"Portrait and Biographical Record of Portland and Vicinity, Oregon." Authors: "a
compilation of this work....by a number of writers".  Chapman Publishing Co;
Chicago, 1903. p. 761.
 
OMAR J. BRYANT

     Many of the little towns of Columbia and other counties in Oregon have
sprung into existence upon the busy farm of some ambitious pioneer, who, wiser
than his fellows, has foreseen advantages of location, and proceeded to interest
others in his new project.  These founders of municipalities are entitled to
special mention among the upbuilders of this state, and such an one was Elihu G.
Bryant, the father of Omar J., and upon whose well tilled acres the hamlet of
Bryantville, now Clatskanie, has been built.
     Omar J. Bryant, one of the prominent farmers of Columbia county, was born
near Crawfordsville, Montgomery county, Ind., October 19, 1828, and is the
oldest son born to Elihu G. and Nancy (Crane) Bryant, the other children being
as follows:  Mary C., the wife of Reuben Lockwood; Zepaniah, a resident of
Clatskanie; Hannah, the wife of E. W. Conyers; Elvira, deceased; and Elihu S.,
living at Clatskanie.  Elihu G. Bryant was born in New Jersey, and farmed for
many years in Montgomery county, Ind.  In 1852 he started across the plains with
his family, the time honored ox-teams furnishing the means of locomotion, and
the journey covering the greater part of six months.  The first winter on the
coast was spent in Portland, and in February of 1853, Elihu took up a donation
claim of three hundred and twenty acres of land, upon a portion of which
Bryantville, now Clatskanie, was built.  Upon this farm Mr. Bryant spent by far
the best and most useful years of his life, and on his well tilled acres he
passed away in 1893, he having been born in 1804, and was therefore eighty-nine
years of age.  He was a farmer, stock-raiser, dairyman and lumberman, and in all
of these departments of activity displayed rare business judgment and foresight.
He was a Republican in politics, but never aspired to office.  His wife died at
the age of fifty-three years.
     After coming to Oregon with his father in 1852, Omar J. Bryant lived on the
old farm of his sire until 1861, in which year he went to eastern Oregon and
engaged in mining and prospecting.  He was quite successful in this line of
activity, and was one of the discoverers of the famous Powder River mines at
Baker City.  After three years as a miner Mr. Bryant came back to Clatskanie,
and May 28, 1872, married Mrs. Margaret J. Rice, widow of James Rice, and
daughter of Cyrus and Faraba Polson, natives of Virginia.  By her former husband
Mrs. Bryant had three children, of whom Dan lives near the home farm; Sarah E.
is the widow of James Fiske; and James lives near Clatskanie.  To Mr. and Mrs.
Bryant were born two sons, Ulysses and Omar, both of whom are deceased.  After
his marriage Mr. Bryant moved to the farm which he had purchased in 1866, and
which still continues to be his home.  While living on this farm he engaged in
the saw-mill business with his brother for more than twenty years, and the
brothers worked up a very large trade with Portland, Astoria and other towns.
Besides owning their own saw-mill they found it necessary to buy a steamer for
transporting their lumber to market, and this craft, known as the Gazelle, plied
the Columbia and Willamette for many years, burdened with its heavy loads of
forest products.  The lumber business necessitated the employment of from twenty
to twenty-five men, and after getting a fair start the brothers netted
themselves handsome incomes.
     The Bryant farm consists of one hundred and ninety acres of land, a large
portion of which is under cultivation.  Besides raising general farm products,
he has some of the land planted to fruit, and also raises stock to some extent.
Also Mr. Bryant is interested in other farm lands, being the owner of several
town lots in Clatskanie.  Mr. Bryant claims the distinction of being the oldest
living resident of Clatskanie, which was named after the Clatskanie Indians and
was originally spelled Clatskani.  The last chief of the tribe was for many
years a warm friend of Mr. Bryant, who often gave him employment of his farms.
Politically he is a Republican, but has never desired to hold office.  He is
popular and highly thought of in his locality, and is accounted one of the
public spirited and thoroughly reliable members of the community.
     
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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in December 2006 by Diana Smith.
Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned
above.