NEGenWeb Project
Hall County
ORION BRYAN, who owns one of the best regulated farms in South Loup township, Hall County, has made a success of his agricultural operations in this as well as in other sections. He was brought up on his father's farm in Fulton County, Indiana, where he was born November 6, 1868, being the son of Henry Bryan, who died many years ago. His wife survived him many years passing away in 1910.

Mr. Bryan obtained his education in the public schools in Indiana. He came to Nebraska in March, 1882 to engage in farming in Buffalo County, where he rented land for a time.Later he bought land near Bluff Center, in Hall County, situated one and a half miles east of Cairo, where he lived for two years. In 1890 he moved three miles further east, buying eighty acres from a Mr. Hooper, but later sold that property to Edward Wilcox and bought another eighty, two miles to the south and one mile to the east, paying a fair price to Micheael Dunlap. When he sold that place he removed to Cameron township on a farm owned by Mr. Dodd and when he left Hall County in the fall of 1888, he had sufficient capital to establish himself well in Box Elder County, Utah, where he followed farming for seven years, and then removed to a location near Gridley, California, where he carried on fruit growing for three years. In the meanwhile a favorite sister had married John T. Coons, a prominent farmer and stockman of Hall County, and that , perhaps, had something to do with Mr. Bryan once more turning his steps to this section.

In 1910 Mr. Bryan came back to Hall County and lived three years on a farm located one mile east and two south of Cairo and subsequently purchased this valuable property from Patrick Swan and has one hundred and seventeen of his two hundred and seventeen acres under cultivation. He has greatly improved his surrounding, his barns and outbuilding s are substantial, his residence comfortable and he has one of the most up-to-date silos in the county. He keeps high grade stock and raises cattle, horses, and hogs.

Mr. Bryan married Miss Lillie Porter, who was born in Illinois. They have the following children, their ages ranging from twenty-four to six years. Lena, Belle, Gertrude, Gilford, Ruth, Lawrence M. and Helen, all of whom live at home, and the older children have been given good educational opportunities. Mr. Bryan and his family are members of the Baptist church, and one of his brothers is a Baptist minister. He has never been very active in politics but his fellow citizens know that he has sound judgment and on important questions has decided opinions. He is a member of the M. W. A. lodge in Cairo.

Transcribed by Larry Coates