William Joel Bryan

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William Joel Bryan (December 14, 1815 – March 3, 1903) was a Texas soldier and land owner.

Bryan was born at Haxel Run in Saint Genevieve County, Missouri to James Bryan and Emily Austin Bryan. He attended school at Potosi until 1830. In 1831, W. J. Bryan's mother and stepfather James F. Perry followed Stephen F. Austin to Texas. They settled in the eastern part of Brazoria County, Texas. In 1832, the family moved to Peach Point Plantation, where Bryan was instructed by a governess and his stepfather took care of the plantation, cattle and other such property of Bryan's uncle Stephen F. Austin.

In 1835, Texas declared its independence from Mexico. Bryan took his part in the revolution at his uncle's side, along with the rest of the Brazoria County Volunteers, during the siege of Bexar. He also served with Sam Houston in the retreat of the army across Texas. In a stroke of what some would call luck, he became ill with the measles shortly before the battle of San Jacinto. Between 1836 and 1839 he served as an overseer at Peach Point.

In April of 1840, he married Lavinia Perry, his stepfather's niece. The two of them settled at Duranzo Plantation, an extension of Peach Point Plantation given to them as a wedding gift. The couple had seven children, four of whom joined the Confederate Army. During the Civil War, Bryan fed Confederate troops stationed at the mouth of the Brazos at his own expense.

In 1865 he granted the Houston & Texas Central Railroad a right-of-way through his land in Brazos County. A projected townsite, Bryan, Texas was named in his honor. Bryan gave the town financial assistance and helped to establish its bank. Bryan was a member of the Texas Veteran's Association.