Bryant, Henry L.

Born: 1817-03-11 Massachusetts

Flourished:

Born in Covington, Massachusetts, Henry L. Bryant was a farmer, lawyer, state’s attorney, and county judge. After attending Geneva College in New York, Bryant went to Lexington, Kentucky and read law for a year, before matriculating to Transylvania University. After completing his studies, he relocated to Illinois, settling in Macomb in 1835. He won election as state’s attorney in 1837, serving until 1838. In 1843, Bryant married Elizabeth S. Saunders, with whom he would have several children. In 1848, Bryant, in poor health, moved his family to Jackson Grove, in Fulton County. In 1850, Bryant owned $2,000 in real property. He won election as county judge on a Democratic ticket in 1852 and served two terms. In February 1856, he served as a delegate to the Fulton County Democratic Convention, and in May, he represented Fulton County at the Democratic State Convention, held in Springfield. By 1860, Bryant and his family were living in Lewistown, and he had amassed $22,000 in real and personal property. He was again elected as county judge in 1876, to fill an unexpired term.

History of Fulton County Illinois (Peoria, IL: Chas. C. Chapman, 1879), 789-90; Illinois Statewide Marriage Index, Fulton County, 5 November 1843, Illinois State Archives, Springfield, IL; U.S. Census Office, Seventh Census of the United States (1850), Fulton County, IL, 310; The Quincy Herald (IL), 3 March 1856, 2:3; U.S. Census Office, Eighth Census of the United States (1860), Lewistown, Fulton County, IL, 21.