Confederate Biography :  Guy M. Bryan pg 84

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Submitted by Susie McFarland Lemin slemin@yahoo.com
Sept 21, 2001
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TEXANS WHO WORE THE GRAY by Sid S. Johnson

Guy M. Bryan , of Galveston, was born in Jefferson county, Mo. January 12, 1821.
His maternal grandfather, Moses Austin, in 1820 orginated the scheme of colonizing
Texas, and his mother's brother Stephen F. Austin, was the founder and father of
Texas.  Guy M. Bryan was ten years old when his family removed to Texas, and for
the following three years was taught by Thomas Pilgrim in Brazoria county.  In
1836, at the age of fifteen, he joined the Texan army under General Sam Houston and
Gem. Thomas J. Rusk served until the Spring of 1837 when he entered Kenyon College,
Ohio, from which institution he graduated in 1832 with R. B. Hayes (later President
of the United States) who was his intimate friend.  Upon his return home he studied
law and assisted in the mangement of the large estate of his uncle, Stephen F.
Austin.  In 1846 he went out as a private in a Brazoria company and saw service
under Gen. Zachary Taylor.  In 1847 he was elected to the legistature, serving six
consecutive years, and was then elected to the State Senate where he served four
years.  At the expiration of his senatorial term he was nominated by the Democratic
Convention that met at Waco as a candidate for congress from the second district
which comprised all of Texas west of the Trinity river.  He was elected and served
with credit.  In 1860 he removed to Galveston.  Upon the outbreak of the war the
following year he promtly volunteered, and was commissioned adjutant-general with
the rank of major on the staff of Gen. Holmes, and later was promoted to the rank
of colonel and assigned to the staff of Gen. E. Kirby Smith, upon which he served
until the close of the war.  In 1872 he was elected to the legislature from
Galveston and was chosen Speaker of the House of Representatives and in the
position co-operated with  Governor Coke in rescuing the state from the hands of
the Radicals in the memorable contest of 1873.  Col. Bryan was a finished speaker
and his oration, "The Child of the Alamo," has a place in most of the text books on
declamation.  He married October 20, 1858 Lara H. the daughter of Co. William H.
Jack.  Their son Guy M. Bryan, Jr. is one of the leading bankers in Galveston.
Colonel Bryan died in Austin, June 4, 1901