From The
United States Biographical Dictionary, Pg. 150, 151
GEORGE E. BRYANT was born
February 11, 1832, at Templeton, Worcester county, Massachusetts. His father
was George W. Bryant, his mother Eunice Norcross. He was educated at Norwich
University in the same class with General Dodge and General Ransom, and
went through the full course of studies. He preferred the profession of
the law, and after leaving the University he read law with the Hon. Amasa,
Norcross at Fitchburg, Massachusetts, and was admitted to the bar in 1856
at Worcester, Massachusetts, and shortly after moved to Madison, Wisconsin,
and formed a partnership in the practice of his profession with Myron H.
Orton, which he continued until 1861. In religion he is a Unitarian; in
politics first a Whig, afterwards a Republican. He was captain of the Madison
Guards in 1860 - the first company to offer their services to the government
at the commencement of the rebellion. This company served five-months in
the First Wisconsin Regiment, at the termination of which the company was
mustered out of service and Captain Bryant returned home, and was shortly
afterward commissioned colonel of the 12th Wisconsin Regiment, with which
lie went to the Indian Territory, marching across the plains west of Fort
Riley. Returning they descended the Mississippi River to Columbus; thence
by railroad to Corinth, where they joined General Grant's army. From this
place they marched to Memphis; thence below Holly Springs, thence to Vicksburg,
where they engaged in the siege of that place.
After the siege they
marched to Jackson and engaged in a fight with Joe Johnson; thence they
marched to Natchez, thence to Harrisonburg, Louisiana; thence back to Vicksburg.
During the ensuing winter the regiment reenlisted as veterans and returned
home on furlough. The furlough having expired they returned to Cairo, ascended
the Tennessee River to Ashton, Alabama, crossed the mountains to Rome,
Georgia, and joined Sherman's army in the mountains.
This regiment was in
all of the engagements preceding the battle of Atlanta on the 22d of July.
Colonel Bryant commanded the 1st brigade of the 3d division of the 7th
army corps at the battle of Bald Hill, one of the severest engagements
during the war. General Sherman gave to this brigade the credit of saving
the army from destruction. This regiment was on the celebrated Meridian
march and went with Sherman to the sea. Upon their return to Louisville,
Kentucky, they were discharged from the service.
Upon Colonel Bryant's
return to Wisconsin he retired to his farm near Madison and is engaged
in raising fine blooded stock, especially horses and cattle. He was elected
county judge in 1866 -- again in 1870, and again in 1874. In the latter
year he was also elected State senator.
He was in married on
the 27th day of September, 1858, to Miss Susie A. Gibson, whose ancestors
were the first settlers in Fitchburg, Massachusetts. They were participants
in the war of the revolution, and had previously fought the Indians. His
ancestors were Irish, and came to this country shortly after the landing
of the Pilgrims. They also were engaged in the revolutionary struggle.
Some of them lived on the road between Lexington and Concord, and were
exposed to great annoyance from the British soldiery.
While Judge Bryant has
not been distinguished as a warrior, a statesman, or an orator, he has
been intelligent and efficient as a legislator, a judge and a citizen.
He is a kind neighbor, an affectionate father and a loving husband; the
result, doubtless, of a devoted wife whose hallowing influence over the
domestic circle is perceived and felt by all who enter it.
[His judge picture found in From The United States Biographical Dictionary, Pg. 152]
[Miltary photo found ..]
RG98S-CWP 160.106
Sitting view of Col. George E. Bryant, 12th Regt., Wisc. Vol. Inf.
CIVIL WAR
WISCONSIN
INFANTRY
GEORGE
12TH REGT.
BRYANT
U. S. Army Military History Institute, Carlisle Pa. 17013
Also..
Gen. George Edwin Bryant
of Madison, lawyer (b. Templeton, now Baldwinsville, Mass., Feb. 11, 1832),
son of George Washington and Eunice (Norcross) Bryant of Templeton, Mass.
and Fitzwilliam, N. H., and descendant of Abraham and Mary (Kendall) Bryant,
residents in Reading (Wakefield), Mass. in 1664 (Gen. George E.vi; George
Washington v b. Feb. 22, 1800; Nathan iv of Templeton, a revolutionary
soldier; Thomas iii of Concord, Mass.; Thomas ii of Reading; Abraham i);
also descendant of Roger Chandler, of Concord in 1658, said to be gr. son,
on the maternal side, of James Chilton, the Mayftower puritan in 1620,
see note under 116.
Gen. Bryant m. Sept.,
1858, Susan Ann Gibson b. Fitchburg, Jan. 22, 1835. He was a student Norwich
univ. (then Norwich, Vt.) 1850-1854, the university L. L. D. 1897; since
removing to Madison in 1856 he has held many important offices--alderman
1861, county judge (Dane county) 1865, 1869 and 1873, senator 1874, q.
m. general 1875-1881, postmaster 1882-1886 and 1890-1894, representative
since 1898.
He was a soldier in the
civil war--on Jan. 9, 1861, the day of the withdrawal of South Carolina
from the Union, Capt. Bryant offered the services of himself and his company
(Madison Guards), enlisted Ap. 17 and mustered May 17, 1861, capt., co.
E (Madison Guards), 1st reg. Wis. vol. infantry (three months' service),
mustered out Aug. 21, 1861; commissioned Sept. 27, 1861, col., 12th reg.
Wis. vol. infantry, served as brigade commander in 1863 and 1864, mustered
out Nov. 6, 1864; later made brigadier general.
CHILDREN:
* Hattie Eunice Bryant b. Madison, June 29, 1859; unm.
* George Edwin Bryant of Madison b. Madison, Nov. 27, 1861;
m. Ap. 2, 1898, Christine Cecelia Begler (b. Madison, Oct. 7, 1866), dau.
of Lt. Henry and
Cecelia (Wickart) Begler.
*Frank Henry Bryant of Madison b. Madison, Mar. 31, 1866; unm.
John Gibson and His Descendants, Page 469
Author: Mehitable Calef Coppenhagen Wilson
Call Number: CS71.G45
Two more pictures of Colonel George Bryant
Both are from the Wisconsin Historical Society, Call # PH 1560
