The "Dr. John S. Bryant, Jr. and Harriet Smart Bryant House" is a historic dwelling. The house has a limestone foundation and brick walls and sits on a large lot. It's located at the northeast corner of the streets of South Main and Pacific (fka Mechanic) in Independence, Missouri.
The house is two-and-one-half stories and styled with the architectural design of Queen Anne. The house was built in 1867 including some expansion and alterations by the 1890s. On the property lines to the west and south is a low stone retaining wall.
According to a 1921 newspaper report, Dr. Bryant constructed a 'small brick house' on the site in 1867 (The Independence Examiner, 27 April 1921). (Source.)
In the early days of Independence, it was an outfitting town for military outposts and overland travelers. Independence was a suburb of Kansas City where some wealthy and prominent businessmen lived, and their houses were large and trendsetting. Dr. Bryant and his wife, Harriet, came from local established families. Their wealth was also built on managing real estate ventures in Kansas City. Despite their success in Kansas City, they chose to live in Independence.
By 1827, Independence had become the county seat of Jackson County, Missouri. Independence was a "jumping-off point" for the Oregon Trail which lasted through 1849. The trail started at the southwest corner of the courthouse square. It branched south on Liberty Street and along Blue Ridge, and another went west on Lexington.
Independence had a great reputation as an outfitting town before the gold rush through 1846. The economy in Independence rose from the manufacturing of wagons for the overland travelers. In time, however, Independence being an outfitting town began to dwindle as people began going north.
Order No. 11
The Civil War was a turbulent time in Jackson County. The issuance of Order No. 11 required all persons living in Jackson, Cass, Bates, and parts of Vernon Counties to leave their homes and farms. If people were allegiant to the Union, they could move to a federal post and Independence had become one in 1862.
The area around Independence was so devastated that for years it was referred to as 'the Burnt District.' (Source.)
Independence was never really the same. Kansas City began to expand. In 1887, the Kansas City, Independence, and Park railway was completed by Willard E. Winner for shoppers and travelers. Independence started experiencing a building boom. As Kansas City grew, so did Independence. Large homes were being built in Independence for the Kansas City businessmen.
The Bryant house, originally situated on a generous one-and-one-half-acre corner lot, is one of only a few remaining country 'mansions' that once stood along the southern end of Main street. Once the principal wagon route between Lee's Summit and Independence, South Main Street 'has always been an aristocratic street...[where] men of many professions and men prominent in the life of Independence always have lived.' (Source.)
Dr. John S. Bryant, Jr.
Dr. Bryant wasn't only a physician, he was also a successful businessman. He helped to influence the character of his neighborhood. Part of the area was still considered to be rural until the late 1880s. Subdivisions began to be platted along South Main Street. Water lines were being installed.
By the early 1900s, Independence was no longer just a frontier town. Large homes were being outlined by sidewalks with trees to the side of the roadways. The homes on South Main Street reflected the wealth of the people who lived there.
When the Bryant house was built as a small brick dwelling, it represented early life in Independence and as the house expanded, the effects of wealth were shown.
In 1861, John Bryant, Jr.'s father had a drug store on the south side of the courthouse square. John Bryant, Jr. practiced medicine with his father and was a graduate of St. Louis Medical College (1864) and Philadelphia's Jefferson Medical College (1866).
In 1866, Bryant, Jr. married Harriet in Kansas City. The site of their home which was somewhere near 11th Street and Grand Avenue was a gift from his father. Harriet's father was Judge Thomas A. Smart. He was a pioneer merchant, Kansas City landowner, Missouri legislator, and county judge. A big part of the core of downtown Kansas City between 9th, 12th, Main, and McGee Streets housed an 80-acre farm owned by Judge Smart. That's wild to think about now considering the growth of commerce.
Judge Smart sold 32 acres later. Other lots were sold later. When he died in 1879, a lot of his real estate holdings went to his daughter which contributed to her wealth and her husband's. When they moved to Independence, they had six children born between 1867 and 1881.
In the early l890's, Dr. Bryant started managing Harriet's realty property in Kansas City. In 1891, he had a seven-story building constructed on the property of 11th Street and Grand Avenue for the Robert Keith Furniture Company. It was the same property he and his wife received as a wedding gift. It was called the Bryant Building in 1902 after it was remodeled for office space. It was replaced by Harriet's heirs in 1931 with a 26-story professional building that still carries the family name.
By 1896, Dr. Bryant owned numerous commercial buildings in Kansas City. The income from his enterprises made Dr. Bryant very wealthy.
Dr. Bryant sold their home prior to his death. He and his wife also celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in the house. The house was sold to F.R. Clements in 1921. In 1960, the Clements sold the main residence and moved next door into the carriage house. A garage for the main house was built in the early 1960s. The subsequent owners were rehabilitating the home.
Dr. Bryant died on July 16, 1921, at age 78. His wife, Harriet, died in 1920.
Get updates delivered to you daily. Free and customizable.
Welcome to NewsBreak, an open platform where diverse perspectives converge. Most of our content comes from established publications and journalists, as well as from our extensive network of tens of thousands of creators who contribute to our platform. We empower individuals to share insightful viewpoints through short posts and comments. It’s essential to note our commitment to transparency: our Terms of Use acknowledge that our services may not always be error-free, and our Community Standards emphasize our discretion in enforcing policies. We strive to foster a dynamic environment for free expression and robust discourse through safety guardrails of human and AI moderation. Join us in shaping the news narrative together.
Local Kentucky State
Most Popular
Comments / 0