James W. Bryan (Louisiana politician): Difference between revisions

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==Civil War==

==Civil War==

In 1861, Bryan organized a militia of the Calcasieu Parish and helped enlist four companies.<ref name=”obit”/> In early 1862, he marched to [[Opelousas, Louisiana|Opelousas]] to report to duty. He then went to [[New Orleans]] and enlisted on April 15, 1862. He then went to [[Camp Moore]] where he joined the newly formed Company I of the [[28th Louisiana Infantry Regiment]] under [[Allen Thomas]]. He commanded his regiment as acting mayor at the [[Siege of Vicksburg]]. He was captured and paroled on July 4, 1863, at Vicksburg. Following the battle, he was promoted to captain. He was paroled in [[Houston, Texas]], on June 27, 1865.<ref name=”obit”/><ref name=”obit2″>{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/abbeville-meridional-captain-jas-w-bry/183448966/ |title=Captain Jas. W. Bryan… |date=1897-07-10 |newspaper=Abbeville Meridional |page=2 |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |access-date=2025-10-21}}{{Open access}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/recordsoflo00loui/page/n331/mode/2up |title=Records of Louisiana Confederate Soldiers and Louisiana Confederate Commands |last=Booth |first=Andrew B. |volume=2 |year=1920 |page=166 |via=[[Archive.org]] |access-date=2025-10-21}}{{Open access}}</ref>

In 1861, Bryan organized a militia of the Calcasieu Parish and helped enlist four companies.<ref name=”obit”/> In early 1862, he marched to [[Opelousas, Louisiana|Opelousas]] to report to duty. He then went to [[New Orleans]] and enlisted on April 15, 1862. He then went to [[Camp Moore]] where he joined the newly formed Company I of the [[28th Louisiana Infantry Regiment]] under [[Allen Thomas]]. He commanded his regiment as acting at the [[Siege of Vicksburg]]. He was captured and paroled on July 4, 1863, at Vicksburg. Following the battle, he was promoted to captain. He was paroled in [[Houston, Texas]], on June 27, 1865.<ref name=”obit”/><ref name=”obit2″>{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/abbeville-meridional-captain-jas-w-bry/183448966/ |title=Captain Jas. W. Bryan… |date=1897-07-10 |newspaper=Abbeville Meridional |page=2 |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |access-date=2025-10-21}}{{Open access}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/recordsoflo00loui/page/n331/mode/2up |title=Records of Louisiana Confederate Soldiers and Louisiana Confederate Commands |last=Booth |first=Andrew B. |volume=2 |year=1920 |page=166 |via=[[Archive.org]] |access-date=2025-10-21}}{{Open access}}</ref>

Following the war, Bryan resumed teaching until 1869 and then opened a mercantile business in [[Lake Charles, Louisiana|Lake Charles]]. He continued that business until 1884. In 1871, he became owner and editor of the ”Lake Charles Echo”. He continued running the paper until he sold the plant and retired as editor on March 14, 1890.<ref name=”obit”/> Later in life in the 1890s, he engaged in real estate business.<ref name=”obit”/><ref name=”obit2″/>

Following the war, Bryan resumed teaching until 1869 and then opened a mercantile business in [[Lake Charles, Louisiana|Lake Charles]]. He continued that business until 1884. In 1871, he became owner and editor of the ”Lake Charles Echo”. He continued running the paper until he sold the plant and retired as editor on March 14, 1890.<ref name=”obit”/> Later in life in the 1890s, he engaged in real estate business.<ref name=”obit”/><ref name=”obit2″/>


Revision as of 12:56, 22 October 2025

American politician (1834–1897)

James W. Bryan

Sketch of Bryan in a 1897 newspaper

Born (1834-12-28)December 28, 1834
Died June 17, 1897(1897-06-17) (aged 62)
Resting place Orange Grove Cemetery
Spouse

Delia K. Singleton

(m. 1869)

Children 8, including James
Occupation
  • Politician
  • educator
  • businessman
  • newspaperman

James W. Bryan (December 28, 1834 – June 17, 1897) was an American politician, educator, businessman, and newspaperman from Louisiana. He served in the Louisiana General Assembly.

Early life

James W. Bryan was born on December 28, 1834, in Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana. He was descended from Irish ancestors. Berwick Bay is named after one of his ancestors.[1] He lived on a farm until his mother’s death. He then entered school and pursued a literary course. Alongside his course, he taught.[1]

Civil War

In 1861, Bryan organized a militia of the Calcasieu Parish and helped enlist four companies.[1] In early 1862, he marched to Opelousas to report to duty. He then went to New Orleans and enlisted on April 15, 1862. He then went to Camp Moore where he joined the newly formed Company I of the 28th Louisiana Infantry Regiment under Allen Thomas. He commanded his regiment as acting major at the Siege of Vicksburg. He was captured and paroled on July 4, 1863, at Vicksburg. Following the battle, he was promoted to captain. He was paroled in Houston, Texas, on June 27, 1865.[1][2][3]

Following the war, Bryan resumed teaching until 1869 and then opened a mercantile business in Lake Charles. He continued that business until 1884. In 1871, he became owner and editor of the Lake Charles Echo. He continued running the paper until he sold the plant and retired as editor on March 14, 1890.[1] Later in life in the 1890s, he engaged in real estate business.[1][2]

Bryan served as mayor and councilman of Lake Charles. He was also a representative on the Board of Police Jurors.[1] He served in the Louisiana General Assembly.[1]

Personal life

Bryan married Delia K. Singleton on September 9, 1869. They had three sons and five daughters.[1] His son James W. Bryan served as U.S. Representative in Washington.[4]

Bryan died on June 17, 1897, at his home in Lake Charles. He was buried in Orange Grove Cemetery.[1] His obituary states he was designated as the “Father of Lake Charles and the tall pine of Calcasieu”.[1]

Legacy

In September 1981, Captain James W. Bryan Camp No. 1390 of the Sons of Confederate Veterans in Lake Charles was named in his honor.[5]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k “Capt. James W. Bryan, Lake Charles”. The Times-Democrat. June 19, 1897. p. 1. Retrieved October 21, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  2. ^ a b “Captain Jas. W. Bryan…” Abbeville Meridional. July 10, 1897. p. 2. Retrieved October 21, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  3. ^ Booth, Andrew B. (1920). Records of Louisiana Confederate Soldiers and Louisiana Confederate Commands. Vol. 2. p. 166. Retrieved October 21, 2025 – via Archive.org.Open access icon
  4. ^ Wethern, Bob (August 27, 1956). “J. W. Bryan’s Quiet Death Contrasts Dynamic Career”. The Bremerton Sun. p. 2. Retrieved October 21, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  5. ^ “Public Forum”. The Crowley Post-Signal. September 13, 1981. p. 4. Retrieved October 21, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon

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