My Genealogy Hound

George Emmet Bryant is a worthy tiller of the soil in Hempstead County, Ark., but was born in Bledsoe County, Tenn., in 1838, being a son of William and Nancy (Oxshire) Bryant, both of whom were born in 1808, the former in Virginia, and the latter in Tennessee. They were married in Bledsoe County, of the last named State, about 1829, and soon after removed to the Hoosier State, but a year later returned to Bledsoe County, and in 1857 came to Pike County, Ark., and the next year to Hempstead County. They settled on a farm near Bingen, and here the father passed from life in 1883, his wife having died in 1869, both worthy members of the Methodist Church for many years. The father filled the office of justice of the peace for a number of years, and was deputy county clerk of Bledsoe County, Tenn., a few years. Owen Bryant, his father, was born in Virginia, and about 1817 removed to Tennessee, and died in Bledsoe County, having been a farmer throughout his life. The paternal great-grandfather was an Irishman and his wife a German. The grandfather, Samuel Oxshire, was born in Bledsoe County, Tenn., was of Irish descent, and became quite well to do at farming. George Emmett Bryant was the sixth in a family of six sons and two daughters, and his early advantages were received in the country schools near his home. His youth was spent in tilling the soil, but this work he gave up in 1862, to join Company I, Nineteenth Arkansas Infantry, Confederate States Army, but was captured at Arkansas Post and taken to Camp Douglas,Chicago, where he was kept a prisoner for about five months. He was then taken to City Point, Va., exchanged and remained in same regiment (Nineteenth Arkansas), taking part in the engagements at Chickamauga, Ringgold Gap, Resaca, New Hope Church, Peach Tree Creek, Atlanta, Jonesboro, Spring Hill, Franklin, and many skirmishes. A brother, J. R. Bryant, was killed at New Hope Church, having served in one company from the commencement of the war. After his return home, Mr. Bryant clerked in Nashville, Ark., for a few years, and from 1869 to 1872 he was engaged in merchandising on his own account, but since that time he has devoted his attention to farming, being now the owner of 210 acres, one mile west of Bingen, of which 100 acres are under cultivation. He is now filling the position of school director in his district, and in his political views has always been a Democrat, although he was reared a Whig. He has been a member of the A. F. & A. M. since 1865, Pleasant Valley Lodge No. 30, at Nashville, and has been junior deacon of the same. His marriage, which occurred on November 28, 1866, was to Miss Zerelda R., a daughter of Jesse and Harriet C. Holt, a sketch of whom appears in another place in this work. She was born in Hempstead County, Ark., and has borne her husband two sons and two daughters.