BRYAN FAMILY HISTORY - Interactive Family Histories

8-320 INTERACTIVE FAMILY HISTORIESca. 1904Bernice (Brooks) Casey CollectionWILLIAM SAMUEL BRYAN (4.1) is the son of Finus Ewing Bryan andCaledonia Anne (Revere) Bryan. Sam was born on September 16, 1859 inMaury County, Tennessee. On September 16, 1887, Sam Bryan married OllieJosephine McIlvain in Hillsboro, Texas. Ollie was born on April 12, 1868 inSadellia, Missouri and is the daughter of Moses McIlvain and Mary Ann(Dawson) McIlvain. Sam and Ollie Bryan were the parents of eleven children:. . . Melvin Drake Bryan (4.1.1), b. June 27, 1888, Brandon, Texas. . . Finus Moses Bryan (4.1.2), b. March 24, 1890, Brandon, Texas. . . Samuel Thomas Bryan (4.1.3), b. February 14, 1892, Rockwood, Texas. . . Joshua B. Bryan (4.1.4), b. July 25, 1894, Rockwood, Texas. . . Frank Bryan (4.1.5), b. July 9, 1896, Rockwood, Texas. . . Robert Bryan, b. October 4, 1898, Rockwood, Texas. . . Octavie Myrtle Bryan (4.1.7), b. October 31, 1901, Rockwood, Texas. . . Evelyn Birch Bryan (4.1.8), b. April 14, 1903, Rockwood, Texas. . . Lewis Lee Bryan (4.1.9), b. August 12, 1904, Rockwood, Texas. . . Wanda Faye Bryan (4.1.10), b. February 7, 1907, Rockwood, Texas. . . Billy B. Bryan (4.1.11), b. February 24, 1909, Rockwood, TexasWilliam Samuel Bryan and Ollie (McIlvain) BryanCa. 1887Bernice (Brooks) Casey CollectionFrom 1900 to 1930, William and Ollie Bryan were living in Coleman County,Texas. After Sam and Ollie married, they farmed for four years near Brandon,Texas. Sam and his father-in-law, Moses McIlvain, had visited Coleman Countyin 1887 and later in 1891, Sam and his family moved there, two miles north ofRockwood, Texas on a farm belonging to his father-in-law. They lived in a dugout house until their house was built with lumber hauled by wagon and teamfrom Santa Anna, Texas. Sam Bryan was an outstanding businessman, farmerand rancher who raised white face Herford cattle. Sam was owner of the BryanMerchantile Store in Rockwood for many years. He was Director of theRockwood State Bank until the bank consolidated with Coleman National Bankon December 8, 1921. From January of 1922 to 1934, Sam was Director of theSanta Anna National Bank. Ollie (McIlvain) Bryan died on April 11, 1932 inRockwood, Texas and William Samuel Bryan died on February 17, 1934 inSanta Anna, Texas. Both were buried in Rockwood, Texas. Robert Bryan diedof burns at the age of two years when he spilled hot water on himself in 1900.Sam and Ollie Bryan had another daughter that died at birth on October 20,1911.References: 1) 1900, 1910, 1920 and 1930 Censuses, Coleman County, Texas; 2) “TheBryan House,” by Alma (Hornsby) Bryan and Neita (Ashmore) Bryan; 3) Family GroupSheet by Alma (Hornsby) Bryan, 1976; 4) Letter, Alma (Hornsby) Bryan to RobertCasey, November 5, 1983