John W. Bryson, M. P.

Notes:

The village of Bryson in Quebec was named after John Bryson and incorporated in 1873. A fire in 1914 heavily damaged the village which then lay dormant for ten years.

John was a Conservative Member of Parliament for Pontiac and served between 1882 to 1891 and then again between 1892 until his death in 1896. Together with his brother he formed the firm of J. and G. Bryson.

Died:
?b?Obituary - John Bryson?/b?

Ottawa Journal - January 20, 1896 -
Death of John Bryson - The Conservative M.P. For Pontiac Passes Away - But Forty-seven Years of Age - A Representative of the County Since 1882 - Sudden Attack of Disease on a Recent Lumbering Trip with Mr. Alexander Fraser

John Bryson, Conservative M.P. for Pontiac county, died at Fort Coulonge yesterday morning. The news was received in Ottawa with surprise and by many with deep regret. Few public men in the Ottawa Valley were better or more favorably known than the late Mr. Bryson. His death was very sudden, so sudden indeed that many friends did not know of his illness previous to the announcement of his death.

A week ago last Tuesday, accompanied by Mr. Fraser of this city, Mr. Bryson left on an inspection of his lumber business on the Coulonge river. Mr. Fraser speaking to The Journal this morning regarding the trip, stated that Mr. Bryson was in good health when they started. The distance to the limits was ninety miles from the mouth of the Coulonge river. After three days drive they reached the shanties. On Friday they went out and inspected the logs that had been cut, Mr. Bryson feeling in the best of spirits.

That evening Mr. Bryson took ill in the shanty. Saturday he was no better and Sunday he was worse. Fearing that Mr. Bryson was in the first stages of typhoid fever or some serious disease, Mr. Fraser says he urged him to start for home. Fixing Mr. Bryson up comfortably in a sleigh, the homeward journey was begun Tuesday morning. They reached Mr. Bryson's home at Fort Coulonge on Wednesday afternoon, at five o'clock. Medical attendance was at once procured. Dr. Klock, who was the medical attendant, saw that Mr. Bryson's illness was chronic and that death could not be averted, suffering as he was from heart-failure. Mr. Bryson lingered on until early yesterday morning when he expired.

Mr. Bryson was born Nov. 30, 1849, the second son of Hon. George Bryson. He went into the lumbering and farming business and did well, but always showed a liking for public work. He became Mayor of Mansfield in 1882, and in the same year was elected to parliament in the Conservative interest. The vote was Bryson, 1,047, N. McCuaig, Liberal, 931, and W. Somerville, Independent, 293. At the general election of 1887, he was again successful, defeating Thos. Craig, Liberal, by 1,681 to 966.

In 1891, there was another three cornered contest. Mr. Bryson was opposed by Thomas Murray, Liberal, and H. McLean, equal rights, and the vote resulted: Murray 1,100, Bryson 795, McLean 787. But, Mr. Murray, being unseated, Mr. Bryson defeated him in the by-election the following year.

Mr. Bryson was connected with a number of private enterprises. He was president of the Pontiac Telephone Company, and a director of the Crow River and Coulonge Boom Co.

He was twice married. His first wife, married in 1874, Miss Mary Bryson, daughter of Thomas Bryson, M.P.P., of Fort Coulonge, died some years back. Less than two years ago, Mr. Bryson married Miss White, of Montreal, who survives him, as well as two children, one boy seventeen years of age, and the other a girl aged seven months. One of Mr. Bryson's children, it will be remembered, was asphyxiated with her grandmother while visiting friends in Montreal. Mr. Bryson was a prominent Presbyterian.

The funeral will take place to-morrow afternoon, at two o'clock. A special train will leave Aylmer for Fort Coulonge on the arrival of the Ottawa 9:30 train tomorrow morning to attend the funeral of the late John Bryson, M.P., returning after the funeral.

John married Mary Christina Bryson on 30 Dec 1874 in Fort Coulonge, Pontiac County, Quebec, Canada. Mary (daughter of Thomas Bryson and Jane Fumerton) was born on 4 Jul 1854 in Fort Coulonge, Pontiac County, Quebec, Canada; died on 22 Sep 1892 in Fort Coulonge, Pontiac County, Quebec, Canada. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

John married Mary Henrietta Whyte on 31 Jan 1894 in Montreal, Montreal Region, Quebec, Canada. Mary (daughter of Robert Wyte and Anne Hennard) was born on 1 Mar 1866 in Montreal, Montreal Region, Quebec, Canada; died on 18 Apr 1940 in Montreal, Montreal Region, Quebec, Canada. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Died:
Ottawa Citizen - February 21, 1942 - George J. Bryson, Prominent Citizen, Passes in Capital - Widely Known Member of Ottawa Valley Family Dies After Long Illness


George J. Bryson, a member of a prominently known Ottawa Valley family, died at his home, 300 Cooper Street, this morning at the age of 64 years. Mr. Bryson, who had been in indifferent health for two years, was confined to bed for the past six months.


A son of the late John Bryson, a former member of Parliament for Pontiac, and of Mary C. Bryson, he was born at Fort Coulonge in November, 1877, and spent the earlier part of his life there, having been engaged in the lumbering business with his father.


Coming to Ottawa 40 years ago after having received his education in Lennoxville and Belleville, he was a keen sportsman and athlete. Football, lacrosse and hockey were his favorite sports, and after his playing days were over, he followed with enthusiasm the fortunes of the old Silver Seven hockey team, the Capital Lacrosse Club, and the Ottawa Rough Riders Football Club. He was a member of the executive of the latter club.


