WILLIAM BRYANT RITES ON MONDAY

HELD SAME SALES POSITION OVER FORTY YEARS

William Cullen Bryant was born in England January 18, 1862 and passed away at his home last Friday evening after an illness of about a week’s duration. He came to America at an early age, and lived in and about Chicago. At the age of twenty, he was married in Chicago to Miss Francis Cathryn Wright, daughter of a Presbyterian clergyman. Five years later Mrs. Bryant died, following the birth of a little son. In 1893 he was married at Eagle Grove, Iowa to Mrs. Catherine Lane, who passed away in May of last year. Since 1893, Mr. Bryant has made his home in Blair. A son, Burdette, died in 1905.

Mr. Bryant started his career over forty years ago as a salesman out of Omaha and for forty years he has been connected with a glove corporation. He had a wonderful record a salesman and was winner in several contests conducted by his employers. A letter from the glove firm to the sons following the death of the father states: “He was without question, the most loyal man we had in our entire organization. No matter what task was we asked him to do, he always did the job.”

Funeral services were conducted Monday afternoon with Rev. A.F. Newell, pastor of the Congregational church of which Mr. Bryant was a member, officiating, after which interment was made in the Blair cemetery.

Surviving him are three sons, Norman William Bryant of Grand Junction, Colorado, Burroughs S. Bryant of Cheyenne, Wyoming, and Lane W. Bryant of Calais, Maine. He is also survived by a half sister, Mrs. Eliza Meisner of Chicago, and by six grandchildren.

#2 Printed in the July 16, 1931 Enterprise

William Cullen Bryant passed away at 5 o’clock P.M. Friday, July 10th at his home on Colfax street following an illness of a week’s duration.

Deceased was born in England near Glasgow and was at his death sixty-nine years of age. He came to this country in his early years.

He was married twice, the first wife passing away forty-four years ago. To this union three children were born, two of whom with an adopted son still survive to mourn his death. They are Norman of Grand Junction, Colorado and Burroughs of Cheyenne, Wyoming, and the adopted son Lane of Calais, Maine. Norman and Burroughs arrived some days before the death of their father and were with him at the time of death. Lane sent a cheerful greeting.

The funeral services were held last Monday at the Methodist church with Rev. A.F. Newell of the Congregational church, of which he was a member, officiating and interment was made in the Blair cemetery between the departed wife and son.

#3 Printed in the September 13, 1923 Tribune

(not an obit, but tells about his work, and also a bad accident that changed his life)

Wm. Bryant will leave this week for Milwaukee to interview the Hansen Glove Company and may again take the road in the interest of this firm. Mr. Bryant had sold gloves for these people for a number of years, when his work was stopped by the terrible accident while on a C. & N.W. train near Hot Springs, S.D. more than two years ago and which so nearly cost him his life. He has been laid up these months, and, while he never will again be a well man, he has recovered sufficiently to be around and is again anxious to resume his work. The trip is made with a view of again taking up the work if the company thinks he is physically able to do so. His many friends here and elsewhere hope the visit will result to his liking and that he may soon be again a “knight of the grip”.

~~~Obituaries courtesy of the Nebraska Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair Public Library at Blair, Nebraska. ~~~

FindaGrave # 131388323