James Bryden
FATHER
James Bryden
Born Dec. 6, 1820
Died Nov. 26, 1881
Photo Credit: Rosa G. Gonzales
- Corpus Christi History by Murphy Givens
Corpus Christi Caller Times (November 3, 1999). Available on microfilm.
- Corpus Christi History by Murphy Givens
Corpus Christi Caller Times (February 16, 2000). Available on microfilm.
- Corpus Christi History by Murphy Givens
Corpus Christi Caller Times (December 13, 2000). Available on microfilm.
- Corpus Christi History by Murphy Givens
Corpus Christi Caller Times (July 4, 2001). Available on microfilm.
- Corpus Christi History by Murphy Givens
Corpus Christi Caller Times (June 7, 2002). Available on microfilm.
- Corpus Christi History by Murphy Givens
Corpus Christi Caller Times (October 19, 2005). Available on microfilm.
- Corpus Christi History by Murphy Givens
Corpus Christi Caller Times (February 13, 2008). Available on microfilm.
- Biography
James Bryden and Janet Carnes, natives of Peebleshire, Scotland, were married and sailed from Glasbrook, Scotland on one of the early sailing vessels for Corpus Christi, Texas, arriving here in the year 1852 like others attracted by Col. Kinney's agents advertising special deals on land in south Texas. Others who came about the same time include the Corkills and McGregors. Mr. Bryden immediately went into the cattle business on a large scale and for a number of years drove his cattle to the market at Kansas City in company with Captain King of the famous King Ranch. Letters written by James while on the trail (and printed in the local paper) can also be found on this website. Janet was a business woman. She purchased and sold ranches and tracts of land in the area. Janet purchased the Centennial House and between the years 1870-1878, the Bryden family occupied the house on the bluff (built by Forbes Britton). They are found there in the 1870 census (p 1 59A), living near the Dowd family and Richard Powers family. At that time James is listed as a 46 year old stock driver. It is said, that during their occupation of the house James and Janet Bryden provided shelter for those fleeing from the Noakes Raid of 1875. James and Janet eventually bad five children and were active members of the First Presbyterian Church. Their two older daughters were married while the Brydens resided at the home on the bluff. In 1878 their second daughter, Maggie, married W. 0. Staples, and in 1879 Janet sold the house on N. Upper Broadway to the newly weds. By the 1880 census, James Bryden was a superintendent on the "Santa Gertrudis" Ranch in Nueces County (1880 federal census of Nueces County, page 66B). Janet was living with some of the children and grandchildren on a ranch she personally owned in Nueces County (1880 census p. 38A). The oldest of the children of James and Janet Bryden were born in Scotland. The 1860 census reports that Mary (10 years old) and John (8 years old) were born in Scotland while James (6 years old) and Margaret (3 years old) were born in Texas. Actually a later newspaper articles notes that John was born at sea while the family was on their way to the coastal bend. Little John's life ended tragically when he drown in the Nueces River at the age of 11. The Bryden's youngest child was daughter Jessie. Mary Bryden married Frank E. Barnard. James Bryden married Millie McIntyre of old Nuecestown. Margaret Bryden married W. Oscar Staples. Jessie Bryden married W. H. Griffen. James, Janet, their son John, and numerous other members of the Staples family can all be found in Old Bayview Cemetery. The Brydens represent the early families from Scotland that came to the Corpus Christj area at the time of the 1852 Texas Fair sponsored by Kinney to promote sales and development of his large land holdings in this area. In the following months of 1852 Corpus Christi would officially be proclaimed an incorporated city and elect the first mayor.
Research and transcription: Michael A. Howell
- News item, 1874
By the last steamer, Mr. James Bryden arrived at Rockport with a shipment of fine cattle for Capt. M. Kenedy. Mr. B. selected the stock in person, and from the statements made by the Picayune, we judge them to be admirably adapted to this climate. This is the second importation of fine cattle made by the Capt. within a very short time, and his example we hope may be followed by others of our stock raisers.
Source: Corpus Christi Weekly Gazette, Janaury 10, 1874, p. 2, col. 1
Research by: Msgr. Michael A. Howell
Transcription by: Geraldine D. McGloin, Nueces County Historical Commission - News items
Announcement of two letters
The two letters from our fellow townsman, Mr. Jas. Bryden, which we announced for publication last week, will be found in this issue of the VALLEY. Our stock raisers will do well to peruse them, as much valuable information is given by one of their number who writes from experience, and what he knows. We publish the letters entire for the benefit of our stock raising community, most of whom are well acquainted with Mr. Bryden.
