as well as the damaged condition of each monument before restoration. 

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

© 2020

Friday's Photo: Jesse Wimberly and Jane Crumpton

Jesse Pittman Wimberly  1852-1889
Jane Elizabeth Crumpton  1854-1940

Maggie Martin Cook wrote Uncle Jesse and Aunt Jane Wimberly above this photo. She was just a toddler when Jesse Wimberly died, but I'm certain she knew Jane and her children.

Jessie Pittman Wimberly was the third child of William Wimberly and Mary Angelina Pittman Roberts Hinton Wimberly. Jesse, the 12th of William Wimberly's children, grew up with many half-siblings. He was half-brother to Sarah Margaret Wimberly Bryan who was the grandmother to Maggie Martin Cook and also aunt to my grandfather, Redic Bryan. 

In 1878, Jesse married Jane Elizabeth Crumpton, daughter of David Jackson Crumpton and Mary D. Scott. Jesse and Jane were the parents to four children; Laura Jessie, James Abner, Mary Elizabeth, and Sarah Alice. 

According to the Wimberly Family History, Jesse and Jane lived on a farm about six miles from Ringgold near the William Wimberly farm. Jesse took care of his farm and also put in crops for his sister Eliza Davis after her husband died in 1884. Jesse died from the flu in 1889 when he was only 37 years old. Jane did not remarry. She died at the home of her daughter in Natchitoches in 1940. Jesse and Jane are buried in the Wimberly cemetery.

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

© 2019

Sources

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.

Wimberly, Vera. Wimberly Family History: Ancestors, Relatives, and Descendants of William Wimberly, Pioneer from Georgia to Louisiana, 1837. Houston, Tex.: D. Armstrong, 1979. Print. 

#52ancestors Post Twelve: The Bryan Cemetery in Bienville Parish - History, Photographs, and Disrepair

Whit Criswell Bryan, my father and great-grandson of Reddick and Elizabeth Regan Bryan, in the Bryan Cemetery, Bienville Parish, Louisiana.
September 1981

Reddick Bryan purchased 400 acres of land in the vicinity of the Bryan Cemetery in 1839 - Township 15-N, Range 9-W, Section 25. He was considered one of the early settlers in that area. John Knight purchased land to the west several years before and land to the south was purchased by John Fuller. Eventually, William Wimberly and later, James Bryan, would own land to the north of the cemetery. Son, Joseph Bryan, purchased land to the east around 1850.

Click here to see the Bryan Cemetery on Google Earth. 

The earliest marked burial in the Bryan Cemetery of Bienville Parish is that of Reddick Bryan who died in 1864. Was this the earliest grave or just the earliest stone marker surviving?

As in most old cemeteries, there are probably unmarked graves.  Elizabeth Regan Carr (daughter of John and Martha Regan) wrote in a pension request that husband, John Carr,  was buried in the Bryan Cemetery. His grave is not marked. There are several Bryan family members with no known burial locations. 

Another descendant of Reddick and Elizabeth Bryan remembers a black iron fence around the cemetery with graves around the fence. She remembers many unmarked graves and tells of a road crew destroying graves while putting in a road. 

#52ancestors Post Eleven: The Bryan Family Bible

The writing prompt for #52ancestors this week is lucky. I had plenty of ancestors who could be seen as lucky for a variety of reasons; however, I am the lucky one. So many other family members shared photos and research. My parents saved old family photos and both had some research to share with me. One item I was very lucky and happy to receive was the Bryan family bible. It contained names, dates, photos, newspaper clippings, and other mementos. 

A transcription of this bible is on my Rootsweb pages; however, all Rootsweb pages are down and when and if they will be back online is unknown. 

This Bible was originally owned by Terrell and Harriet Albritton Bryan, my great-grandparents. They were both born in Georgia but grew up in Bienville Parish, Louisiana. Terrell Bryan was the fifth child of Reddick and Elizabeth Span Regan Bryan, both from North Carolina.  Harriet Louisa Albritton was the daughter of Peter and Hollon Albritton, both from North Carolina. She was the youngest of six known children.

Terrell and Harriet had ten children. Seven were born in Bienville Parish, Louisiana and the three youngest were born in Erath County, Texas. Terrell and his family settled in Erath County in 1878. Terrell and Harriet are buried in the West End Cemetery in Stephenville, Texas. 

The bible was passed on to Redic Eli Bryan, son of Terrell and Harriet, and his wife Myrtie Hairston Bryan. Their youngest son (and my father), Whit Criswell Bryan, passed it on to me.  


