JULIA BUELL BRYANT

 

Mrs. Julia Buell Bryant is one of the most prominent and highly esteemed ladies of Moline , her home being at 322 Seventeenth street .

She is a native of Albany , New York , and is a representative of one of the most distinguished families of the east, which was ot English origin and founded in Connecticut during early colonial days. Her great-grandfather, Major Elias Buell, was a noted officer of the Revolutionary war, serving under General Putnam. Judge Jesse Buell, her grandfather, one of the most prominent men of his day in New York , was born in Bennington , Vermont , but was reared in the Empire state, his home at first being at Kingston and later in Albany, where he built a residence of brick imported from Holland. He became one of the leading editors and publishers of the latter city, and was for a time connected with the Albany Argus, of which he was the founder.

William Pierce Baell, father of Mrs. Bryant, was born in the city of Albany, where he spent the days of his boyhood and youth, and was married there to Miss Mar­ garet Scace, an English lady, who was reared and educated in her native land. She departed this life in 1871, but Mr. Buell is still living at the age of seventy-four at the old home in Albany where his birth occurred. He is quite wealthy and has traveled extensively both in this country and Europe. In his family were three children, two sons and one daughter, the former being William Pierce, Jr., a prominent business man of Albany, who occupies, the old homestead; and Charles Major, who as a drummer boy joined the Union army and never recovered from the hardships and exposures endured while in the service, dying in 1878.

Mrs. Bryant was also born in the ancestral home erected by her grandfather, and was educated in the Albany Young Ladies' Academy. In September, 1864, she gave her hand in marriage to C. H. Boschen, a native of Germany and a prominent merchant of New York city, where he successfully engaged in the wholesale grocery business until his death in 1866. Of this union was born a son, William C. Boschen, who is married and is now engaged in the banking and brokerage business on Broadway, New York.

After the death of her husband Mrs. Boschen left the metropolis and returned to the old home in Albany, making her home with her parents and educating her son inthat city. On the death of her mother in1871, however, she again went to New York,where she continued to reside some years.In the meantime her son had learned civil engineering, and in that capacity spent some time in Denver, Colorado, where she resided with him for five years. There shebecame acquainted with Alfred R. Bryant,one of the leading business men of Moline,Illinois, and on the 14th of July, 1887, they were united in marriage at her home in Albany.

Mr. Bryant was born June 6, 1844, in Indianola, Illinois, and was the son of Adam H. and Mary (Goodman) Bryant, both of whom were natives of Virginia and came to Illinois about 1839. At that time they had never met, but soon becoming acquainted at Grand View, Illinois, they were there married and soon afterward mbved to Indianola, where their family of nine children were born, five of whom are now living. Adam H. Bryant was for many years an active member of the Methodist Episcopal church and died in the faith in 1889.

His widow is yet living and makes her home in Indianola. Alfred R. Bryant grew to manhood in his native village and attended its public schools. He also took a course in Bryant & Stratton Commercial College, and in early life successfully followed the teacher's profession. Later, after studying law, he was admitted to the bar and engaged in practice for a time in Danville, Illinois, but on coming to Moline became connected with the Moline Plow Company, first as traveling man and collector, and later as purchasing agent, secretary and finally general manager of the company.

He sold his interest in the business in 1892, and the following year purchased a half interest in the Moline Pump Company, of which he was subsequently elected president. In connection with J. N. Warr he established the Building, Loan & Savings Association, and being a public spirited, progressive citizen, became connected with numerous enterprises for the building up of the business interests of the city, among which was the street railway running to the bluff. He was an active and prominent member of the Episcopal church, and it was mainly through his efforts that the house of worship was erected in Moline, he contributing liberally of his means to its support at all times. He was a stanch Democrat and took a deep and commendable interest in political affairs, but would never accept office, preferring to devote his attention wholly to his extensive business. As a Knight Templar Mason he was a prominent member of that old and honored fraternity, and his life was ever in harmony with its teachings. In his death, which occurred May 2, 1896, the community felt that it had, lost one of its most valued and useful citizens, one who faithfully performed every duty which devolved upon him and cheerfully gave his support to all measures calculated to prove of public benefit.

His remains were interred in Riverside cemetery. Since the death of her husband Mrs. Bryant has continued to reside in Moline, but spends considerable time in visiting in New York and Albany. She, too, is an active member of the Episcopal church, in which faith she was reared, her mother being an English lady and a member of the established church of her native land. She receives the warmest respect and esteem of all who have the pleasure of her acquaintance, and is much beloved by those with whom she comes in contact for her gentle ways and genial manner.