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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Cross County, Arkansas published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1890.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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T. D. Bryant, pastor of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, of Nolton, and a man thoroughly respected by his fellow-citizens, is originally from South Carolina, as were also his parents, Joab and Mary (Stewart) Bryant, of Scotch and English descent. Joab Bryant was a leading farmer of his county, and though not educated was a well-informed and a good business man. Mr. and Mrs. Bryant were married in 1831, and were the parents of twelve children, nine of whom are living: Louisa (now Mrs. Reid), F. A. (a Methodist minister of Texas), J. R. (also of Texas), Minerva (now Mrs. Hemphis), Elizabeth (who married F. L. Dullard), W. J., J. W., T. D. (our subject), M. L., B. W. (a manufacturer of Mississippi), G. W. (a resident of South America) and Joseph (a resident of this county). The grandfather (on the father’s side), James Bryant, was a soldier in the War of 1812. Joab Bryant and wife were connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. The senior Bryant died in 1874, and his wife in 1889. He was a Mason. T. D. Bryant was reared to farm life. In his boyhood days the advantages for schooling were very limited, but by close application to study he has educated himself, mostly at home. At the age of fourteen Mr. Bryant enlisted in the Confederate service, joining the First Regiment of Heavy Artillery of South Carolina, which was stationed at Fort Sumter, and in 1862 joined the regular army; was in a number of hard-fought battles, and witnessed the bombardment of Fort Sumter on April 7, 1863, and was present at its capitulation. He was captured at Smithfield, but, escaping, was recaptured the same night. Mr. Bryant served as orderly and was promoted to sergeant. While in the army he was wounded four times, once in the head by a piece of shell, again, on James Island, by a bayonet thrust into the left side, which entered between the fifth and sixth rib; then again in the knee joint and also in the arm by a bayonet. After the war he returned home and the following year moved to Kentucky, where he engaged in farming in the eastern part of the State and also taught school. In 1867 he removed to Dwyer County, Tenn., where he farmed, following this for two years, then taught for two years in McNairy County, Tenn. He returned to South Carolina and busied himself with farming and teaching for twelve years. In 1882 he removed to Alabama and in 1886 immigrated to Arkansas, settling on his present property, which comprises 120 acres of land, with thirty-five under cultivation. Mr. Bryant was born in 1846. He has been twice married, first in 1866 to Miss N. J. Fitzgerald, of South Carolina, who died in 1871, and who was the mother of three children: George (a resident of this county), Edgar (a resident of South Carolina) and Elector (a teacher in South Carolina). Mr. Bryant was married the second time to Miss D. E. Fitzgerald, in 1872. They have been given seven children, all living: Lillie, Joseph, Milas, Lelier, Lulu, Thomas and Talmage. Mr. Bryant began preaching in 1885, three months before joining the presbytery, and he is the founder of the first Creek Cumberland Presbyterian Church, as well as the Cumberland Presbyterian Church of Woodruff County. Mr. Bryant preaches in Cross, Woodruff, Poinsett and Jackson Counties, and is very active in all religious and educational enterprises. He is a Royal Arch Mason.

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This family biography is one of 103 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Cross County, Arkansas published in 1890.  For the complete description, click here: Cross County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

View additional Cross County, Arkansas family biographies here: Cross County, Arkansas Biographies

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