Joseph Bryan

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=6712093

Born at "Eagle Point" in Gloucester Co. Va. the son of John Randolph Bryan, a planter, and Elizabeth Tucker Coalter Bryan. As a young man Joseph attended the University of Virginia until the age of 18 when his father consented to allow him to join the Southern effort in the Civil War. While serving with Mosby's Rangers he was twice wounded. After the war he returned to U.Va. and studied law. In 1870 he moved from Fluvanna Co. to Richmond. He married Isobel Lamont Stewart of "Brookhill" on Feb. 1, 1871. Together they had six sons, one of whom died young. Joseph Bryan was very outspoken and influential in politics.

He served as President of the Virginia Historical Society. He became Richmond's foremost capitalist. His manner was of a true Virginia gentleman. He became a symbol of the Southern Industrialist of his era. In 1887 he purchased the Richmond Times newspaper. In 1896 he acquired the Manchester Evening Leader and merged the two.He became the owner and leader of a company that mass produced locomotives. A vestryman of Emmanuel Episcopal Church for 36 years, he also sat on the Board of Visitors at U.Va. and held many other civic appointments.

He died of heart failure at his mansion "Laburnum". He was buried in his Confederate uniform with his coffin draped with the Confederate flag. His family donated land for the Richmond Memorial Hospital and Joseph Bryan park.