Photos
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Samuel Bryson
Sources
The First 100 Years in Woodruff, Keith L. Putnam, Woodruff Centennial CommitteeFind a Grave
Birth: Apr. 11, 1845
Belfast (Down), County Down, Northern Ireland
Death: Sep. 3, 1919, Provo, Utah County, Utah, USA
Samuel Bryson, one of the Woodruff Pioneers, was born April 11, 1845, at Bainbridge,
County Down, Ireland, a son of Samuel and Sarah Ann Conrey Bryson. At the age of ten years,
he came with his father's family to Utah as converts to the Church and made their home at
Bountiful, Utah, where he lived until the fall of 1871 when he came to Woodruff to make
his home. He married Tryphena Fairchild on May 25, 1867. His family at that time consisted
of his wife, two small children and his wife's mother, Tyrphena Pomeroy Fairchild.
At one time, because of the rigorous climate, Samuel decided to investigate the opportunities
of Southern Utah. The company he joined going South proved to be the famous "Hole in the
Rock Expedition", a hazardous experience. He returned home and lived in Woodruff the rest
of his days.
He helped to build a new community with its roads, ditches and water project. He provided
for a growing family and both he and Trypena were faithful church workers. He was one of
the first from the Woodruff Ward to fill a mission. He spent two and one half years in the
Northern States in 1883. He was in the superintendency of the first Sunday School organized
in the ward and held that position for 25 years. He spent many years as a Seventy in the
Stake and traveled on missionary assignments from Almy Wyoming on the south to Soda Springs,
Idaho on the north, a distance that took almost a week to travel with team and wagon.
When the Woodruff Stake was created, he served on the High Council.
They first lived in the town proper but to be closer to his work, he built a home on his
farm which was east of town and moved his family there. They lived there until he built
the home on the corner of Main and Center Street.
Samuel Bryson died September 3, 1919 and is buried in the Woodruff Cemetery.
Samuel and Tryphena were parents of nine children: Sarah Tryphena, John Samuel, Eliza Snow
(the first white girl born in Woodruff), charles Melvin, Ellen, David Hyrum, Margaret,
Wilford Woodruff and Luther Pomeroy.
Right-click [Mac Control-click] to open full-size image:
Samuel Bryson