Crawford County GaArchives Biographies..... Bryant, Labon August 29 1832 - December 4 1922 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Linda Meadows lmeadows@surfsouth.com July 20, 2004, 5:06 pm Author: Linda Meadows Labon L. Bryant Labon L. Bryant served with Co. F, 57th Regiment GA Volunteer Infantry, Army of Tennessee, Confederate States Army, Bragg Rifles. He was 29 years old when he enlisted as a private on 3 May 1862. He was enlisted by Captain Henry Cleveland and was entitled to a $50 enlistment bounty. Later in the war, Labon was captured at Vicksburg, Mississippi 4 July 1863. He was paroled by Captain J.O. Pullens of the 20th Regt. Illinois Volunteers at Vicksburg on 7 July 1863, furloughed at Enterprise Mississippi on 22 July 1863, and officially exchanged on 12 September 1863. His parole oath gave his allegiance to not fight against US Forces "until duly exchanged by the proper authorities." Labon L. Bryant signed with his mark on the parole paper, thus agreeing to accept the terms of parole until the exchange. The only reference among Labon L. Bryant's military papers that notes time in a hospital was the reference to his return to active duty 20 July 1864, after spending time in St. Mary's Hospital, LaGrange, GA. While Pension records indicate that the 57th Regiment surrendered at Greensboro, NC on 26 April 1865, Labon's compiled military records reveal that he was a POW at the war's end. His commanding officer, Major General Sam Jones, surrendered to Brigadier General E.M. McCook at Tallahassee, FL on 10 May 1865. Labon was subsequently paroled for a second time during his military career at Thomasville, GA 13 May 1865. Labon was born in SC on 29 Aug 1832, according to the Crawford County, GA Federal Census records of 1870 and 1880 and pension records. Both of his parents were also born in SC. Records indicate that Labon had at least two brothers and one sister. His brother, William Jackson Bryant, married Indianna Smith on 15 Oct 1851 (Book A-4, pg. 90). In the 1860 Crawford County Census, William and his wife were living as a farm family in Lowell's District, dwelling number 170, with children Mary F (5), William T. (2), and James (1 month). William's real estate was valued at $800 and his personal property was worth $1000. He was also born in SC, but his wife was born in GA. William Jackson Bryant served the Confederacy, but unlike his brother Labon, William Jackson Bryant was not a survivor. William died of typhoid fever on 4 March 1862, at Danville, VA, leaving his widow to rear their small children alone. Labon's sister Emeline married William S. Smith on 5 Oct 1854 (Book A-4, pg. 196). His other brother Jesse moved to AL. Although pension papers only mention his last wife, Labon was actually married three times, all in Crawford County. He first married Henrietta Stembridge on 21 Dec 1854. Justice of the Peace, Jason Castleberry, performed the marriage ceremony. Their known children were Lucious and Nancy Emma, who married Robert Wesley Smith on 10 Nov 1878 (Book B, pg. 150). In the 1860 Crawford County Federal Census, enumerated 22 June 1860, Labon was living in dwelling number 206 in Lowell's District with farm laborer, William McKenney, as the only other occupant of his household. Labon was listed as a farmer, owning $400 worth of real estate and $1180 worth of personal property. According to the Census entry, Labon could not read or write. This inability was confirmed by his mark, placed on his parole papers and several other documents, in lieu of his signature. The Crawford County 1860 Agricultural Census recorded Labon's previous year's farm productivity on line 24, page 6. He owned 50 acres of improved land and 45 acres of unimproved land. His farm was valued at $400, with farm implements and machinery valued at $75, livestock worth $480 and home manufactures worth $5. Labon's livestock included 1 horse, 3 asses and mules, 2 milch cows (cows giving milk), 2 working oxen, and 10 swine. His crop production included 150 bushels of Indian corn, 16 bushels of peas and beans, 50 bushels of sweet potatoes, and 25 pounds of butter. Labon married his second wife, Patience Minerva Harrell, in Crawford County on 22 Nov 1860. Minister of the Gospel, R.F. Grant, performed the ceremony. This was only a few months after the 1860 Census enumeration had been conducted. Labon and Minerva's known children included: Meary F., Eliza, Patricia (Patience), Laura, Labon Monroe (Manny), and Minnie. While married to Minerva, who was known as "Nervy," Labon joined Dickson's Methodist Church. He remained on the church role from 20 April 1867 until 23 Mar 1878. Labon's third wife was Sarah Jane Sandefur, whom he married in Crawford County on 27 Jan 1876. According to The Crawford County Herald of Thursday, 20 Feb 1890, Vol I, No. 1, L.L. Bryant and family had recently moved into Knoxville onto property formerly occupied by the Beeland family. Labon was operating a grocery store and farming. He maintained that he had moved so that his children might receive better schooling. The news article stated: "…it is his intention that they shall all continue as regular pupils through the year." In their 1900 Census listing, the Bryants indicated that they had had 8 children, 6 of whom were still living. Labon and Sarah's 5 children living with them in 1900 included: John Eldridge, Sarah F., Catherine, Mattie, and Emma. Their daughter, Elizabeth (Lizzie) Bryant, had married Manchester Smith 23 Dec 1897 (Book 5, pg. 392). Labon L. Bryant died in Crawford County on 30 Mar 1905, and is buried in Old Bethel Methodist Church Cemetery on Causey Road in Crawford County. Sarah Jane Bryant survived her husband and filed for a pension in 1919 as a widow of Confederate Soldier, Labon L. Bryant. Sarah Jane died 4 Dec 1922, and is buried beside her husband of 29 years. Private Labon L. Bryant is gone, but not forgotten. By dedicating this government marker and Iron Cross, we leave a lasting reminder of his honorable service with Co. F, 57th Regiment, GA Volunteer Infantry. Sources Cited Herein. Additional Comments: Linda Ward Meadows is a Great great granddaughter of Labon L. Bryant and great granddaughter of Labon "Manny" Bryant and his wife Lula Joyner Bryant. lmeadows@surfsouth.com File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ga/crawford/bios/gbs32bryant.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/gafiles/ File size: 6.7 Kb