New-York tribune., 1902-01-16
OBITUARY.
JOHN HOWARD BRYANT.

Princeton, H. Jan. 15.-John Howard Bryant
the only remaining brother of the poet. William
Cullen Bryant and himself poet, politician and
business man. died his home in this city yester-
day, at the age of ninety-four years.
John Howard Bryant. the youngest of five sons,
was born in Cummington Mass, July %. 1907. and
thus nearly thirteen years younger than Will
iam who was born November g. 1894. This differ
ence of age always involved on Williams part a
sense of delicate socitude in which there was no
hint Of patronage which Johns sturdy sef-respect
would have made ridiculous. After the death of
the father in 1920. there need of all the work
the younger boys could do to keep the encumbered
farm from slipping from their mothers hands.
Johns education was completed in a select school
in Cummington. in 1852. and at the Troy
Academy nov Polytechnic). in 1928 % and eked
with the studies and discussions of literary
club.
But his life to be Of practical affairs
with books and versing for the intervals Of ardu-
work. He West in 1881. to Jacksonville,
III. where his brother Arthur was already estab-
iished. In 1892. with his brother Cyrus. he went
Princeton. III. where a good many emigrants
from Hampshire County. Mass. had settled. Mr..
Bryant. splitting a hundred rails day. was as
good A rail splitter Abra ham Lincoln of whom
his first knowledge was in 1872 when Mr.. Bryant
in the legislature at Springfield. where Lincoln
was then practising law. In 1853 Mr.. Bryant went
Jacksonville for the wife whom he had chosen
during his stay there years before. The next
year he built with mis- hands the log cabin In
which his children born. They were two sons.
The elder died in 1854; the second. old man, in
his fathers arms. in 1892. The log cabin still re-
mains TO mark the rude beginnings of prosperous
life.
In 1884 Mr.. Bryant held his first public office. He
was at first Democrat, but in 1874 the Texan
annexation attitude of Polk drove him into the
Liberty party. and in lS47 ne was the editor Of the
local Free Soil paper. From this time until the
formation of the Republican party his anti slavery
course was more definite and consistent than that
Of his brother William, who, after the success OF
the Free Soil party in defeating Cass in 1S4s re-
turned to his Democratic allegiance for while.
and supported Pierce in 1852. John Bryants con-
nection with the underground railroad" was so
efficient that time he mad fifteen fugitive
slaves under his roof. and got them ali away sue
cessfuly 70 the haven where they would be" He
was an unsuccessful Free Soil candidate for Con-
gress in 1852 In 1856 he was member of the con-
vention at Pittsburg that organized the Repuoh-
can party. which had some of its first victories
in MS region. senalng owen L4oeSTy @e 70 and NT
Bryant was largely influential in Shaping these
In 1858 he was again IN the legislature. and in
1850 he was member Of the kennhiesn AauonSl nS
ing the c9nyenton in in disgust Of + hSe Te
dence which had been adopted at Pittsburg at his
Instance. Mr.. Bryant brought him back TO hear
stored the convention TO its saner mind Appointed
collector of internal revenue IN lS62 ne oScnarge1
enemies among the disters, great and small At
educational interests Of the community engaging
hts particular attention In 1894 he was an inde-
pendeut and gave Mr.. Cleveland his support from
that time forward 1892 breaking out into vigor
campaign song in furtherance OF the good
cause
1t was his happy fortune to enjoy the confidence
of ali honorable men. and the devoted friendship
of goody company. including many younger men
nished an example OF plain living and high think
ing 20 three generations If his career and char
scter were not exceptional they this ac-
count the more encouraging For many such. as
well as the great Agamemnons needed for the
safety of the common veal