A Portrait and Biographical Record of Hendricks County (Chicago: A.W. Bowen & Co., 1895)--pages 1095-1096
Richard B. Bryant, of Clay Township, Hendricks County, Ind., one of the old soldiers of the Civil War, and a native of Hendricks County, Ind., springs from sterling Irish and English ancestors on his father's side, and on his mother's side from German stock. Josiah Bryant, the grandfather of our subject, came from Ireland and settled in Virginia, and later became one of the original pioneers of Kentucky, settling in what is now known as Bryantsville, and was the founder of that town. To Mr. and Mrs. Bryant were born six children: William, John, Silas, Anderson, Woodson and Patience. William Bryant came to Hendricks County, Ind., as one of the pioneers, and his grandson, Silas J. Bryant, was the first white child born in Hendricks County, his birth taking place in Plainfield, March 18, 1820, and is now residing on the National Road, one and one-half miles east of Stilesville, in Franklin Township. Josiah Bryant died about 1835. John W. Bryant, son of above and father of our subject, was born in Kentucky, and married Mary Adams. To Mr. and Mrs. Bryant were born fourteen children. Mr. Bryant came to Hendricks County, Ind., about 1819, and settled in Plainfield, among the Indians, and before he died he cleared up seven farms, the last one being one and a half miles east of Stilesville, and comprising 400 acres. In his early days he was a soldier under Jackson in the War of 1812, and was at the battle of New Orleans. Mr. Bryant died aged sixty-six years. He had three sons in the Civil War: John B., Daniel P. and Richard B.
Richard B. Bryant was born October 16, 1835, in Clay Township, one mile east of Amo. He enlisted at Gosport, Owen County, Ind., November 1, 1861, in Company B, Fifty-ninth Regiment Indiana Infantry, as a private, and served thirteen months. He married in 1863, October 20, Abigail Newman, daughter of John and Mary (Blair) Newman. Mr. Newman was one of the pioneers of the county, from North Carolina. Mr. Bryant settled in Stilesville and engaged in the drug business for three years, and then came to Coatesville, in 1874, and engaged in the drug business, which he continued for fifteen years, and is now retired. He was very successful, and owns a farm of 100 acres. Mr. and Mrs. Bryant have seven children: Greeley W., Mary, Henry O., Robert, Rose, Laura and Clara.