James Bryan (1789–1822) was an American mining entrepreneur whose efforts in concert with others brought economic development to

Missouri Missouri (''see #Etymology and pronunciation, pronunciation'') is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. Ranking List of U.S. states and territories by area, 21st in land area, it border ...

. Bryan operated "Bryan's Mines" on Hazel Run, north of Big River, in SW 1/4 of Sec. 33, T. 37N. 5E. in 1806; this location is also known as "Hazel Run Lead Digging." Bryan owned significant land in Missouri, including a plantation, and donated land in Missouri to the public for the construction of public buildings there. A transfer of Missouri land to Bryan from his father-in-law, mining entrepreneur

Moses Austin Moses Austin (October 4, 1761 – June 10, 1821) was an American businessman and pioneer who played a large part in the development of the lead industry in the early United States, especially in southwest Virginia and Missouri. He was the fa ...

, eventually became the subject of the 1885

United States Supreme Court The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) is the highest court in the federal judiciary of the United States. It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all U.S. federal court cases, and over state court cases that turn on question ...

case ''

Bryan v. Kennett ''Bryan v. Kennett'', 113 U.S. 179 (1885), was a United States Supreme Court case in which the Court held that, under the treaty providing for the Louisiana Purchase, the United States would recognize property interests granted by the previous so ...

'', which has been called the Court's ratification of the Louisiana Purchase. Bryan was also a significant land owner in

Arkansas Arkansas ( ) is a landlocked state in the West South Central region of the Southern United States. It borders Missouri to the north, Tennessee and Mississippi to the east, Louisiana to the south, Texas to the southwest, and Oklahoma ...

, and was recognized in a book published by the Arkansas History Commission.

Family and Legacy Impact on Development of Texas

Paternally, James Bryan began a family which had a unique and dramatic impact on the early Anglo development of Texas. James was the first husband of Emily Margaret Brown Austin, brother-in-law of Stephen F. Austin, son-in-law of

, and father to several early Anglo settlers of Texas including

William Joel Bryan William Joel Bryan (December 14, 1815 – March 3, 1903) was a Texas soldier and planter. Biography Early life William Joel Bryan was born on December 14, 1815, at Hazel Run in Sainte Genevieve County, Missouri. His father was James Bryan and ...

Moses Austin Bryan Moses Austin Bryan (September 25, 1817 – March 16, 1895) was an early settler of Texas. Moses served as Secretary for his uncle, Stephen F. Austin. Family His mother was Emily Austin Perry, and his father was James Bryan. Born in Herculaneum, ...

. and

Guy Morrison Bryan Guy Morrison Bryan (January 12, 1821June 4, 1901) was a U.S. Representative from Texas. Biography Bryan was born in Herculaneum in the Missouri Territory on January 12, 1821. His family moved to the Mexican State of Texas in 1831, and settled ...

. The Briscoe Center for American History at the

University of Texas The University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin, UT, or Texas) is a public research university in Austin, Texas, United States. Founded in 1883, it is the flagship institution of the University of Texas System. With 53,082 students as of fall 2 ...

deems James Bryan historically significant in that they maintain writings as well as communications that pertain to him under the heading "Bryan, James" such as: "Austin Papers, 1676, 1765-1889" and *Bryan (James) Papers, 1799-1822". Moses Austin sent Bryan a memorandum at or about 1819 and this is found in the collection at the University of Texas.

Family and Life Cycle

James was born October 18, 1789, in Haycock Township,

Bucks County, Pennsylvania Bucks County is a County (United States), county in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the population was 646,538, making it the List of counties in Pennsylvania, four ...

. He died on July 16, 1822, in Hazel Run, Missouri. Emily and James married on August 31, 1813, at Durham Hall, in Mine au Breton, Washington County, Missouri. The two lived with Emily’s parents at their home called Durham Hall, in

, from 1813 to 1814. In 1815, they moved to Hazel Run, Missouri, and also later to

Herculaneum, Missouri Herculaneum is a city in Jefferson County, Missouri, and is a suburb of St. Louis. The population was 4,273 at the 2020 United States census. The City of Herculaneum was the first county seat of Jefferson County from January 1, 1819, to 1839. ...

. Emily and James Bryan had five children: *Stephen Austin Bryan was born on July 17, 1814, in Durham Hall, Missouri. He died on August 12, 1814, in Durham Hall, Missouri. *

was born on December 14, 1815, in Hazel Run, Saint Genevieve, Missouri. He died on March 13, 1903. *

was born on September 25, 1817, in Herculaneum, Jefferson County, Missouri. He died on March 16, 1895, in Brenham, Texas. *

was born on January 12, 1821, in Herculaneum, Jefferson County, Missouri. He died on June 4, 1901, in Austin, Travis County, Texas. *Mary Elizabeth Bryan was born on July 5, 1822, in Herculaneum, Jefferson County, Missouri. She died on August 4, 1833. Moses Austin died at Bryan's home in 1821. James Bryan is buried in Hazel Run, Missouri. Descendants of James Bryan meet each year in

Jones Creek, Texas Jones Creek is a village in Brazoria County, Texas, United States. The population was 1,975 at the 2020 census. It is the first location in Texas where Stephen F. Austin settled. History The Father of Texas, Stephen F. Austin, first settle ...

, at the Austin-Bryan-Perry reunion in recognition of the achievement of these three families. There are some historical unknowns about James Bryan including whether he had a middle name, and the names of his parents and where their parents were from. Accordingly, the Bryan name association with Texas begins with James Bryan.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bryan, James 1789 births 1822 deaths People from Ste. Genevieve County, Missouri People from St. Francois County, Missouri People from Bucks County, Pennsylvania American mining businesspeople Businesspeople from Missouri People from Herculaneum, Missouri 19th-century American businesspeople