George Edwin Bryant (February 11, 1832 – February 16, 1907) was an American lawyer, judge, and Republican politician. He served as a Union Army officer during the American Civil War and afterwards served as a brigadier general in the Wisconsin National Guard. He also served four years in the Wisconsin Legislature, representing Dane County, and was appointed Wisconsin Superintendent of Public Property by Governor Robert M. La Follette, serving from 1901 until his death in 1907.

George E. Bryant
Portrait from the United States biographical dictionary and portrait gallery of eminent and self-made men; Wisconsin volume (1877)
Superintendent of Public Property of Wisconsin
In office
January 4, 1901 – February 16, 1907
GovernorRobert M. La Follette
James O. Davidson
Preceded byWilliam A. Scott
Succeeded byCharley C. Bennett
Chairman of the Republican Party of Wisconsin
In office
August 1900 – May 1904
Preceded byJoseph B. Treat
Succeeded byW. D. Connor
County Judge of Dane County, Wisconsin
In office
January 1, 1866 – December 31, 1877
Preceded byThomas Hood
Succeeded byAlden Sprague Sanborn
Member of the Wisconsin Senate
from the 7th district
In office
January 4, 1875 – January 1, 1877
Preceded byJohn Anders Johnson
Succeeded byGeorge A. Abert
Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly
from the Dane 1st district
In office
January 2, 1899 – January 7, 1901
Preceded byDaniel Bechtel
Succeeded byE. Ray Stevens
Personal details
Born(1832-02-11)February 11, 1832
Templeton, Massachusetts, U.S.
DiedFebruary 16, 1907(1907-02-16) (aged 75)
Madison, Wisconsin, U.S.
Resting placeForest Hill Cemetery, Madison, Wisconsin
Political partyRepublican
Spouse
Susan A. Gibson
(m. 1858⁠–⁠1907)
Children
  • Harriet E. Bryant
  • (b. 1859; died 1960)
  • George E. Bryant
  • (b. 1861; died 1941)
  • Frank H. Bryant
  • (b. 1866; died 1947)
EducationNorwich University
Military service
AllegianceUnited States
Branch/serviceUnited States Volunteers
Union Army
Wisconsin National Guard
Rank
Commands12th Reg. Wis. Vol. Infantry
Battles/warsAmerican Civil War

Biography

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Bryant was born on February 11, 1832, in Templeton, Massachusetts.[1][2] He attended Norwich University.[1] At Norwich, he was a roommate of George Dewey, who went on to become Admiral of the Navy.[3] On September 27, 1858, Bryant married Susie A. Gibson[4] and they had three children.[1]

Military career

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Bryant was initially assigned to the 1st Wisconsin Infantry Regiment of the Union Army during the American Civil War, having previously captained the Madison Guards. Before long, he was given command of the 12th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment. He served until 1864.[1]

In 1880, Bryant became Quartermaster General of the Wisconsin National Guard.[1][5]

Political career

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He was elected county judge of Dane County, Wisconsin, in the Spring 1865 election, and was re-elected in 1869 and 1873, ultimately serving 12 years. While serving as judge, he was also elected to the Wisconsin State Senate from the 7th State Senate district—which then comprised the eastern half of Dane County—serving in the 1875 and 1876 sessions. In 1898, he was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly. He was a delegate to the 1880 Republican National Convention, and was appointed postmaster of Madison from 1882 through 1886 and again from 1890 to 1894. In 1900, he was elected chairman of the Republican Party of Wisconsin. After the Robert M. La Follette was elected governor later that year, however, Bryant was appointed Superintendent of Public Property.[6]

Death and burial

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He died on February 16, 1907,[1] and was buried at Forest Hill Cemetery.[7]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f "Death of General Bryant". The Oshkosh Northwestern. Oshkosh, WI. February 18, 1907. p. 7. Retrieved November 24, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.  
  2. ^ "Dane County Wisconsin Biographies". Wisconsin Genealogy Trails. Retrieved 2015-05-26.
  3. ^ "General George Bryant, noted badger, is dead". La Crosse Tribune. February 18, 1907. p. 3. Retrieved November 24, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "Colonel George E. Bryant". The United States Biographical Dictionary. Archived from the original on 2018-05-15. Retrieved 2015-05-26.
  5. ^ "Roster of Commander-in-Chief and Staff". Wisconsin Blue Book 1880. 1880. Retrieved 2015-05-26.
  6. ^ "Place for Bryant". Oshkosh Northwestern. January 5, 1901. p. 1. Retrieved November 24, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Bryant – Forest Hill Cemetery – Section 4 Lot 129". Surrounded by Reality.com. Retrieved 2015-05-26.
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Military offices
Regiment established Command of the 12th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment
October 18, 1861 – November 6, 1864
Succeeded by
Party political offices
Preceded by Chairman of the Republican Party of Wisconsin
August 1900 – May 1904
Succeeded by
W. D. Connor
Wisconsin State Assembly
Preceded by Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the Dane 1st district
January 2, 1899 – January 7, 1901
Succeeded by
Wisconsin Senate
Preceded by Member of the Wisconsin Senate from the 7th district
January 4, 1875 – January 1, 1877
Succeeded by
Government offices
Preceded by
William A. Scott
Superintendent of Public Property of Wisconsin
January 4, 1901 – February 16, 1907
Succeeded by
Charley C. Bennett
Legal offices
Preceded by
Thomas Hood
County Judge of Dane County, Wisconsin
January 1, 1866 – December 31, 1877
Succeeded by