A Letter from Sallie Bryan Hammett of Bienville Parish, Louisiana to Lizzie Ragan in Terrell County, Georgia Written in Spring 1915

I scanned this photo at the home of a cousin in Post, Texas, several years ago.
This is Wesley Hammett and Sallie Bryan and their children, Jim,
Eleanor, and Ada. [1] 

This letter and one other were sent to me by a cousin in Georgia.  They were originally copied and sent to him by E. Ragan Pruitt. [2] I love how these posts came together with photos shared by so many different families. 

This letter and others belonged to Lizzie Ragan and their location is not known at this time.  Lizzie was looking for genealogical information. Sallie Hammett wrote this letter sometime in the Spring of 1915 prior to a second letter dated April 28, 1915.

Friday's Photo: Is this a Bryan, Albritton, McNeil, or Wylie Descendant?

My second cousin Jane is sorting family photos and came across this one. Jane and I share the same great-grandparents, Terrell Bryan and Harriet Albritton - both born in Georgia, raised in Bienville Parish, Louisiana, and raised their family in Erath County, Texas. Jane is a descendant of Terrell and Harriet's daughter, Dorothy Elizabeth Harriet Bryan and her husband Thomas S. Wylie. Tom Wylie, born in Tishomingo, Mississippi, was the son of Samuel Kelso Wylie and Mariah McNeil. Tom Wylie had numerous siblings who lived along with his family in Erath County.

Could this blue-eyed beauty be a niece of Terrell and Harriet, living in Northwest Louisiana? Or maybe a niece of Tom Wylie living in Erath County?  I haven't been able to date the photo, but wonder if it could possibly be Jane's grandmother, Dorothy Elizabeth Harriet Bryan. 

If you can identify this young woman, I would love to hear from you!

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


Sources

Abersold, Jane. Wylie Family Tree. Ancestry.com https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/tree/196554/family/familyview?indiv=try&h&db. Accessed 5 Mar. 2020.

Family photographs and documents from the collection of Jane Aebersold. Used with permission.

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. 

• Friday's Photo: Terrell Bryan's Twilight Years
• A Letter from the Texas Confederate Home
• If Your Family Lived in Erath County, Texas . . .
• Friday's Photo: Masons Attended Terrell Bryan's Funeral in Stephenville, Erath County, Texas
• Friday's Photo: Another Picture of Harriet
• Sunday's Obituary: Harriet Albritton Bryan

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.

• Friday's Photo: Hollon Bryan Latta
• Sunday's Obituary: Hollon Bryan Latta
• Friday's Photo: Millard Ray Latta Pyle

        



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.

• #52ancestors: Post Seven: The Courtship of my Grandparents, Redic Bryan and Myrtie Hairston
• 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: #24 Redic Eli Bryan, My Grandfather
• 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: #1 Johnie Myrtlene "Myrtie" Hairston
• Friday's Photo: Comparing Photographs - Redic Bryan
• Monday's News: Redic Bryan in the Baylor County Banner
• Monday’s News: Redic E. Bryan in the Erath Appeal

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.

• From the Files of Marguerite Cook Clark: Dollie Bryan
• Friday's Photo: McNeil Wylie and John Mayo
• Friday's Photo: Feather Girl
• Friday's Photo: Dollie Wylie Revisited
• Monday's News: Tom Wylie in the Erath Appeal 

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.

• #52ancestors Post Twenty-Two: Kathryn Keith - Why was she so far from family?
• From the Files of Marguerite Cook Clark: Laura Louise Bryan 
• Friday's Photo: Eddye Kathryn Keith, Another Photo Mystery Solved
• Sunday's Obituary: Laura Bryan Keith

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.

#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