Source: Nueces Valley, January 17, 1872, Page 3, col. 1
___Letter #1- The Texas Cattle Trade
Letter from a prominent stock dealer, Wichita, June 15, 1872
To the Editor of the Commonwealth,
Since the opening of the Texas cattle trade this summer, much has been said in public and in private in relation to its prospects, and advantages and disadvantages. Several journals in this state, and several out of it have also alluded to it as a traffic affecting in some
degree the commercial interests of both Texas and Kansas. Since the commencement of that trade, only in one instance has it failed to affect favorably the interests of that great stock producing state which annually sends thither in search of markets, such vast numbers of horn
cattle: we allude to last season, 1871. In calling your attention to this subject, Mr. Editor, permit me to say that for the last twenty years we have been connected with the stock raising interests of that state, in various ways, and that this is the third summer in which we
have been connected with this Texas and Kansas cattle trade. Perhaps space could be found in your popular journal for a brief review of that trade in its present aspects, by a Texas Drover. Let the cowboy in this instance give his own plain, unvarnished ideas of his
favorite avocation. Let him talk of driving, of selling, and of shipping, as Texans generally talk over all their business matters; in other words, telling what he knows about cattle driving.
Let me look at it in 1870, and properly speaking there was but one railroad and only two or three shipping points, and let us compare that period of the history of cow driving with the present improved condition of railroads. Now we have another railroad- the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe commodiously equipped, with all the necessary conveniences for
shipping possessed by the former in 1870; and by that means, Mr. Editor, Texan have a choice. This is a decided improvement in favor, this time, of he drover. At best, Mr. Editor, the trip generally one undertaken in the spring of the year, is a long, tedious, and expensive one and it is not any longer to be wondered at if the Texan gives his preference to that railroad with which he first comes in contact.
...
If all other advantages are equal, why should it be otherwise, and to be otherwise would be at variance with the Texas shrewdness and strict drover economy. Let us suppose: a gentleman living one mile from Kansas City, had to make an annual trip to New York, Chicago, or St. Louis- and let us suppose him refusing to enter the cars at Kansas City, preferring
rather to travel to Leavenworth and there take the cars for some one of the above mentioned cities. There would not, we imagine be much traveling economy in such a course as this; besides, whatever his neighbors might think of this waste of time and means, a Texan will most assuredly think his judgment at fault and conclude that he suffered serious personal inconvenience. Now, two years ago, we had to drive to Abilene, Solomon, Salina and
Ellsworth, in search of markets and shipping points. We could not help ourselves. On the line of our great Texas cattle trail these were the first points reached. The case is quite different now. The Atchison, Topeka, & Santa Fe road has been completed to Wichita, about 100 miles
further south, making the distance from Red River to the first shipping point 100 miles less then two years ago. This being the case, and several advantages being in favor of Wichita, we shall shortly come to them. What astonishes us is the fact, that we have discovered several Texans in the same boat with the Kansas City man, refusing to stop,
graze, or ship, and that too by a road whose arrangements are exquisitely complete, and whose officers are accommodating and polite, and unexcelled by those of any other road east or west. Betrayed dividing itself between Ellsworth and Wichita, seems to us at least
ridiculous, leaving behind the valleys of the Mimisch of Slate, of Chikispi and of Bluff, and traveling full 100 miles to enjoy the disadvantages of a country less inviting, also rugged and broken, and finally to ship from a point at least fifty miles further from any eastern market, by rail.
...
We belong to no railroad, never did, and in all probability never shall, but we believe in sound Texas economy. We do not believe in driving cattle fully one hundred miles unnecessarily because some K. P. railroad agent read a cock and bull story. Some, we are aware, contracted to deliver cattle at Ellsworth; we would not refer to anyone whose business arrangements called them there, or even further; we only allude to those who gave them preference under such disadvantaged circumstances; and to several excellent men who we
have reason to believe now deeply regret their action in the matter.
With reference to range, we had opportunities in 1870 and '71 to test and compare them. South of Wichita extending to the state line, there is an extensive pastoral country, covered by every variety of the softest and richest grasses known on this western continent, traversed from west to east by the four streams already alluded to, and again from north to
south between each of these rivers, by numerous intersecting tributaries, giving to the entire section a superiority over any other yet discovered by stock raisers in this or any other state in the union. In turning out to graze on these streams the Texan frequently finds the
native citizen owner, the bison unwilling to yield to long horns, it is with the utmost reluctance that he leaves his time honored haunts and turns his face west; It is also, however, one of the best evidences of the fertility of the soil. of the richness of the pasturage, and of the general adaptability of this entire section to the purpose for which we at present require it to wit: preparing our cattle for shipment to eastern markets.