While in Ottawa, Mr. Bryson looked after the lumbering interests of the lumber company which bore his father's name, and was also engaged in real estate operations. He had a host pf friends both in the Capital and throughout the Ottawa Valley.


Mr. Bryson was the only surviving charter member of the Laurentian Club. Prominent in social and fraternal organizations, he was a member of the Royal Ottawa Golf Club, the Rideau Club and Country Club. He worshipped at St. Andrew's Presbyterian church.


His passing will be widely mourned by hundreds of residents of Ottawa and district who were aided by his charitable contributions. Mr. Bryson went about his philanthropic work quietly and his kindly acts won him many friends.


Surviving are his widow; two aunts, Mrs. James W. Hennessy and Mrs. A.H. Leggo, both of Fort Coulonge, Que., and two step-sisters, Mrs. Gordon Berry and Miss Ethel Bryson, both of Montreal.


The funeral will be held from the parlors of George H. Rogers, Limited, 172 Elgin Street, to Fort Coulonge, for burial. The date and time have not yet been arranged.

George married Florence Helena Vandervoort on 19 Sep 1900 in Hastings County, Ontario, Canada. Florence was born on 4 Jun 1878 in Picton, Prince Edward County, Ontario, Canada; died on 7 Dec 1954 in Belleville, Hastings County, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• _STAT: Never Married

Notes:

Died:
?b?Death Was Due to Asphyxiation.
?/b?One of the saddest enquiries that has ever come before a coronor's jury in this city was the inquest yesterday on the bodies of Mrs. Thomas Bryson, of Fort Coulonge near Ottawa, and her 11-year -old granddaughter. The deceased and her grnd-child arrived in the city on Monday evening and at once went to the residence of Mrs. White, 388 Mountain street, where they had been expected as guests. At 11 o'clock in the evening both retired, and when morning came they were dead. Investigation at the inquest showed that the deaths were due to asphyxiation through a leaking gas cock. The evidence showed that the cock was loose and turned completely around, and the presumption was that the deceased lady, after turning the gas off, had turned it on again. The Jury decided that the deaths were purely accidental, and returned a vertict to that effect, with no blame attached to the residents of the house. the deceased is a relative of Hon. George Bryson, and of Mr. John Bryson, M.P for Pontiac.

?b?Jane Fumerton & Robina Bryson Obituary

?/b?Sad Fate of Mrs Thos Bryson and Granddaughter.

The bodies of Mrs Thomas Bryson and her grandchild, of Fort Coulonge, who were asphyxiated in Montreal last Monday night were taken to Fort Coulonge for interment.

The story of how Mrs. Bryson and her grandchild met their death is peculiarly sad. Mrs. Bryson who is 60 years of age, with her grandchild, 11 years old, were visiting a friend, Mrs. White at 388 Mountain street, Montreal. Mrs Bryson, when she retired about 11 o'clock, was in the best of health and spirits. In order to prevent any accident, Mrs. White went to Mrs Bryson's room and showed her how to turn off the gas. This was the last time Mrs. Bryson was seen alive. At 6 o'clock next morning Mrs. White and her daughter prepared breakfast, expecting that their guests would be down about 7 o'clock. Leaving her daughter and her son, Mr. R. White, of the Royal Electric Co. to wait breakfast for Mrs. Bryson and her grandchild, Mrs. White left the house for half an hour to make some small purchases. When she returned shortly after 7 o'clock she was told by her daughter that Mrs. Bryson and her grandchild were still in their room. "Well, they must be tired and we shall let them sleep a little longer," replied Mrs. White. The time wore on, yet not a sound was heard from Mrs. Bryson's room. Finally, a little after 8 o'clock, Mrs. White went up to the room, knocked at the door several times and called her friend's name but got no response. Her fears were then aroused and she called to her son and daughter to come and see if anything was wrong. Mr. White opened the door in great agitation and rushed into the room, followed by his mother and sister. The room was full of gas, which for an instant made them draw back half choked. A heartrending picture met their view. Lying on the bed, dead, were Mrs. Bryson and her grandchild. The little one's head lay on her grandmother's arm in a restful manner; she looked just as if asleep. Mrs. White ran over to the bedside, took the little one's hand and Mrs. Bryson's in her own, and then cried out in terrified tones, "They are cold. They are both dead." Mr. White ran at once for Dr. Cameron, but medical aid could do nothing. The doctor examined the room and found that the gas had not altogether been turned off. An inquest was held and the jury brought in a verdict of accidental death. Investigations showed that the deaths were due to a leaking gas cock which was loose and had been turned completely around. It is supposed old Mrs. Bryson turned the gas off and then accidently turned it on again. The late Mrs. Bryson is mother-in-law of Mr John Bryson, M.P., and the child his only daughter. The child was about eleven years of age, and very active. Her mother died about a year ago.

The funeral was one of the largest ever seen in Bryson evincing the deep sympathy felt for the family in their double bereavement.

Mary married Henry Gordon Berry on 2 Dec 1924 in Montreal, Montreal Region, Quebec, Canada. Henry was born on 20 Nov 1886 in Trenton, Hastings County, Ontario, Canada; died on 18 Mar 1973 in Montreal, Montreal Region, Quebec, Canada. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]