Marcellus L. Bryan
Marcellus L. Bryan, editor and publisher of the Madison Democrat was born at Batavia, Clermont Co., Ohio, March 29, 1823. His grandfather, David C. Bryan, who died July 31, 1829, was born on Long Island in 1771, and in 1792, married Ruth Bryan. In 1800, he moved to New Jersey, in 1803 to Williamsburg, this county, and, in 1825, to Batavia. He was elected a Representative in the Legislature in 1806, but his seat was contested and given to Thomas Morris, and served as State Senator from 1807 to 1810, when he resigned to become Clerk of the Courts, which place he ably filled until his death, a period of nineteen years. His son, Malancthon A., was then Clerk for some two years. He was born September 26, 1803, and died March 27, 1832. George S., another son, was born September 3. 1792, and died November 28, 1832, and his wife Mary died July 16, 1844, aged forty-seven years. Our subject's father, whose name was also David C., was born on Long Island, and was quite young when brought to Batavia by his parents. In 1828, when only nineteen years of age, he married Miss Mary M. Moore, youngest daughter of Capt. Charles Moore, an ex-Captain of the war of 1812, and an early settler of Clermont County, from Philadelphia. To this union eight children were born, viz., Marcellus L,; Francis, wife of T. J. Bolds, of London; Charles M., of California; Beulah C., wife of Joseph Kewley, of Richmond, Ind; Dr. A. S., of Point Pleasant, Clermont County; Rose, wife of Mr. Patterson, of Point Pleasant; Eva. wife of Allen Armacost. of Wayne County, Ind; Learner L., a printer in Chicago; and two daughters that died in infancy. The father was a man of prominence in his community, and at the time of his death was serving as Auditor of Clermont County. He was an Old Line Whig until the organization of the Republican party, when he became a Democrat. He was held in high esteem by the people and for many years occupied the office of Justice of the Peace. He died in 1861 from the effects of sunstroke received about a year previous. His wife still survives, at the age of seventy-three years. Our subject remained at home until nineteen years of age, when he went to Columbus and engaged as a type setter on the Ohio Statesman. Before leaving home, he had learned the printer's trade under Andrew Gest, in the Clermont Courier office. After remaining in Columbus one year, Mr. Bryan went to Circleville, but after a year's residence there returned to Columbus, where he married Miss Martha S. Masterson, a native of Ireland and a daughter of Prof. John O. Masterson. After his marriage, he went to Circleville, where he operated the Circleville Herald one year. He then returned to Columbus and remained there one year, after which he and John A. Kissinger came to London and took possession of the National Democrat, of which Mr. Bryan soon became sole proprietor, changing the name of the paper to the Madison Democrat, under which title he has since continued its publication. While in Columbus, he and four other journeymen printers established the Daily Reveille, and in this office the great humorist, Artemus Ward (Charles Brown) was employed for some time. Mr. Bryan withdrew from the Reveille company one year after its organization, and six months before it was discontinued. Of his family of eight children. seven survive, viz., Mary L., Ormand M., Chester E., Charles M., Hattie T., Marcellus and Addison. Annie 0., the next to the youngest, is deceased. Mr. Bryan has been a Democrat ever since he cast his first vote. He served as Mayor of the village of London two terms and as County Recorder one term.
From HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY - W. H. Beers [Chicago, 1883]