...
We have now mentioned a few, omitting many and exaggerating none, of the advantages of this new shipping point, calculated in the immediate future to become the greatest shipping point in the west. One hundred and fifty thousand head of Texan cattle have already entered the State. Suppose we estimate them as in former years at one fourth shipping and
suppose we estimate the number yet to arrive at fifty thousand more, and we can form some idea of the amount of Texas stock intended for northern and eastern markets during the present summer. In connection with the above, we notice a cattle circular published in
Wichita, which says: the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad, in connection with Chicago & Southwestern, constitute a new and short route from the Arkansas River to Chicago nearer than any other competing route. Banking firms from Galveston and San Antonio, Texas, are on the ground, in order to assist and accommodate the Texans. All together there is all interest taken in and facility offered to Texans this season, and at this point, which were never offered since the commencement of the trade, either by individuals, railroads or bankers.
James Bryden
Source: Nueces Valley, August 17,1872, Page 1, col. 6-7
___
Letter #2- Indian Affair
Caldwell, Sumner Co., Kansas
June 28, 1872
Ed. Eagle; - Our usual quiet town was yesterday thrown into an alarming state of excitement in consequence of news being brought in from Pond Creek agency Indian Territory, that the Indians were at open war, and had attacked the above place about 10:00 o'clock a.m., run off nine head of horses, killed and scalped the herder, a youth of about seventeen
years of age, named Thomas Best, and were, at the time the messengers left conducting themselves in a threatening manner toward Mssrs. E. M. Sewell & Co., managers of this agency. Such was he anxiety of our citizens, that preparations were made and six
men mounted and armed, started about 10 o'clock p.m. in order to reach the place about daybreak, and if possible ascertain the true condition
of affairs at the post.We may here state that this agency is located on the Salt Fork of the
Arkansas River 155 miles north of Ft. Sill, and 75 miles north, also of Cheyenne Agency, 25 miles south of he Kansas state line, close to the cattle trail which enters the state at Caldwell. Several hundred men being engaged in driving stock along this great thoroughfare at this season of the year, hence our anxieties were increased.
On arriving at daylight we discovered several herds in the vicinity, which we visited one by one, where we ascertained, that one the previous day the Indians continued to make all sorts of demonstrations, both in the vicinity of the agency, and around the cattle, but that beyond
taking a steer from one herd, two from another and four from a third, no more serious depredations had been committed, and no person had been killed or otherwise injured. Turning then toward the agency, we lost no time in reaching the place, and there soon found that all were greatly alarmed, and had also been most providently saved by a number of
friendly Osages, being at he agency trading, and that the real state of affairs were only understood by the managers themselves, and that so far we were almost in ignorance of the difficulty and amount of danger threatening us.
Mr. Huffaker informed us that several Indians belonging to Big Hill's
tribe of Osages had come in that morning and that all was quiet as usual, when all at once the animals belonging to the agency were discovered in motion and seemed as if caught by some sudden fit of wild excitement. Some of the leading Indians started at once from the store to ascertain the cause, and soon returned to state that thirty Kiowa Indians had captured the horses, nine in number, killed the herder, and were then in the act of taking off the young man's scalp. Mr. H. then urged them to return and remonstrate, prevent further mischief, and demand the horses. When this demand was made, the Kiowa refused, saying
that they were on the warpath, in three different directions, and that they intended to drive every white man north of the Arkansas River. One of their chiefs said his son had been murdered on the border, and that he should have revenge. They had commenced, and would continue to make raids till frost came.
They then commenced moving off in a northwestern direction. When we remember the reservation proper of these Kiowas lies south and west of Sill, in the Wichita Mountains, stretching to the Red River, and along the panhandle of Texas, and that they had traveled between two and three hundred miles to commit these depredations, we then have some idea of the determination by which they are actuated. Mr. H. has reported the affairs to the Hon. Enoch Hoag, superintendent of Indian Affairs, Lawrence, Kansas, and seems confident that the proper authorities will take prompt measures to check the savages. He recommends the citizens to avoid buffalo hunting, for the present, request them to be watchful along the line of the territory, and thinks applications should be made by those living in small settlements for
arms guns of long range. We believe he elicited, through the friendly Osages, much valuable information in respecting the intended operations of the tribes now in revolt during the coming summer.
James Bryden
Source: Nueces Valley, August 17, 1872, Page 2,col. 5
Research by: Msgr. Michael A. Howell
Transcription by: Geraldine D. McGloin, Nueces County Historical Commission