John O'Bryan was born February 14, 1798, in Mason County, Kentucky, a son of Peter O'Briant and Elizabeth (Betsy) Rennolds O'Briant. The O'Briant family came to Kentucky in the 1790's from Fauquier County, Virginia, and then moved to Pike County, Ohio, in the early 1800's. John's brothers and sisters were Malinda, Joseph, Cornelius, Alfred, William, Thomas, Wilford, Ille, Lavinia, and Peter. John married Eleanor Elliott on July 21, 1821, in Pike County, Ohio.
John was a farmer and for the next 29 years lived in Pike County among the O'Briant and the Elliott relatives. John and Eleanor were the parents of three sons: Joseph born in 1822; William born in 1823, and Hiram born in 1834.
In 1848, John's son, William rode westward on horseback and discovered the fertile land of Champaign County, Illinois. William returned and in the early summer of 1850, the family consisting of John and Eleanor and son Hiram; William and his wife, Sarah; and Joseph and his wife, Cornelia loaded their possessions in wagons and headed west to Champaign County. The trip was very slow and took them several weeks. In September 1850, the family went to the Danville Land Office and purchased land from the United States Government. They set out to build cabins and to tame the wild prairie for farming. They were one of the first families in this area of Champaign County and had to endure many hardships.
In 1853, John purchased 40 acres of timber land which was located a mile east of his cabin. John and his sons used this timber to improve their cabins. John was working in the timber when he became ill and over the next several days became steadily worse. He told his wife, Eleanor that if he died he wanted to be buried in the timber where he had been working. On March 16, 1855, John died and was laid to rest in the timber. His burial was the first grave in the O'Bryan Cemetery (a private family cemetery).
Source: Family Material passed down for generations.
John was a farmer and for the next 29 years lived in Pike County among the O'Briant and the Elliott relatives. John and Eleanor were the parents of three sons: Joseph born in 1822; William born in 1823, and Hiram born in 1834.
In 1848, John's son, William rode westward on horseback and discovered the fertile land of Champaign County, Illinois. William returned and in the early summer of 1850, the family consisting of John and Eleanor and son Hiram; William and his wife, Sarah; and Joseph and his wife, Cornelia loaded their possessions in wagons and headed west to Champaign County. The trip was very slow and took them several weeks. In September 1850, the family went to the Danville Land Office and purchased land from the United States Government. They set out to build cabins and to tame the wild prairie for farming. They were one of the first families in this area of Champaign County and had to endure many hardships.
In 1853, John purchased 40 acres of timber land which was located a mile east of his cabin. John and his sons used this timber to improve their cabins. John was working in the timber when he became ill and over the next several days became steadily worse. He told his wife, Eleanor that if he died he wanted to be buried in the timber where he had been working. On March 16, 1855, John died and was laid to rest in the timber. His burial was the first grave in the O'Bryan Cemetery (a private family cemetery).
Source: Family Material passed down for generations.
John O'Bryan was born February 14, 1798, in Mason County, Kentucky, a son of Peter O'Briant and Elizabeth (Betsy) Rennolds O'Briant. The O'Briant family came to Kentucky in the 1790's from Fauquier County, Virginia, and then moved to Pike County, Ohio, in the early 1800's. John's brothers and sisters were Malinda, Joseph, Cornelius, Alfred, William, Thomas, Wilford, Ille, Lavinia, and Peter. John married Eleanor Elliott on July 21, 1821, in Pike County, Ohio.
John was a farmer and for the next 29 years lived in Pike County among the O'Briant and the Elliott relatives. John and Eleanor were the parents of three sons: Joseph born in 1822; William born in 1823, and Hiram born in 1834.
In 1848, John's son, William rode westward on horseback and discovered the fertile land of Champaign County, Illinois. William returned and in the early summer of 1850, the family consisting of John and Eleanor and son Hiram; William and his wife, Sarah; and Joseph and his wife, Cornelia loaded their possessions in wagons and headed west to Champaign County. The trip was very slow and took them several weeks. In September 1850, the family went to the Danville Land Office and purchased land from the United States Government. They set out to build cabins and to tame the wild prairie for farming. They were one of the first families in this area of Champaign County and had to endure many hardships.
In 1853, John purchased 40 acres of timber land which was located a mile east of his cabin. John and his sons used this timber to improve their cabins. John was working in the timber when he became ill and over the next several days became steadily worse. He told his wife, Eleanor that if he died he wanted to be buried in the timber where he had been working. On March 16, 1855, John died and was laid to rest in the timber. His burial was the first grave in the O'Bryan Cemetery (a private family cemetery).
Source: Family Material passed down for generations.
John was a farmer and for the next 29 years lived in Pike County among the O'Briant and the Elliott relatives. John and Eleanor were the parents of three sons: Joseph born in 1822; William born in 1823, and Hiram born in 1834.
In 1848, John's son, William rode westward on horseback and discovered the fertile land of Champaign County, Illinois. William returned and in the early summer of 1850, the family consisting of John and Eleanor and son Hiram; William and his wife, Sarah; and Joseph and his wife, Cornelia loaded their possessions in wagons and headed west to Champaign County. The trip was very slow and took them several weeks. In September 1850, the family went to the Danville Land Office and purchased land from the United States Government. They set out to build cabins and to tame the wild prairie for farming. They were one of the first families in this area of Champaign County and had to endure many hardships.
In 1853, John purchased 40 acres of timber land which was located a mile east of his cabin. John and his sons used this timber to improve their cabins. John was working in the timber when he became ill and over the next several days became steadily worse. He told his wife, Eleanor that if he died he wanted to be buried in the timber where he had been working. On March 16, 1855, John died and was laid to rest in the timber. His burial was the first grave in the O'Bryan Cemetery (a private family cemetery).
Source: Family Material passed down for generations.
Gravesite Details
First Grave in the O'Bryan Cemetery (a private family cemetery).
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