History of Jefferson County Florida United States of America

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Biographies:

Mary (Edwards) Bryan, journalist, was born in Jefferson county, Fla., in 1846; daughter of Maj. John D. Edwards. In her childhood her father removed to Thomasville, Ca., where she enjoyed the advantage of excellent schools and made rapid progress in her studies. While at school she married Mr. Bryan, a wealthy Louisianian. She began to write for the press at an early age, her first journalistic experience being on the Literary and Temperance Crusader, of which she was literary editor. She was for some time a regular correspondent of the Southern Field and Fireside. In 1866 she assumed the editorship of the Natchitoches, La., Semi-Weekly Times, and in 1875 that of the Sunny South at Atlanta, Ga. To all of these journals she contributed sketches, stories, poems, and not infrequently political articles. In 1885 she went to New York to superintend the publication of her novels and was engaged as assistant editor of The Fashion Bazaar and The Fireside Companion. Subsequently she resigned this position and, returning to Atlanta, assumed editorial charge of The Old Homestead, a monthly magazine, which gained both circulation and high literary standing under her management. The more popular of her works are: "Manch" (1879); "Wild Work; a Story of the Red River Tragedy" (1881); and "The Bayou Bride" (1886).

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

Samuel Pasco, senator, was born in London, England, June 28, 1834; son of John and Amelia (Nash) Pasco, and grandson of Samuel Pasco of Launceston and of Edward Nash of London. His father brought him to Prince Edward Island in 1842, and thence in 1844 to Charlestown, Mass. He was graduated at the Charlestown high school in 1854; at Harvard college, A.B., 1858, and was principal of the Waukeenah academy, Jefferson county, Fla., 1859-61. He enlisted in the Confederate service, Aug. 10, 1861, as a private in the 3d Florida volunteers, which regiment in 1862 formed a part of Bragg's army in the Kentucky campaign, and was later in Breckinridge's division in Tennessee, Mississippi and Georgia. At the battle of Missionary Ridge he was left on the field severely wounded and remained a prisoner until a few weeks before the war closed when he returned to Florida. He was again principal of the Waukeenah academy, 1865-66; clerk of the circuit court, Monticello, 1866-68, and was admitted to the bar in 1868, forming a partnership with Col. William S. Dilworth, his preceptor, who died in 1869, leaving a large practice. He was married, Oct. 28, 1869, to Jessie, daughter of William and Elizabeth (Scott) Denham. He was elected a member of the Democratic state committee in 1872, was its chairman 1876-88, and a Democratic Presidential elector in 1880. He represented his state on the Democratic national committee, 1880-1900, and in the Democratic state convention of 1884 received for a time a plurality of votes as the nominee for governor, but withdrew his name to prevent a deadlock, and upon his motion Edward A. Perry, his leading competitor, obtained the nomination. He was unanimously chosen president of the state constitutional convention in 1885, and was a representative in the state legislature, 1886-87, being speaker of the house. He was elected U.S. senator in April, 1887, and took his seat, Dec. 5, 1887, his term expiring March 3, 1893, when he was appointed by Governor Henry L. Mitchell to fill the office ad interim. When the legislature met in April, he was renominated by acclamation and unanimously re-elected for the term expiring March 3, 1899. Being again appointed to fill the office ad interim by Governor William D. Bloxham, he served until the election of James Piper Taliaferro by the legislature, April 19, 1899. In the 53rd congress he was chairman of the committee on claims. On June 10, 1899, he was appointed a member of the Isthmian Canal commission.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

History of Jefferson County Florida

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