 THE

ILLUSTRATED 

POLYGLOT 

HOUSEHOLD BIBLE

***************

THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS

WITH

THE MARGINAL READINGS AND AN ORIGINAL SELECTION OF REFERENCES TO 

PARRALLEL AND ILLUSTRATIVE PASSAGES 


Published by Zeigler, McCurdy, & Co.

1870

MARRIAGES

Terrell Bryan & Harriett L. Albritton was married the 20th Feb. 1855

Redic Bryan & Myrtie Hairston was married Feb. 7, 1900, Stephenville Erath Co Texas

BIRTHS

Terrell Bryan was borned the 17th November the year 1836

Harriet L. Albritton was borned the 15th August 1836

Joseph H. Bryan was borned the 18th Feb. 1857

Frances L. Bryan was borned the 13 Feb. 1859

Terrell L. Bryan was borned the 13th July 1861

Hollon S. Bryan was borned the 24th Aug. 1865

Alice A. Bryan was borned the 21st Novmbr 1867

Reddick E. Bryan was borned the 2nd Aug. 1870

Dollie E. H. Bryan was borned 17th of January A. D. 1873

Willie A. Bryan was borned 21st of August A. D. 1875

Laura L. Bryan was borned April 28th, 1878

James T. Bryan was borned Feb 2nd 1884

Myrtie Hairston borned July 9, 1880  

DEATHS

Father, Terrell Bryan died May 12, 1920, Bronte, Tx

Mother, Harriet L. Bryan, died Feb. 9, 1909

Frances L. Bryan died Dec. 24, 1894 Age yr35 mo10 da11

Mrs. H. S. Latta died Sept 1, 1906 age 41

Willie A. Bryan died Oct. 26, 1878 age y3 m2 d3

Laura L. Bryan Keith died July 18, 1908 age 30 years 2 months and 20 days

James T. Bryan died March 18, 1884 age six wk

Mother, E.S. Bryan died 12th of February A.D. 1877 age 78 years

Mama, Bryan Died May 3rd 1927. age 46 - 9 - 24 {this was Myrtie Bryan}



FAMILY INFORMATION FOUND ON SCRAPS OF PAPER IN THE BIBLE

The following Bryan family information was written by Redic E. Bryan, son of Terrell Bryan:

Terrell L. Bryan Married J. D. Biggs

H. S. (Hollan) " " Lon Latta

Allie " " J. R. Hammett

Dollie " " T.S. Wylie

Laura " " Harve Keith

Redic " " Myrtie Hairston

Redic and Myrtie Children

Marie Borned June 21, 1901

DeRay " March 11, 1904

Hairston Buster Jan. 24, 1906

Willie Mae April 16, 1910  

Redic Bryan wrote the following about his grandfather’s family in Bienville Parish, Louisiana:

grandfather Bryan

Reddick Bryan

and

E. S. Bryan

James Bryan - no children

Baker Bryan - no children

___________

John Reagan

Spann Reagan

___________

J. B. Bryan

T. C. Bryan

Terrell Bryan

D. E. Bryan Davis Hammett

C. A. Bryan Watts Thomas

G. F. Bryan Pitman Wimberly - no children

These uncles and aunts all buried in Bienville. Louisiana 

<signed>R. E. Bryan

My mother Harriet Albritton was born Aug. 15, 1836, was married to Terrell Bryan Died Feb. 9, 1909  



This is family information written by Myrtie Hairston Bryan.   P. A. Hairston and L. W. Hairston were the parents of Myrtie Hairston Bryan. Myrtie Marie, Monte DeRay, Hairston Albritton, Willie May, and Redic Eliy Bryan Jr., were all children of Myrtie Hairston and Redic Eli Bryan.  The last two children born to Myrtie and Redic, R. E. and Whit Criswell, are not listed.

P. A. Hairston was borne July 12, 1853

L. W. Hairston was borne June 4, 1856

Myrtie Hairston was borne July 9, 1880

Baby Boy borne January 9, 1870 die 23

Myrtie Marie was borne June 21, 1901

Monte DeRay " " March 11, 1904 

Hairston Albritton January 24, 1906

Willie May born April 16, 1910

Redic Eliy Bryan Jr., born April 8, 1913

Criswell family information written by Lodema Walker Criswell Hairston (born 1856), mother of Myrtie Hairston Bryan. Lodema’s parents were William Moore and Mary Anne Evans Criswell.

