Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-12-02
JOHN BRYSON, SIR.
His Record Here and in His OIL
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His RecOrd Here and i'm His OIL
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From history of Washington county
Iowa, the former home of John Bryson
Sr., the following is taken:
Among the self-made men of Iowa VIII
have passed the ordeal of pioneer life ant
commenced life penniless there is no on,
deserving a more prominent place il
this work than the subject of this sketch
he was born in Lancaster county, Penn
sylvania, on the goth day of June, 1919
he was one of thirteen children, and hi
parents being in humble circumstances
John was apprenticed to cabinet
maker when 10 years of age, and fol
lowed this occupation as an apprentice
journeyman and on his own account
over twenty years; in 1S47 he removed
to Ohio and engaged in business for him
self; during his residence here the Cali
fornia fever was raging and fattering in
ducements were offered Mr.. Bryson to
try his fortune in the new Eldorado, but
he decided it was best not to go; in 1851
he came to Iowa and settled in Musca-
tine, and in 1856 came to Washington
and engaged in the lumber business; his
capital at that time was scarcely 81 500,
and the first year he lost 500; but he
was not the man to be discouraged by a
single reverse, and he continued the
business in this place with eminent sue
cess for years, and is now one of the
largest dealers in the State, and at the
present time is conducting twelve lum-
ber yards in this State and Kansas in
addition to the distributing yard at
Chicago; he has proved himself one of
the foremost men in Washington county
in the way of public improvements; the
first sidewalk was laid through his in
strumentality and individual effort soon
after coming to Washington he had the
misfortune to lose one of his children,
and when laid away in the cemetery the
Indifference and negligence in keeping
the grounds in order was so repulsive to
his sensitive feelings that he interested
himself at once and called public meet
ing and secured enough to improve the
cemetery and make it the pride of the
town. In building and improving the
town he has taken the lead, and in this
has shown more sagacity and good
judgment than those who were disposed
to criticise his actions without doing any.
thing themselves; the Bryson House
and other buildings are monuments of
his energy and progressive spirit the
Southwestern Railroad was secured
through his individual efforts and con-
tributions in cash of over 81 400, and his
public-spiritedne has not been confined
to this county; in Red Oak and other
places where he has business interests
he is foremost in advancing the interest
of the towns; in business point his
life has been grand success, and the
the lesson of his indomitable industry is
before the young men of the country he
has never sought or held office, nor is he
a candidate for popularity or public
fame; he is plain and unassuming in his
habits and manners, social and obliging
as neiehbor and kind and warm-hearted
as friend, and as citizen generous
and hospitable to all 4; he is purely self
made man; commencing life in straight
ened circumstances, he has by his own
will, energy and persever-
ance made for himself fortune"
Mr.. Bryson has been resident OF Los
Angeles county for some half score years.
During that time he has been one of our
most progressive and active men. He
has been instrumental to a marked de-
gree in the development of this city. He
has made his impress in imperishable
records at many points. The bank on
the corner of Spring and First streets,
and the fine pile of buildings on
the corner Of Spring and Second are
his two most notable achievements,
but he has been engaged in innumerable
smaller enterprises, the aggregate of
which is very large. His course in the
government will be in all re-
spects for the best interests of the city.
1t will be marked by liberal spirit, by
a progressive movement and by solid
at all points.