BRYAN FAMILY HISTORY - Interactive Family Histories

MALINDA (ORTON) HOUSE - While researching the Ancestral File in April of 1991, I discovered that part ofthe Orton line was included in the CDROM collection that LDS church has compiled. A dozen or so censusrecords also expanded this line, however, no descendants have been located.1992 - 1993WILLIAM PARK BRYAN - In May of 1992, I was contacted by John Dorroh who made a major contribution tothis Bryan compilation. John had discovered a 1909 letter by W. C. Bryan which discussed his grandparentsfamily (Samuel and Margaret Bryan). W. C. had actually attended family reunions that Samuel and Margaret heldfor the Bryan clan and revealed that many of the children of Samuel Bryan, Sr. had been omitted from his will.John also shared numerous legal documents and abstracts that greatly strengthened this connection to severalpreviously unknown children. He also submitted many descendants of his line, Olivia (Bryan) Roland andinformed other cousins of the Bryan manuscript being compiled. In August of 1993, John sent several hundreddescendants that had been sent to him by Candi Seaton and in November of 1993, Bessie (Goheen) Bradley sentmany more descendants of Julia (Bryan) Goheen, a granddaughter of William Park Bryan. In December of 1993,Nadine (Bryan) Foley, sent many more descendants of Jonathan Tate Bryan, a grandson of William ParkBryan. The author then added another 30 more census records that validated this new information as well asexpanding it.BEXEY (ORTON) WILLIAMS - In May of 1993, a contact of many years sent in a major update on her Bryanline which included another 200 or more descendants. Additional census research help round out and enhance thissection as well.RACHEL (ORTON) CAMPBELL - Another 30 or 40 census records were added that resulted in another 100 ormore descendants being added to the Bryan compilation.MARGARET (BRYAN) ALLEN - The electronic bulletin board system provided yet another contact researchingAllens in Greene County, Illinois. In July of 1993, Phyllis Baur added bits and pieces to the Allen puzzle andshared her information on her Greene County, Illinois cousins (cousins that we have in common - but she has noBryan bloodline). Over 20 more census records greatly enhanced this section.1994 - 1995WILLIAM PARK BRYAN - This section was greatly expanded with major new contributions from Richard E.Bryan and Don Kirk. John Dorroh continued to add his lines as well and provide source documentation for earlyTennessee Bryan family members.CENSUS RECORDS - Many more census records were added on many different lines with at least 100 newBryan cousins documented by only census records.PINKERTON and ALLEN - A very concerted effort was made to add descendants to the several Bryan womenthat married Pinkerton men and severl letters were written in an attempt to expand the line of Margaret (Bryan)Allen. Although very few cousins were added, significant information was uncovered.1996BRYAN and PINKERTON - Before attending the National Genealogical Society’s national meeting in Nashville,Tennessee, “cousin” John Dorroh and I spent several days going through nearby County courthouses and theTennessee State Archives as well as visiting Pinkerton cousins who had living in the same house for severalgenerations prior to the Civil War. Many additional records were located in the State Archives concerning ourDavidson County, Tennessee Bryan family. A major breakthrough on the David Pinkerton line was best find onthe Tennessee Bryan lines in several years.