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Neri G. Bryan, 88, Civil War Veteran Dies at Dunbarton

Scores of friends of Neri G. Bryan, Civil War veterans and long resident of Santa Cruz county will regret to learn of the death of this prominent pioneer, who passed away yesterday morning at 9:10 o'clock at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Fred Season, at Dunbarton. The veteran made Santa Cruz his home from 1901 to 1918, when he removed to Los Gatos and remained there for five years during which time he was active in the G.A.R. organizations of both this city and Los Gatos. In 1923 he returned to Dunbarton and had since made that his home.

The funeral services will be held tomorrow afternoon at 1:30 o'clock with services in Aston and Neal's undertaking parlors at Watsonville.

Interment will be in Odd Fellows' cemetery.

Neri G. Bryan, was born Feb 27, 1840, near Jamestown, Ohio. When 8 years of age he moved with the family to Oskaloosa, Iowa. He enlisted September, 1861 at Davenport, Iowa, in Company H. 8th Iowa Infantry Regiment. His first active service was at Pittsburg Landing, in the celebrated "Hornets Nest Brigade" at the Battle of Shiloh. He was wounded and captured, just as the sun went down, April 6, 1862.

Active in the War

Later the prisoners were intercepted by the Union soldiers and saved from Libby Prison. Mr. Bryan was active in the Battle of Vicksburg, Mississippi, Red River, Louisiana and at Memphis Tennessee; he served until the end of the war and was discharged September, 1865, in Davenport, Iowa.

Married in 1866 to Mary Elizabeth Job (deceased) at Oskaloosa, Iowa, Mr. Bryan, after living more than 20 years at Montezuma, Iowa, moved to San Jose in 1887 and to Aromas in 1893.

In September, he married Martha M. Thurston of Los Gatos who survives him, together with the following children: Ross Bryan, San Leandro; Claude, Napa; Everett N. Bryan, Sacramento; Elis and Homer Bryan, Paicines; Ralph M and Jasper Bryan and Myrtle B. Season of Dunbarton.

Santa Cruz Sentinel (January 2, 1929)

Funeral of Former Santa Cruz Pioneer Held; Watsonville

"Watsonville, Jan 1- The funeral of Neri G. Bryan was held at Aston & Neal's funeral home 600 Main street, yesterday afternoon, this well known Civil War veteran being given a full military burial, a firing squad from Edward H Lorenson post of American Legion attending and lowering the flag draped casket into the Watsonville cemetery.

The Rev. Bayard H. Jones, rector of All Saints Episcopal Church, conducted the impressive chapel services, attended by a large number of friends and acquaintances who joined the bereaved family in paying a last loving tribute to his memory.

Owing to her illness and confinement at the home of a son at Los Gatos, the widow was unable to attend the burial of her mate. A son, Ralph M. Bryan, was also unable to attend his father's funeral, being confined to a hospital in San Francisco with illness..." (See article for complete list of attendees)

Date of Birth: 1840-02-27

Date of Death: 1928-29-12

County: Santa Cruz

Cemetery/City of Burial: Santa Cruz County

Plot: 13-28

Mortuary: A&N

Date of Marriage: 1866/

Spouse: Job_ Mary A

Religion: Ep

Last City: Dunbarton

Native of: OH

Enlisted: 1861/09/18

Discharged: 1864/09/28

Military Unit: IA_ 8 Inf_ Co H

Rank: Pvt

Military Notes: R-Osklsa_ W_P_-Shiloh

GAR#: M26

Available records used to obtain information:
Cemetery records
Santa Cruz County death records
Military records
Santa Cruz and Monterey newspapers
Voter Records

CW Reference: Cemetery Survey