Charles Wayland Bryan (February 10, 1867 – March 4, 1945) was an American businessman and politician who served as the 20th and 23rd Governor of Nebraska, and Mayor of Lincoln, Nebraska, and was the Democratic nominee for Vice President in 1924. He was the younger brother of Secretary of State William Jennings Bryan, who was the Democratic nominee for President in 1896, 1900, and 1908.
Charles Wayland Bryan was born in Salem, Illinois on February 10, 1867, to Silas Lillard Bryan and Mariah Elizabeth (Jennings) Bryan.[1] Silas Bryan had been born in 1822 and had established a legal practice in Salem in 1851. He married Mariah, a former student of his at McKendree College, in 1852.[2] Of Scots-Irish and English ancestry,[a] Silas Bryan was an avid Jacksonian Democrat. He won election as a state circuit judge and in 1866 moved his family to a 520-acre (210.4 ha) farm north of Salem, living in a ten-room house that was the envy of Marion County.[4] Silas served in various local positions and sought election to Congress in 1872, but was narrowly defeated by the Republican candidate.[5] An admirer of Andrew Jackson and Stephen A. Douglas, Silas passed on his Democratic affiliation to his son, William, who would remain a life-long Democrat.[6] Charles' cousin, William Sherman Jennings,[7] was also a prominent Democrat.
Charles was one of nine children of Silas and Mariah, the first three of their children died during infancy. He had four of whom lived to adulthood.[8] Silas was a Baptist and Mariah was a Methodist.
Bryan attended both the University of Chicago and Illinois College in Jacksonville. He married Elizabeth Louise Brokaw and they had three children. Bryan worked as a tobacco broker and insurance salesman, farmed, and raised purebred livestock.
Careeredit
Bryan moved to Lincoln, Nebraska in 1889, and became business manager and political secretary for his brother, William Jennings Bryan. From 1901 to 1923, he was publisher and associate editor of his brother's newspaper, The Commoner. Elected to the Lincoln City Commission in 1915 and 1921, he also served as mayor of Lincoln, Nebraska from 1915 to 1917 (again from 1935 to 1937).[9]
He was an unsuccessful candidate for governor in 1926 and 1928. He won in 1930 and 1932, and served from 1931 to 1935. During his tenure, the state's economy flourished, state spending was limited, and taxes were reduced.[12] He was an unsuccessful candidate for the U.S. Senate in 1934, governor in 1938, the U.S. House in 1940, and governor in 1942.
Deathedit
Bryan died on March 4, 1945, in Lincoln, Nebraska, and is interred there at Wyuka Cemetery.
Notesedit
^Asked when his family "dropped the 'O'" from his O'Bryan surname, he replied there had never been one.[3]
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Charles Wayland Bryan February 10 1867 March 4 1945 was an American businessman and politician who served as the 20th and 23rd Governor of Nebraska and Mayor of Lincoln Nebraska and was the Democratic nominee for Vice President in 1924 He was the younger brother of Secretary of State William Jennings Bryan who was the Democratic nominee for President in 1896 1900 and 1908 Charles W BryanBryan in 192420th and 23rd Governor of NebraskaIn office January 8 1931 January 3 1935LieutenantTheodore MetcalfeWalter H JurgensenPreceded byArthur J WeaverSucceeded byRoy CochranIn office January 3 1923 January 8 1925LieutenantFred JohnsonPreceded bySamuel McKelvieSucceeded byAdam McMullen23rd and 30th Mayor of LincolnIn office 1935 1937Preceded byFenton FlemingSucceeded byOren S CopelandIn office 1915 1917Preceded byFrank ZehrungSucceeded byJohn MillerPersonal detailsBornCharles Wayland Bryan 1867 02 10 February 10 1867Salem Illinois U S DiedMarch 4 1945 1945 03 04 aged 78 Lincoln Nebraska U S Resting placeWyuka CemeteryPolitical partyDemocraticSpouseElizabeth BrokawChildren3Parent s Silas BryanMariah Elizabeth JenningsRelativesWilliam Jennings Bryan brother William Sherman Jennings cousin EducationIllinois CollegeUniversity of Chicago Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 3 Death 4 Notes 5 References 6 External linksEarly life edit nbsp Charles W Bryan at left William Jennings Bryan at right Charles Wayland Bryan was born in Salem Illinois on February 10 1867 to Silas Lillard Bryan and Mariah Elizabeth Jennings Bryan 1 Silas Bryan had been born in 1822 and had established a legal practice in Salem in 1851 He married Mariah a former student of his at McKendree College in 1852 2 Of Scots Irish and English ancestry a Silas Bryan was an avid Jacksonian