W. M. Criswell was born May 4, 1822

Mary Ann Criswell was born June 9, 1829

E. H. Criswell was born July 10, 1848

W. H. Criswell was born June 27, 1849

N. J. Criswell was born Nov. 24, 1851

One girl born and died Nov. 16, 1863

S. A. Criswell born Nov. 1853

L. W. Criswell born June 4, 1856

J. C. Criswell born March 2, 1858

B.C. Criswell born March 26, 1860

C. A. Criswell born Dec. 28, 1861

T. L. Criswell born Jan. 18, 1864

F. C. Criswell born March 28, 1867

U. G. Criswell born July 25, 1869

M.C. Criswell born March 2, 1871

W. M. and M. A. Criswell was married Sept. 27, 1847

M. A. Criswell died May the 30, 1883

 W. M. Criswell died March the 7, 1881

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

The Bryan Log Cabin in Bienville Parish

Click on the book to see it at Amazon.

I purchased this book from Amazon when they were only selling books. It was purchased for one reason  -  on page 59 was the Bryan Log Cabin. The Bryan Log Cabin was the home my great-great-grandparents, Reddick and Elizabeth Regan Bryan, built after moving to Louisiana from Georgia in the 1830s. 

The house was a two room dogtrot log cabin and was similar to these homes. 

The following was written by Mary Marguerite "Maggie" Martin Cook - Wife of Edward Clifton Cook, Daughter of Thomas Jefferson Martin and Laura Bryan.
The old Thos. J. Martin home, Mama, Mammie, Aunt Fannie
Mrs. Martin, Mrs. Sarah Bryan, Aunt Fannie Pittman Wimberly. 
Mrs. Martin was Laura Bryan Martin (Mama), Mrs. Sarah Bryan was Sarah Wimberly Bryan (Mammie), and Aunt Fannie was Georgia Ann Frances Bryan Pitman Wimberly.
Go to the bottom of this post to see a larger photo of the women in this picture. 

Old home of Dr. E. C. Cook. was also written by Maggie Martin Cook.
Maggie may be the woman with the baby in the doorway.

Go to the bottom of this post to see a larger photo of the woman and baby in this picture.

In addition to seeing the cabin in this book, a sketch and description be found in the research paper Log Houses as Public Occasions: A Historical Theory written in 1977.  I won't put either on my blog as I want to avoid copyright infringement. 

However, I want to tell you a story about the cabin and maybe have questions answered. 

The Story 
This is the story as told to me by a Wimberly/Bryan descendant (my third cousin) when visiting Bienville Parish in 2007. 

About three years before my visit, the woman who owned the land told my cousin someone from Louisiana State University asked for the cabin. They took the cabin apart carefully numbering each piece. When a Nix/Bryan descendant asked for a board, he was denied as they needed each piece. 

My cousin said when LSU was called to find out where to see the house, they did not know anything about it. I don't know who called LSU. 

My Questions

• Could the cabin be at LSU?
• Could the cabin now be a cute guest house, someone's home, or a Bed & Breakfast?
• Does anyone remember the Bryan log cabin?
• Has anyone heard this story or know of another 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
© 2017 

Sources

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.

Newton, M. B. and Napoli, L. P.-D. (1977), Log Houses as Public Occasions: A Historical Theory. Annals of the Association of American Geographers, 67: 360–383.  https://www.jstor.org/stable/2562336?seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents

Overdyke, W. Darrell. Louisiana Plantation Homes, Colonial and Antebellum.  New York: American Legacy Press, 1981.

Friday's Photo: Tintypes From A Louisiana Family

My distant California cousins shared these tintypes with me. All are unlabeled and persons pictured are unknown. Our Louisiana families lived in Bienville Parish and counties nearby. Family names include Bryan, Wimberly, Trott, Hammett, Albritton, Pitman, Frye, Cook, and Watts. 

I have identified many previously unknown photos by finding others who have similar photos marked with names. Do you have similar photos? If so, please contact me. 

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

© 2017

Source

Family photographs and documents from the Frye Family collection. Accessed June 6, 2016. Used with permission.

Friday's Photo: Who Is This Pretty Young Woman?

This photo was passed to me by my cousin, Jackie. I assume that it originally belonged to my father's parents. The hairstyle is indicative of those of the 1890s.There are no markings on the back of this delicate paper photo.


Could she be a family friend? If family, is she related to my grandmother's Hairstons or my grandfather's Bryans? 

Surnames include Bryan, Hairston, Criswell, Evans, Selman, Albritton, Biggs, Chisum, Gilbert, Gresham, Hammett, Keith, Latta, Noah, Pitman, Regan, Thompson, Watts, Wimberly, Wylie, and many more. 

Diana

© 2016