Lewis Hinton Bryan, Jr.

LEWIS BRYAN, JR. (From: Madison County Heritage - North Carolina Vol. II, article 180, pages 68-69)

Lewis Bryan, a pioneer of present-day Madison County, was born April 4, 1780 in Johnston County (Smithfield) NC, but could trace his American ancestry back to Isle of Wight County, Virginia. The William Smith Bryan family (24 children and grandchildren had settled there in the 1650's, moving from County Claire, Ireland, after being exiled during the reign of Oliver Cromwell.

His grandfather, William Bryan, born October 3, 1724 in Bertie County NC, was a pioneer landholder of Johnston County, North Carolina and his father Lewis Bryan, born September 20, 1745 in Johnston County North Carolina, also amassed large holdings. William was a close friend of Gov. William Tyron and served as Colonel of the North Carolina Militia during the Revolution, while Lewis was a Captain. So Lewis, his siblings, and cousins all faced bright futures as the new Union was emerging in the early 1800s.

But young Lewis felt the lure of the frontier. At age 22 he sold inherited land on the Neuse River and left the comforts of Smithfield to seek a new life as a pioneer in Buncombe County. He arrived by March 1802 possibly to take possession of a land grant on Hayes Run, and in later years acquired more acreage on Hayes Run, Walnut Creek, and Newfound.

Lewis soon met and married Judith Peek, the beautiful daughter of William Peek, another pioneer from Virginia. Family history states they were married on horseback in the middle of the road, as was customary in those days. The young couple prospered as farmers and raised a family of twelve children in a large log cabin that stood on present day Fisher Lane, between Marshall and Mars Hill. At least eight of their children stayed in Madison and raised families, playing important roles in the early history of the County and providing links to virtually all of today's residents who claim some Bryan ancestry.

• Polly Louarta, b 1810, married Wiley Bailey. * William, b 1811. * Melinda, b 1812, married Rev. Luke L. Branson and had children George Wiley (1834) who died young, William Hunter (1836), Nancy Emeline (1839), Lewis Bryan (1840), Jonathan Larry (1844) who was killed by a falling tree as a young man, Judith Elizabeth (1846), Mary Melinda (1849) who died young, Robert Newton (1852) and Martha Amarintha (1852). * Zachariah, b 1815, married Naomi Radford and had children Matilda (1843), John Wesley (1845), Saran 11848), James M. (1853), and Zachariah Jr (1853). * Juliana (Julina), b 1816, married Job West and had children Mary Elizabeth (1834), William Benton (1836), Zachariah (1841), George Washington (1843), Andrew Jackson (1844), Leonard (1845) who died as infant, Lewis Bryan (1847), Job Nelson (1850) and Juliana Jane (1853). Job and seven of the children moved to Houston County, Missouri, in 1868 following Juliana's death. * John Jackson, b 1818, married Jane McKay and had children: William McKay (1840), Judith E. (1843), Joanna Catherine (1844), Mary M. (1846), Lewis A. (1848), Myra (1851) Sarah J. (1853), and Angus B. (1859). * Larry Loury, b 1819, married Lurana Davis and had children Naomi J. (1847), William R. (1850) and Judie Elizabeth (1854). He moved to Gilmer County Ga before 1860. * Lewis L., b 1821, married Harriet O'Dell Roberts. They had nine children: John Roberts (1844), William Larkin (1847), James Edwin (1849), Lewis Marion (1852), Elizabeth J. (1854), Sofina M. (1856), Adolphus Ervin (1858), George W. (1860), Levi Jack (1863). * George Washington, b 1825, married Sarah Jane McDaris and had children Newt Jasper (1853), Mary J. (1855), Lewis Z. (1859), Harriet E. (1860), Judah Addle (1861), Safronia A. (1864), Sandy (1866), Laura Melinda (1866), Allen J. (1869), Nancy Etta (1871), and Albert Hardwick (1873). * Edna, b 1827. * Judith, b 1831. * Minerva, b 1833, married Gabriel Loven McDaris, and had children Zachariah Taylor, Lonnie, George, Lewis (1848), Polly (1852), Lovin Bryan (1865), James F. (1867), and Judia (1874).

Lewis Bryan died October 1, 1851. Judith and the children carried on, working in harmony to build their farms, families, and community through the 1850's.

• Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Nov 12 2022, 2:22:16 UTC