The Memphis Reveille
Memphis, Missouri
Thursday
August 14, 1941J. W. BRYANT, 62, DROPS DEAD AT HIS FARM
Joseph Walter Bryant, 62-year-old farmer of five miles east of Kirksville, was found dead yesterday after noon about 3 o'clock after members of his family had launched a frantic search for him.
The body of Mr. Bryant, who had suffered for some time with high blood pressure, heart disease and other ailments, was discovered in a little hollow next to a fence in a tangle of blackberry vines and other growth, by his daughter and son-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. William H. Briggs of Keokuk, Iowa.
Coroner W. C. Summers was summoned at once and after consulting with the physician in whose care Mr. Bryant had been for some time, determined that an inquest was not needed. There was blood on the mouth and face, but Mr. Bryant's physician said that that condition might easily have been the result of a probable internal hemorrhage.
Mr. Bryant left his home about 7:30 o'clock, yesterday morning. Stock on the place had been escaping through faulty fencing and the day before Mr. Bryant's sons had repaired some of the fence. It was believed that Mr. Bryant had been out to inspect the work when he became ill.
During the morning his daughter, and son-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. William Briggs of Keokuk, arrived at the Bryant home to spend the day. When Mr. Bryant did not return to his home for the noon meal a search was started. A car came to Kirksville in search of him, in the belief that Mr. Bryant might have been given a ride into Kirksville by a neighbor.
Soon the search was shifted to the fields. After the discovery of the body, one son said that he had passed within a few feet of the spot, but due to the tangle of underbrush, he did not see the body of his father.
Mr. Bryant was born in Scotland County, Missouri, on December 26, 1879, the son of Riley and Pauline Thurber Bryant.
He was married to Miss Ethel Converse. Eight children were born to this union, seven surviving their father.
A year ago last February, Mr. and Mrs. Bryant, their children and her father, A. A. Converse, 84, who makes his home with them, moved to the farm east of here coming back to Missouri from Iowa.
Mr. Bryant is survived by his wife, seven children, Mrs. Chloe Briggs, Keokuk; Alfred Bryant, Mount Rose, Ia.; Riley Bryant, Keokuk; and Dale, Francis, Walter and Leslie, of the home; and four brothers, Willam Bryant, Alexandria; Charley Bryant of Memphis; Frank Bryant of Baring; and Vernon Bryant of Kahoka.
Funeral services are scheduled for tomorrow afternoon at 2 o'clock at the Lawn Ridge Church, about eight miles from Memphis and burial in the Lawn Ridge cemetery. --- Wednesday's Kirksville Express.
Clark County Historical Society Museum
Kahoka, MissouriWALTER BRYANT
(Keokuk Gate City.)Walter Bryant, 61, a resident of Keokuk for 24 years, before he moved to Kirksville, Mo., about a year ago, died there Tuesday morning, Aug. 12, at 8 o'clock, following a heart attack.
Mr. Bryant, a son of the late Riley and Paulina Thurbur Bryant, was born in Scotland county, Mo., on Dec. 26, 1879.
Surviving are his widow, the former Ethel Converse; one daughter, Mrs. Chloe Briggs of Keokuk; six sons, Alfred and Riley Bryant, both of Keokuk, and Dale, Francis, Leslie and Walter Bryant, all at home; several grandchildren and four brothers: Charles Bryant of Memphis, Mo.; Frank Bryant of Baring, Mo.; William Bryant of Alexandria, Mo., and Vernon Bryant of Keokuk.
Funeral services and burial will be at the Lawn Ridge church near Memphis, on Thursday afternoon at two o'clock.
Children:
Lelah Chloe Bryant 30-Sep-1906 19-Jul-1978 Alfred Harold Bryant 09-May-1908 13-Jan-1980 Riley Vernon Bryant 05-Mar-1910 10-Feb-1980 Opal Adalaide Bryant 25-Feb-1914 03-Nov-1918 Joseph Delbert Dale Bryant 25-Mar-1916 24-Apr-1963 Francis Dallas Bryant 26-Aug-1920 11-Nov-1977 Charles Leslie Bryant 16-Apr-1924 26-Dec-1963 Walter Elmo Joner Bryant 30-Jul-1927 13-Feb-1961
