San Francisco County
Biographies
Hon. William J. Bryan, the Postmaster of San
Francisco, is a native of Scotland, but emigrated to
America during his youth, settling first in Georgia. In the year 1855, he
made his way out to California when still but a boy in years and poor in
everything save energy, honor and a determination to succeed. He entered
the employment of the well-known early real-estate firm of Wainright,
Randall & Co., continuing with them until they finally went out of business
in1859. Then Mr. Bryan went into a drug-store to learn the business,
beginning at the lowest round, but gradually making his way upwards till he was
able to engage in business on his own account. Probably no one in the
drug trade to-day in San Francisco, or indeed upon the coast, is more widely or
favorably known than he, his store on Market street,
under the Grand Hotel, being the oldest continuous stand of all in the city,
having been located there in May, 1870. It is probably, too, that Mr.
Bryan is the longest established in the drug business of all on the coast.
In the election of 1882 he was elected to the office of County Recorder of San
Francisco, a position he held for two years, with satisfaction to the
public. In July, 1886, he was appointed by President Cleveland to his
present position of Postmaster of San Francisco, the third most important and difficult
postoffice in the country. He has filled the
position so honorably and so well, however, notwithstanding the fact the he is
confined in quarters intended to accommodate a business of vastly less
dimension, that there has not been a single well-founded complaint It is the general opinion that no one could have subserved the interests of department and people alike more
fully than has been done under his able business-like management.
In politics Mr. Bryan has always been a staunch Democrat. It is only,
however, within the past ten or fifteen years that he has taken an active share
in the councils of the party. His influence has always been for the
public good, and has aided more than a little in strengthening the hold of that
party upon public confidence in the city and State; Mr. Bryan is a man of
modest reserve, of sound judgment, of acknowledged ability, and with an
unblemished reputation.
In friendship he is steadfast and loyal, as careful to watch the interests of
another as of himself. In the best sense of the term he is a popular man,
true to duty and trusted by all to fulfill the duty to the letter.
Mr. Bryan was married in 1865, to Miss Sloan, a native of Missouri, from which
State she came with her parents in the early days. Her father, Mr.
Brawley, was a prominent dealer in real estate and was well-known in business
and commercial circles. Mr. and Mrs. Bryan have two sons, one of whom,
John Sloan, is engaged in the drug business, and the other, Jesse D., is now
attending school.
Transcribed 1-26-05
Marilyn R. Pankey.
Source:
"The Bay of San Francisco," Vol. 1, page 695, Lewis Publishing Co, 1892.
© 2005 Marilyn R. Pankey.