BIO: Robert M. BRYAN, Beaver County, PA
  
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  BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES.  This Volume Contains Biographical Sketches 
  of Leading Citizens of Beaver County, Pennsylvania.  Buffalo, N.Y., 
  Chicago, Ill.: Biographical Publishing Company, 1899, pp. 416-417.
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  ROBERT M. BRYAN, the leading general merchant in the southwestern portion of
  Beaver county, is located at Hookstown, Green township, where he is one of
  the foremost business men. He is a son of James and Isabella (Miller) Bryan,
  and was born in Hookstown, Pa., November 14, 1850.
  
  John Bryan, the grandfather of Robert M., was a farmer of Independence
  township, Beaver county, Pennsylvania. His son James, the father of the
  subject hereof, was born in that township, in 1806, and at an early age
  learned the trade of a hatter. In those days there were no shops, and he
  followed his trade at his own home in Hookstown most of his life, and in
  addition to that farmed quite extensively on land which he leased. He passed
  to his eternal reward at the age of eighty-two years. He was first joined in
  marriage with Margaret Veasy, and they had three children, as follows: Sarah,
  deceased; Mary, deceased; and Joseph, who is now a pilot on the lower
  Mississippi River. He formed a second alliance with Isabella Miller, a
  daughter of Col. Robert Miller, a soldier of the War of 1812, and a resident
  of Beaver county, and this union was blessed with seven children: Margaret,
  deceased; John, deceased, who served as adjutant in the
  
  BEAVER COUNTY  417
  
  140th Reg., Pa. Vol. Inf., in the Civil War, and later practiced medicine in
  Kentucky and Missouri, dying in the latter state in 1874; Sarah (Smith), who
  lives in Arkansas City; Robert, the subject of this record; Mary, deceased;
  Jennie (Mercer), whose husband was formerly in partnership with Robert M.
  Bryan, and lives in New Wilmington, Pa.; Belle (Lawrence), who removed from
  Beaver county to Red Oak, Iowa, with her husband, - a physician of that
  place. Mrs. Bryan died in 1892, at the age of seventy-three years. Mr. Bryan
  was a Democrat in politics, and was a borough officeholder.
  
  Robert M. Bryan obtained his education in the public schools of Hookstown,
  attending them until he was thirteen years old, after which he was a clerk
  for three years in a store at Shippingport, Beaver county, - thus early
  acquiring a knowledge of the business which he now follows. He then learned
  the trade of a carpenter, which he followed during the summer months for the
  succeeding fifteen years. In 1870, he went west to Missouri, and worked on a
  farm at his trade two years, but again returned to Beaver county and taught
  school for the next fifteen years. Subsequently he engaged as a clerk for A.
  G. Wilson, and served in that capacity for five years. Then, in company with
  Mr. Mercer, he bought a store at Hookstown, which they very successfully
  conducted for five years. In August, 1898, this partnership was dissolved,
  and Mr. Bryan became sole proprietor. He is a man of enterprise and has
  endeavored to please his patrons by stocking his store with a comprehensive
  line of goods, including all articles in general use and for which there is a
  demand. He has been decidedly successful and his customers come from all over
  the surrounding country. Mr. Bryan owns considerable property, including a
  tract of forty-five acres of good farm land one mile from town, a house and
  lot in town, and six acres in the outskirts.
  
  In 1874, he was married to Isabella Swaney, a daughter of Thomas and Isabella
  Swaney, both of whom are now dead. This marriage resulted in the birth of the
  following offspring: Mary, born in 1874, who lives at home; John, born in
  1876; Thomas, born in 1878; Wallace, born in 1880; Joseph, born in 1883;
  Alfretta, born in 1886; Robert R., born in 1889; and Edward, born in 1896.
  Politically, Mr. Bryan is a Democrat, and served as postmaster during the
  administration of President Cleveland, and as justice of the peace for two
  terms. He was census taker of Independence township in 1882, and very
  satisfactorily performed his duty. He is also a member of the Beaver County
  Centennial Committee. Religiously, he is a faithful member of the United
  Presbyterian church.