Springfield-Greene
County LibraryEarly and Recent History and Genealogical Records
of Many of the Representative Citizens
ARTHUR W. BRYANT. In reading over the record of the lives of many of the leading citizens one becomes impressed with the fact that certain families show at the outset a strong inclination toward books and learning generally, or in at least keeping up with the times on current topics, especially dealing with national affairs. The Bryant family, which has long been well established in Greene county, is one of this type, and we find that Arthur W. Bryant, at present a progressive merchant of Strafford, was formerly a successful educator and is a well informed man on current topics.
Mr. Bryant was born near Fair Grove, Missouri, August 10, 1870. He is a son of Junius A. and Sarah J. (Harkness) Bryant. The father was born in North Carolina, June 9, 1834, and when a child his parents removed to Maury county, Tennessee, where he grew to manhood and attended school, receiving an excellent education for those times. He spent his early life on the home farm. When twenty-two years of age he emigrated to Missouri and located in Greene county, near Fair Grove, where he purchased a farm and engaged successfully in general farming an stock raising. He taught school a number of years with much success. Being successful, the last few years of his life were spent in retirement from active work. His death occurred January 6, 1910. During the Civil war he was a soldier in the Eighth Missouri Cavalry, Union army, serving two years in Company C, proving to be a gallant soldier in every respect. He was honorably discharged in St. Louis on account of disability. He took part in a number of minor engagements. He was a member of the Baptist church. The mother of our subject was born in Tennessee, February 13, 1841, and when an infant her parents brought her to Missouri, where she grew to womanhood on the home farm near Fair Grove and was educated. She and Mr. Bryant were married April 6, 1858. She was a member of the Baptist church. Her death occurred December 10, 1911.
Seven children were born to Junius A. Bryant and wife, namely: Columbus N.; Mrs. Nannie Dyer, deceased; John F.; Walter W.; Arthur W., of this sketch; William S.; Viola, deceased.
Arthur W. Bryant grew to manhood on the home farm and worked there during his boyhood, receiving a good common school education. He began life for himself by teaching school four years, after which he began his career as merchant in Strafford in 1896, and has continued in the same line with ever increasing success to the present time, enjoying a large and lucrative business with the town and surrounding country, and always carrying a well selected stock of general merchandise at all seasons. His aim is to deal courteously and fairly with all.
Mr. Bryant was married March 22, 1897, to Lola M. Bass, who was born near Bassville, Greene county, December 22, 1877, and there she was reared on a farm. She is a daughter of Martin V. and Edith (Allen) Bass, who are living still on the old home place and are well known in this part of the county. Mrs. Bryant received a good education and in her girlhood taught school several years. She is a member of the Baptist church.
Five children have been born to our subject and wife namely: Junius S., born January 27, 1898; the second child died in infancy; Nola M., born April 6, 1905; the fourth child died in infancy; Marion W., born April 1, 1911.
Politically, Mr. Bryant is a Republican. Fraternally, he belongs to the Modern Woodmen and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He is also a member of the Baptist church, and has always borne an excellent reputation as a man and citizen.
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