He was the son of James Lowe Bryan, born 10 Oct 1785 in Talbot, MD, and died 9 OCT 1869 at Broad Creek, Kent Island, Queen Anne’s County, MD and Catherine Lowe who was born on 18 Jan 1764 at Grafton Manor, Talbot County, MD. She died in 1831, Talbot, MD
Rev. Bryan was husband to Anna Virginia Smith. He was born 10 Jul 1831 on Kent Island, MD and died 17 Oct 1895. “The families of both … were early settlers on the Eastern Shore of Maryland in Queen Anne county and were active patriot participants in the Revolution.” Their children were:
1. Dr. James Edmund Bryan, superintendent of Camden, N.J. schools from 1899 until his retirement in 1931
2. Dr. Alfred Cookman Bryan, of Wayne, Pa.
3. William Whiteley Bryan who was born 21 Aug 1876 in Frederica, DE. he was the spouse of Florence E. Shimer, who he left widowed, on 27 SEP 1946 . He was an insurance and real estate agent, and died at 70 years of age
4. Dr. Mary Roberts, of Merchantville.
5. Elma Howard Knowles
6. Anna, who married S. Taylor Wilson, of Easton, Pa. She was born 8 Feb 1874 in Delaware, and died as a widow at age 90 in January 1965
It was published in the 14 Jun 1869 issue of the Baltimore Sun newspaper that at the Diocesan Convention Rev. Dr. James E. Bryan of Cambridge was elected to serve as secretary.
The Baltimore Sun newspaper reported on 29 Feb 1872 that the Dover District was assigning Rev. Bryan to Wyoming Methodist Church. , and the Cecil Whig newspaper of Elkton, Md. stated the same.
Bryan’s name is listed in The History of Delaware, 1609-1888, Volume Two by Thos. J. Scharf. According to Scharf, Rev. James E. Bryan served as a pastor to Whatcoat U.M.C. in Camden, DE. 1871-1873.
On Apr. 24, 1875 he performed a wedding for Samuel Ringold and Florence Z. Carville on Kent Island at the M.E. church, Stevensville.
Under the heading New Methodist Ministers Wilmington, Delaware’s Daily Gazette of 20 Mar 1880 stated “by the changes made at the recent session of the Wilmington M.E. Conference six new ministers come to the churches of Wilmington and vicinity.” Among those listed appears Rev. James E. Bryan who was being assigned to Scott Methodist Church.
On Tuesday, March 22, 1881 Wilmington, Delaware’s Daily Gazette reported on the Methodist Episcopal Conference which was being held in Lewes, Delaware. Rev. Bryan is listed among four others appointed as Visitors to Centenary Biblical Institute which later became known as Maryland’s Morgan State University.
The Cecil Whig newspaper of Elkton, Md. on Saturday, August 19, 1882 covered the Wood Lawn Camp Meeting by stating, “Although the opinion seems to be gaining ground that camp meetings have survived the period of their usefulness, and the fact that there is not the same general interest taken in them by Methodists as at one time, yet a very large number of the followers of John Wesley still cherish a grateful recollection of the wonderful outpouring of the Divine Spirit once manifested on the old Methodist camp grounds, and still annually spend a week in the tented groves dedicated to God’s worship. … This year the encampment contained about seventy tents. … Rev. James E. Bryan of Newport, preached at 7:30 o’clock from St. Luke 10:20.”
Wilmington, Delaware’s Daily Gazette – Cambridge, Md., March 10, – The proceedings of the Wilmington M. E. Conference … Revs Robert W. Todd, J.B. Quigg, N.M. Browne, and James E. Bryan were elected Conference Academy Trustees for the next five years.
“The Wilmington Annual Conference of the M.E. Church will commence its 16th session at Asbury M.E. Church, Wilmington, March 5th. … Three years is the maximum limit, under the polity of the M.E. church, of the pastoral relation between a preacher and his people. As a matter of fact many of the pastors remain but two years on a charge. … In the whole conference there are but twelve preachers now serving a third year on any charge.” Among the ministers listed is James E. Bryan, Newport. Source: Denton Journal (Denton, MD) 9 Feb 1884
Reported in the September 19, 1885 issue of The Morning News (Wilmington, DE) under the heading of Local Personals appears, “The official board of Asbury M.E. Church has determined upon the following to succedd the Rev.W.L.S. Murray as pastor: First, the Rev. James E. Bryan of Cambridge, Maryland, second, the Rev. E.L. Hubbard of Brandywine M.E. Church; third, the Rev. T.L. Tomkinson, formerly of Mt. Salem M.E. Church.”
That same newspaper on 5 Feb 1886 under the heading Pastoral Changes, the reader is notified that Rev. Bryan would be taking the pulpit at Asbury (from Cambridge). This same paper on 20 Mar 1886 states, “The Rev. James E. Bryan will preach his introductory sermon at Asbury M.E. church to-morrow.”
October 21, 1886 the Daily Republican newspaper of Wilmington, DE reported,”Presiding Elder Hill and Revs. James E. Bryan, N.M. Browne and W.L.S. Murray, with their wives and a few friends,met at the house of Wm. Pennell, No. 212 East Second street, last evening, when the child of Wm. Lott, son-in-law of Mr. Pennell, was baptised and the usual prayers offered on its behalf. The party was treated to a bounteous repast and the occasion was rendered a pleasant as well as a memorable event in the life of the little “Lott” as well as in that of others at the party.
Ministers Who Will Pitch Tents – Rev. Bryan is listed among nine other ministers who “will pitch tents at the Brandywine Summit Camp. Source: July 19, 1887 issue of The Morning News (Wilmington, DE)
Rev. James E. Bryan,served in the Rising Sun, Md. M.E. church from 1891-1895.
He is buried in the Brookview Cemetery in Rising Sun, Cecil County, Maryland
Source: Town of Rising Sun’s Website; A History of Rising Sun by William W. McNamee; 1996
His obituary was published in the 4 Oct 1895 issue of the Baltimore Sun newspaper as follows. “BRYAN — On Thursday, October 17, JAMES EDMUND BRYAN, aged 64 years, pastor of Rising Sun (Md.) M.E. Church. Interment at Rising Sun, This day, October 21, at eleven o’clock.” Another obituary was found in the October 26, 1895 issue of the Cecil Whig as seen below.
