Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1901-08-06
MRS. JOHN e. BRYANT.

| MhSs JOf1N z. 6hvANI.
(Manteno [Ill.l Independent, May 10, 1901
Emma Frances Spaulding was borl
Feb. 16, 1874, in Buckfield, Oxford Co.
Maine. Descended from one of the bes
families of the commonwealth who's
name often graced the annals of th'
Colonial Period and the RevolutiOnar.
Struggle, she early enjoyed those ad
vantages for culture and education 81
characteristic of the old typical sturdy
New Englander.
Before, attending college, John D.
Long, the present Secretary of the Navy
was her private tutor. The Long family
at that time being residents of Buck
field and neighbors of the Spauldings.
In 1864 Miss Spaulding graduated from
Kent's Hill Seminary, and ten days after
graduation became united in marriage tc
John Z. Bryant, who at that time was
rising young officer serving in the Re
bellion, on the staff of General Rufus
Saxton, Military Governor of the depart
ment of the south.
After the close of the war she accom-
panied her husband to the south, who
accepted an appointment as commission
er in charge of civil affairs for the state OF
Georgia. The appointment that at first
led to what was expected to be only
temporary residence in the south became
the means to a prolonged sOjourn in the
south that occupied the best portion OF
the life of Mrs. Bryant and her husband
Like her husband she gave her best years
and strength to the south, in behalf OF
/ the Freedmen in securing them. their
natural and legal rights during the Re-
construction Era. Like him she pos
sessed that same tenacity of purpose, fol
when once convinced that her duty lay
in certain course, nothing could swerve
her from its path. Although for months
she slept with an armed guard watching
over her and her husband, although
many a would-be assassin of her hus-
band frequented the front door of her
house on some pretended mission, al
though again and again her husband
eluded mob violence because of the edi-
torials of the papers he edited, seemed
snatched from death at the hands of
Southern White Caps and the Ku Klux
Klan because of his fearless expressions
on the stump. in the courts and in
legislative halls in defence of the princi-
piles that to him were dear as life itself,
she never wavered in her courage or in
her determination to share her husband 8
danger and fate.
The courageous manhood and heroic
womanhood that was displayed and re-
auired to secure for the Freedmen the
rights of citizenship that "Massa Lin
coin" had given during the Reconstruc-
ton is a chapter of our nations history
that has as yet never received adequate
treatment.
With much of her husbands official,
political, and newspaper work, Mrs.
Bryant was closely identified, lending
assistance in such manner as would in
vite the least ostracism from the so-called
Responsibility of the Old South. During
the Atlanta residence two children came
to gladden. their hearts, son who died
in infancy, and daughter, Alice Emma
who grew into the stature of woman
hood and became the wife of Rev. j. G.
Zeller.
In 1891, after their daughter had
graduated from Grant University, OF
Athens, Tenn, the Bryants quilted the
south and removed to Mount Vernon,
New York, where Mrs. Bryant made her
home until the death of her husband,
little over year ago, when she came to
Manteno, Ills, to spend her remaining
days with her daughter.
Mrs. Bryant was one of those person
alities with whom the responsibilities of
position, the formalities of society, and
~ lea, 70 Of
but little. She had not great patience
for those that priced the shell OF ex-
istence while lacking in the real life. TO
her truth was dearer than reputation,
and honest moral principle of exceeding
more worth than all the dictates and
ostracisms of mistaken social life.
With her husband she was willing and
gladly did sacrifice all else in order that
truth and Righteousness might prevail
With her conviction meant conduct.
The distance between her profession
and practice was very short. Few lives
have been more successful in living W
to their light.
1t was during her college days that she
became member of the Baptist church
of which communion she remained con
sistent member until death. Although
her husband stood high in the councils
and though throughout life she worship
ped with him at many altars of the NJ. E
church yet on the subject of believers
baptism, she could not change her frs
faith. She has been an active and en-
thusiastic member of the w. c. 7. U
since its organization and before thi'
particular organization had taken up TIT
! crusade against the liquor power, she hat
already been interested in the temper
ance problem. In this work her in
fiuence was decisive, both in the loca
and state organizations. Although
frequently serving in official position il
the organization yet she had decides
preference for the ranks of the worker
While she believed that the w. c. T. U
| should rank next to the home ant
church, yet she felt that it should onl
supplement- them and never conflict wit
\ them.
On the subject of social purity she wa
most pronounced. Her conviction
were prompted by her own life, for coul
her soul have been turned inside out no
an unclean spot could have been foun
on it. She had no sympathy with W
C. T. U. that had degenerated into
mere "dress parade" she lamented tn
indiscretion that allowed the "mothers
meetings" to be controlled by wome
whose children were constant illustrs
ton of erring motherhood, and especia
ly did she deplore that mistaken zea
that would invite men to address tn
union and proclaim sentiments tina
were inconsistent with their know
characters, yet with all its follies sf
loved the W. C. T. U. and gave 1t he
talents and best strength during til
Mount Vernon residence. The w.
IT. U. had no more devoted follower {
more ready defender. Her writings ft
it were many, and widely publishet
They were marked by directness
logic, and clearness of statement, couple
with strong argumentative, an
trenchant style.
In public addresses her manner Wa
engaging and her voice and utterance
such that she never failed to hold n
hearers, always speaking from we
stored mind enriched by years
reading, travel, and study. As q CO.
versationalist she was ready and charm
ing. Sparkling humor made it efferve
cent, buoyant spirits never allowed 1t
wane, and mind that knew no povert
always afforded variety of topics tn
would make her an object of interest
the most promiscuous gathering. H
letters abounded in the same hopef
enthusiasm that characterized her co
II L.