William Edward Bryant
b. 25 June 1880, Rosedale, Parke County, Indiana, to William Cleaster and Julia Louise (Grindle) Bryant
d. 29 May 1934, Devils Lake, Ramsey County, North Dakota

m/1. 16 May 1904, Vigo County, Indiana
Margaret “Maggie” Sarah Devonald
b. 25 January 1885, Merthyr Tydfil, South Wales, to James Lewis and Margaret Sarah (Lewis) Devonald
d. 13 November 1973, Terre Haute, Vigo County, Indiana

m/2. 1 June 1912, Devils Lake, Ramsey County, North Dakota
Dora Lillian Williams
b. about 1890

Children with Margaret Sarah Devonald:
• Gladys Marie (1905-1993) married (1) Clarence Albert Cornell, (2) Glenn Winter Jones

William remained in the Rosedale area of Parke County, Indiana, until late 1904, when he left for North Dakota to take up homestead near Ryder. He later worked for the McClure Coal Company at Minot and in 1911 went to Devils Lake to be employed at the Stevens Grain and Fuel Co.

A prominent member of the Masonic bodies, William served as Master Mason of West Lodge in Minot and later transferred to the Minnewaukan chapter in Devils Lake. He served as commander of the Cyrene Commandery of the Knights Templar during 1932 and 1933, was a member of Doric chapter, Royal Arch Masons, of the Scottish Rite bodies, and of Kent Temple Knights of the Mystic Shrine at Grand Forks. William was also a member of the Elks, serving as past noble grand of the I.O.O.F. lodge and an active member of the B.P.O.E. He held the first three stations of the Elks until moving to the west and figured prominently in the activities of that group. He was secretary of the Devils Lake Rotary club for several years.

At the time of his death he owned the Lake Fuel Company, which he had purchased from the Stevens Grain and Fuel Company several years before.

Submitted by:
Jennifer Cruse
Terre Haute IN
E-mail: jencruse@msn.com