BIO: Walter O'BRYAN, Centre County, PA

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Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania: Including 
the Counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion: Containing 
Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens, Etc. 
Chicago: J. H. Beers, 1898.
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  WALTER O'BRYAN is one of the most active and energetic agriculturists 
of College township, Centre county. His grandfather, Daniel O'Bryan, a 
native of Ireland, came to the United States when in his "teens," and 
kept an inn-a sort of half-way house-at Pine Grove, between Bellefonte 
and Huntingdon, Penn. There he died in 1880, at a ripe old age. In his 
family were three children: Nancy, who became the wife of Walter 
Graham, a stage owner, and died in Bellefonte in 1883; James, the 
father of our subject; and Martha, wife of William Butz, of California.
  James O'Bryan was born at Pine Grove in 1814. He received very 
ordinary educational advantages, but became a well-informed man, and 
engaged in teaching in early lie. In 1840 he opened a hotel in Pine 
Grove, where he died in 1868, of typhoid fever. In 1838 he married Miss 
Sarah Wingard, and they became the parents of eight children: Mrs. Mary 
Wingart, who for some time lived in Michigan, but is now a resident of 
Huntingdon, Penn.; George, who was born in 1838, and is engaged in 
merchandising in Adrian, Mich.; Daniel, who was born in 1840, and died 
during his service in the Union army; Walter, the subject of this 
review; James, who was born in 1844, and is a cabinetmaker of 
Bellefonte; Sarah, who was born in 1846, and died in Pine Grove in 
1887; Joseph, who was born in 1848, and is a contractor of Detroit; and 
Nancy, who was born in 1851, and is now Mrs. Glasgow, living near 
Anderson, Mifflin Co., Pennsylvania.
  The early home of our subject was near Yellow Springs, Blair Co., 
Penn., where he died May 29, 1842. In the schools of Pine Grove he 
received a very meager education, his first teacher being Mrs. Margaret 
Patton, and at the age of fifteen he began learning the miller's trade, 
which he followed for eight years in Pennsylvania Furnace. Subsequently 
he worked at lumbering in Clearfield county, this State, for two years, 
and then started on a prospecting tour through the Northwest, returning 
home April 14, 1867.
  On October 4, of the same year, Mr. O'Bryan was united in marriage 
with Miss Char-

394  COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.  

lotte Lytle, a daughter of Piercel and Lydia (Johnsonbaugh) Lytle, who 
resided near Pine Grove. Three children graced this union: James 
Piercel, born May 1, 1869, is at home; Gertrude, born July 21, 1873, is 
the wife of Homer Decker, a farmer living hear Bellefonte; and George, 
born September 29, 1878, is a student at the State College. After his 
marriage, Mr. O'Bryan purchased his present farm in College township of 
ninety-five acres, pleasantly situated on Whitehall road one-half mile 
south of State College. He has converted the place into one of the best 
farms of the locality, placing the fields under a high state of 
cultivation and making many excellent improvements.
  In his political views Mr. O'Bryan is a Democrat but takes no active 
part in politics aside from voting. Socially he was formerly a member 
of the Knights of Pythias lodge at Bellefonte, and now holds membership 
in Oak Hill Grange No. 169; in religious belief he is a worthy member 
of the Presbyterian Church. He has conformed his conduct to the old 
maxim that honesty is the best policy, and to-day no one is held in 
higher esteem in College township than Walter O'Bryan.