James A. Bryan.  The serviceableness of good citizenship has a most splendid example in
the career of James A. Bryan of Parkersburg.  While a busy and successful manufacturer,
Mr. Bryan at all times has been ready to put the interests of the community first in
importance.  while so well known and loved in his home community, he is widely known
all over the state for his prominence in Masonry.

   He was born at Parkersburg  February 14, 1858, son of William and Margaret (Wreath)
Bryan.  His father was one of the early engineers on the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad,
running trains over the branch to Parkersburg.  He was also at one time a captain of the
Mount Clare transport steamboat.

   James A. Bryan was reared in Parkersburg, attended public and private schools there, 
and has been in business since the close of his school days.  He is one of the principal
owner of National Woolen Mills, with it’s numerous subsidiary establishments.

   For twenty years, ending in 1906, Mr. Bryan was a member of the Board of Education,
serving without remuneration.  The last four years he was president of the board.  During 
his administration the McKinley School Building was erected, at a cost of $90,000;
$25,000 were expended in the rebuilding the Willard School, and $8,000 in the remodeling 
of the Summers High School.  The Carnegie Public Library Building was also erected, at a
cost of $ 34,000, the gift from Mr. Carnegie being secured largely through the personal
efforts of Mr. Bryan.  As president of the Board of Education, it may be safely asserted
that Mr. Bryan accomplished more than an other citizen ever has in behalf of local
educational progress.  While he was on the board a system of free text books was
adopted, teachers salaries were increased, and  a four year high school course adopted.

   Mr. Bryan is a Methodist and has been identified with the church since early youth.  He
served as steward and treasurer of the Board of Stewards for thirty years, served as
secretary of the Sunday School, for five years was superintendent of the Sunday School,
and is still treasurer of the church.  When the Parkersburg Y. M. C. A. was organized on a
permanent basis he was unanimously chosen as first president of the Board of Directors. 
During  the three years he held that office, the Y. M. C. A.  Building was erected and
equipped at a cost of $85,000.

   His many services as a Mason are well known, and may be only briefly outlined.  He was
made a Master Mason of Mount Olivet Lodge No.3, in 1879, filled various chairs in the
lodge, was its worshipful master in 1882-24, and for many years past has been its
secretary.  In 1879 he was exalted to the Royal Arch Degree, was high priest of Jerusalem
Chapter No. 3, in 1885, and since 1895 has been secretary of the chapter.  In November,
1900, he received the order of High Priesthood.  He also was elevated in 1879 to the rank
of  Knight Templar in Calvary Commandery No. 3, and was chosen its eminent
commander in 1885, and has been its recorder since 1895.  Besides  his responsibilities in
connection with the York Rite bodies at Parkersburg, he has had many honors in the state
organizations.  In 1907-08 he was grand master of the Grand Lodge of the State of West
Virginia.  He is now Captain of Host, Sojourner of the Grand Chapter of Royal Arch
Masons, and in 1902-03 was grand commander of the Grand Commandery of the state. 
He has also been representative of these Grand Bodies.  Up to the nineteenth degree of the
Scottish Rite he holds membership in Parkersburg, and acts officially in all the various
proceedings.  The remainder of the Scottish Rite degree he holds in West Virginia
Consistory at Wheeling.  In 1907, at a meeting of the Supreme Council of the Scottish
Rite held in Washington, D. C., he was elected a Knight Commander of the Court of
Honor and later was made a thirty-third degree, Honorary.  Mr. Bryan became a charter
member of Nemesis Temple of the Mystic Shrine after having previously been a member
of Osiris Temple at Wheeling.  He is present recorder of the local Shrine.

   In 1884 Mr. Bryan married Miss Lulu Kendall, daughter of  Dr. J. E. Kendall.  Of their
two children the daughter, Margaret, died at the age of eighteen months.  The son, James
E. Bryan, is a member of the senior class of the Ohio Wesleyan College at Delaware, was
senior class president, a member of the Booster Class, on the staff of the college paper,
received his athletic Letter in basket ball, and was one of the ten men and women students
elected to the distinction of having been one of the most serviceable to their college.  This
son was for twenty-two months in the hospital service during the World War, attached to
the Thirty-seven Ohio Regiment and spent eleven months overseas, being at the front
during the Argonne battle.