Starting October 7, the San Jacinto Monument's Observation Floor will close for renovation, open on weekends, with discounted museum admission during this time.

Part of an old map of the San Jacinto area from the Texas Revolution

Veteran Bio

Texian Location:  Participant

The Kemp Sketch

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BRYAN, LUKE 0. -- Born at Berwick Bay, Louisiana, October 7, 1807, a son of Luke Bryan.

Mr. Luke Bryan, Sr. was born in Virginia, July 25, 1777, came to Texas with his family in 1834, and died in Liberty, Texas, February 28, 1841. His children were Luke 0., Pryor, John, Christopher, Kindallis, Thomas Berwick, Mary Ann and Joseph Bryan.

In Service Record No. 1212 it is certified that Luke O. Bryan was "Mustered into the service of the Texian army at Liberty on the 3rd ult and received by the Government at San Felipe de Austin on the 8th and honorably discharged December 16, 1835". He was Second Lieutenant in Captain S. C. Hirom's company of Liberty Volunteers. In Service Record No. 1212 it is also stated that Mr. Bryan served in Captain William Logan's Company from March 6 to June 6, 1836, when he was discharged at Goliad. He served as First Lieutenant in Captain Franklin Hardin's company from July 7 to October 7, 1836, when he was discharged at Liberty. On June 23, 1838 he was issued Donation Certificate No. 363 for 640 acres of land for having participated in the battle of San Jacinto and Bounty Certificate No. 3929 for 640 acres of land for having served in the army from March 6 to October 10, 1836. He was issued a Headright Certificate for a league and labor of land by the Liberty County Board and in it is stated that he came to Texas in 1834. He was never married.

Mr. Bryan died October 7, 1869, and is buried in the Bryan family cemetery near Liberty. The State of Texas had a monument erected at his grave in 1936.

John Bryan, brother of Luke Bryan, served in Captain Franklin Hardin's Company from July 7 to October 7, 1836.

Mary Jane Bryan, daughter of John Bryan, was married to Captain Benjamin Franklin Sterling, who was born in Mississippi in 1831 and died in 1917. Mrs. Sterling died in 1888.

Children of Benjamin F. and Mary Jane (Bryan) Sterling were (1) Samuel Houston, (2) Cora A., (3) Anniel L., (4) Franklin P., (5) Florence May, (6) John L., (7) Ross Shaw, (Governor of Texas) (8) Catherine, (9) Oliver B., (10) James B., (11) Benjamin Garland, (12) Albert A.

Written by Louis W. Kemp, between 1930 and 1952. Please note that typographical and factual errors have not been corrected from the original sketches. The biographies have been scanned from the original typescripts, a process that sometimes allows for mistakes in the new text. Researchers should verify the accuracy of the texts' contents through other sources before quoting in publications. Additional information on the veteran may be available in the Herzstein Library.


Battle Statistics

  • Died in Battle: No
  • Rank: Private
  • Company: Capt. William M. Logan

Personal Statistics

  • Alternate Names: Bryant
  • Date of Birth: 1807 Oct 7
  • Birthplace: Louisiana, Barwick Bay
  • Came to Texas: 1834
  • Date of Death: 1869 Oct 7
  • Burial Place: Bryan family cemetery, Liberty, Texas
  • Bounty Certificate: 3929
  • Donation Certificate: 363
  • Wife: none