Luther Joseph Bryson

Luther Joseph Bryson was born in Nevada County, February 6, 1873, the son of Patric E. Bryson and his wife, Emily E. Beane. Patric Bryson's parents were Robert H. Bryson (died 1865, age 40) and Eliza (Swaggerd) Bryson (died 1879, age 50), natives of Laurens Dist. N.C. and Lexington Dist. S.C. respectively. Patric Bryson was born Sept 9, 1847, Lexington District, South Carolina. Emly Beane was born in Adair County Kentucky in 1842. They were married in Washington, Hempstead County, Arkansas, in 1868 and moved east of what is now Prescott before Nevada County was formed. Their children: Luther, Mattie (Mrs. P.M. Honea), John (died 1905) and Henry (married Rena Graham).

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On February 6, 1900, Luther J, Bryson was married to Mary Lou Barham. She was born June 2, 1875, near Prescott, daughter of William Robert Barham (b. July 5, 1850, d. Oct 1, 1926) and his first wife, Mary Ann Jones (b. Jan. 9, 1863, d. Merch 20, 1901) who were married July 1871. William Robert Barham was a Missionary Baptist minister, son of James Monroe Braham and his wife, Lucy Jane (Greer) Barham, natives of Kentucky and Illinois, respectively. They were married in Henry County, Tenn. and came to a part of Ouachita County, Arkansas (now Nevada County) in 1848. In 1862, James Monroe Barham joined the Confederate Army. He was first Captain, later Major. He was killed at the Granby Mines, MO. in 1864 by Kansas bushwhackers. After the death of Mary Ann (Jones) Barham, William R. Barham married (in 1902) Mrs. Georgie Roseman by whom he had no issue. Children of William R. Barham and Mary Ann Jones were: Tom (married Molly Bryson); Mary Lou (married Luther J, Bryson); John W. (married Nettie Nelson); Minnie (married 1st Chamblis, 2nd Adam Thomas); Sally (married Salter Ridgell); Ida (married Clarence Hines); James Edward (married Gertrude Guthrie).

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Luther J. Bryson spent practically all his life in Nevada County. He attended Hendrix College in 1891. He was a member of the First Methodist Church, Prescott, a member of the Knights of Pythias and was appointed by Gov. Bailey in 1937 as a member of the Arkansas Agricultural Commission; was always active in any move for the advancement of his county and state. For many years he taught school in Nevada County. He died at his home east of Prescott, Arkansas, July 28, 1940.

Children of Luther Joseph Bryson and his wife, Mary Lou Barham are:

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Luther Joseph Bryson Jr, District Field Adviser of the Unemployment   Compensation Commission.

Edward B. Bryson, Nevada County Representative.

Information furnished by Mary Lou Bryson