Democrat He won election as a state circuit judge and in 1866 moved his family to a 520 acre 210 4 ha farm north of Salem living in a ten room house that was the envy of Marion County 4 Silas served in various local positions and sought election to Congress in 1872 but was narrowly defeated by the Republican candidate 5 An admirer of Andrew Jackson and Stephen A Douglas Silas passed on his Democratic affiliation to his son William who would remain a life long Democrat 6 Charles cousin William Sherman Jennings 7 was also a prominent Democrat Charles was one of nine children of Silas and Mariah the first three of their children died during infancy He had four of whom lived to adulthood 8 Silas was a Baptist and Mariah was a Methodist Bryan attended both the University of Chicago and Illinois College in Jacksonville He married Elizabeth Louise Brokaw and they had three children Bryan worked as a tobacco broker and insurance salesman farmed and raised purebred livestock Career editBryan moved to Lincoln Nebraska in 1889 and became business manager and political secretary for his brother William Jennings Bryan From 1901 to 1923 he was publisher and associate editor of his brother s newspaper The Commoner Elected to the Lincoln City Commission in 1915 and 1921 he also served as mayor of Lincoln Nebraska from 1915 to 1917 again from 1935 to 1937 9 Bryan first ran for governor in 1916 10 though he lost in the primary to Keith Neville 11 Bryan was elected the Governor of Nebraska in 1922 and served from 1923 to 1925 He was the Democratic vice presidential candidate in 1924 picked largely because of his name to serve as running mate to conservative easterner John W Davis The ticket was overwhelmingly defeated by Republican incumbent Calvin Coolidge and his running mate Charles G Dawes He was an unsuccessful candidate for governor in 1926 and 1928 He won in 1930 and 1932 and served from 1931 to 1935 During his tenure the state s economy flourished state spending was limited and taxes were reduced 12 He was an unsuccessful candidate for the U S Senate in 1934 governor in 1938 the U S House in 1940 and governor in 1942 Death editBryan died on March 4 1945 in Lincoln Nebraska and is interred there at Wyuka Cemetery Notes edit Asked when his family dropped the O from his O Bryan surname he replied there had never been one 3 References edit William Jennings Bryan usurped Nebraska State Historical Society Kazin 2006 pp 4 5 Bryan Memoirs of William Jennings Bryan pp 22 26 Colletta 1964 pp 3 5 Kazin 2006 p 5 Kazin 2006 pp 4 5 9 Florida International University Reclaiming the Everglades biography of William Sherman Jennings Archived from the original on 2016 03 03 Retrieved 2022 04 15 Kazin 2006 p 8 Charles W Bryan Encyclopedia of Nebraska January 1999 ISBN 9780403098347 Retrieved 24 September 2012 Argus Albion March 1 1916 Comments on Mayor Bryan s candidacy for the Nebraska Democratic gubernatorial nomination The Commoner p 7 Dunn I J April 1 1916 Dunn Scores Special Interests The Commoner p 9 Charles W Bryan National Governors Association Retrieved 24 September 2012 Bibliography Coletta Paolo E 1964 William Jennings Bryan Vol 1 Political Evangelist 1860 1908 University of Nebraska Press ISBN 978 0 8032 0022 7 Kazin Michael 2006 A Godly Hero The Life of William Jennings Bryan Knopf ISBN 978 0 375 41135 9 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Charles W Bryan Charles W Bryan at Find a Grave Encyclopedia of Nebraska Charles W Bryan at National Governors AssociationPolitical officesPreceded byFrank C Zehrung Mayor of Lincoln1915 1917 Succeeded byJohn MillerPreceded bySamuel McKelvie Governor of Nebraska1923 1925 Succeeded byAdam McMullenPreceded byArthur J Weaver Governor of Nebraska1931 1935 Succeeded byRoy CochranPreceded byFenton Fleming Mayor of Lincoln1935 1937 Succeeded byOren S CopelandParty political officesPreceded byJohn H Morehead Democratic nominee for Governor of Nebraska1922 1924 withdrew Succeeded byJohn N NortonPreceded byHarry C Parmenter Progressive nominee for Governor of Nebraska1924 withdrew Succeeded byDan B ButlerPreceded byFranklin D Roosevelt Democratic nominee for Vice President of the United States1924 Succeeded byJoe RobinsonPreceded byJohn N Norton Democratic nominee for Governor of Nebraska1926 1928 1930 1932 Succeeded byRoy CochranPreceded byTerry Carpenter Democratic nominee for Governor of Nebraska1942 Succeeded byGeorge Olsen Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Charles W Bryan amp oldid 1187283421, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
