Of the four Bryant brothers who came to Illinois between the years 1830 and 1833, the one who attained most prominence in the state was John Howard Bryant. Because of the important role he played in the early development of Illinois, and because of his associations with some of the state's historic personages, his house in Princeton is of interest to students of history. Of interest, too, is the dwelling of his brother, Cyrus, which stands but a few blocks from John's house. Cyrus was also a figure of importance in pioneer days.

In the Princeton Guide, we learn that John Bryant "was a member of the state legislature from Bureau, Peoria, and Stark in 1842, and again in 1858. . . . In 1848 he was one of the early editors of the first newspaper to be established in Bureau County; in 1860 was a delegate to the convention in Chicago which nominated Abraham Lincoln; was appointed collector of internal revenue by President Lincoln in 1862."

Not to be overlooked is the fact that John Bryant, too, was a poet. His books, Poems and Life and Poems, were published in 1855 and 1894 respectively. His brother, Cyrus, was one of the founders of Bureau County and its first county clerk. Another brother, Arthur, founded a nursery in 1845 which is still in existence. And a third brother, Colonel Austin Bryant, played a creditable part in the development of the county.

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Emigrated to Illinois in 1831
son of Peter Bryant & Sarah Snell
1900 lived in Princeton, Bureau, Illinois

John H Bryant
United States Census, 1900
Name: John H Bryant
Event Type: Census
Event Year: 1900
Event Place: Princeron Township Princeton city Ward 1-2, Bureau, Illinois, United States
Gender: Male
Age: 93
Marital Status: Widowed
Race: White
Race: W
Relationship to Head of Household: Head
Relationship to Head of Household: Head
Birth Date: Jul 1807
Birthplace: Massachusetts
Father's Birthplace: Massachusetts
Mother's Birthplace: Massachusetts
Household Role Sex Age Birthplace
John H Bryant Head Male 93 Massachusetts
Laura S Bryant Daughter-in-law Female 54 Illinois
Albert H Ferris Grandson Male 27 Illinois
S Sue Ferris Granddaughter Female 25 Illinois
John H Bryant Jr. Grandson Male 24 Illinois
Mary Carlson Servant Female 20 Illinois

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John Bryant
United States Census, 1880
Name: John Bryant
Event Type: Census
Event Date: 1880
Event Place Princeton, Bureau, Illinois, United States
Gender: Male
Age: 73
Marital Status: Married
Race: White
Race: W
Occupation: Farmer Retired
Relationship to Head of Household: Self
Relationship to Head of Household: Self
Birth Year (Estimated): 1807
Birthplace: Massachusetts, United States
Father's Birthplace: Massachusetts, United States
Mother's Birthplace: Massachusetts, United States
Sheet Letter: D
Sheet Number: 245
Person Number: 0
Volume: 1
Household Role Sex Age Birthplace
John Bryant Self Male 73 Massachusetts, United States
Harriett Bryant Wife Female 71 Massachusetts, United States
Elijah Bryant Son Male 43 Illinois, United States
Laura Bryant Daughter-in-law Female 34 Illinois, United States
Fannie Bryant Granddaughter Female 14 Illinois, United States
Kate Bryant Granddaughter Female 11 Illinois, United States
William Bryant Grandson Male 8 Illinois, United States
Susan Bryant Granddaughter Female 5 Illinois, United States
John Bryant Grandson Male 4 Illinois, United States
John Dailey Other Male 19 New Jersey, United States
Lizzie Peterson Other Female 23 Sweden
Emma Peterson Other Female 20 Sweden

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John Bryant
United States Census, 1870
Name: John Bryant
Event Type: Census
Event Year: 1870
Event Place: Illinois, United States
Gender: Male
Age: 63
Race: White
Race: W
Birth Year (Estimated): 1806-1807
Birthplace: Massachusetts
Page Number: 81
Household Role Sex Age Birthplace
John Bryant Male 63 Massachusetts
Harriet Bryant Female 61 Massachusetts
Elijah Bryant Male 32 Illinois
Laura Bryant Female 23 Illinois
Fanny Bryant Female 3 Sweden
Catherine Bryant Female 1 Sweden
Clara Banyson Female 27 Sweden
John Lawson Male 27 Sweden

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John H Bryant
United States Census, 1860
Name: John H Bryant
Event Type: Census
Event Date: 1860
Event Place: Princeton, Bureau, Illinois, United States
Gender: Male
Age: 53
Race: White
Birth Year (Estimated): 1807
Birthplace: Mass.
Page: 81
Household Role Sex Age Birthplace
John H Bryant Male 53 Mass.
Harriet E Bryant Female 52 Mass.
Elijah W Bryant Male 23 Illinois
Francis W Norton Male 26 Mass.
Peter Johnson Male 26 Sweden
Hermain Strawn Female 21 Germany
Mary Peterson Female 21 Sweden
Andrew Spake Male 17 Sweden

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John H Bryant
United States Census, 1850
Name: John H Bryant
Event Type: Census
Event Year: 1850
Event Place: Princeton, Bureau, Illinois, United States
Gender: Male
Age: 43
Race: White
Birth Year (Estimated): 1807
Birthplace: Massachusetts
House Number: 371
Household Role Sex Age Birthplace
John H Bryant Male 43 Massachusetts
Harriet E Bryant Female 42 Massachusetts
Henry Bryant Male 15 Illinois
Elijah Bryant Male 13 Illinois
Charles T Wiggins Male 26 England
Rhoda Bridges Female 23 Tennessee
Patrick Powers Male 24 Ireland

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John H. Bryant
Illinois, County Marriages, 1810-1940
Name: John H. Bryant
Event Type: Marriage
Event Date: 07 Jun 1833
Event Place: , Morgan, Illinois, United States
Gender: Male
Marital Status: Married

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John Howard Bryant
Massachusetts Births and Christenings, 1639-1915
Name: John Howard Bryant
Gender: Male
Birth Date: 22 Jul 1807

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