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J. B. O'BRYAN
Vol. 3, p. 1232

Although Oklahoma is one of the youngest members of the Federal
Union the liberal and learned professions have found a congenial home
here, the bench and bar in particular having many members whose
knowledge of jurisprudence and forensic ability will compare
favorably with that of their legal brethren in other states. Among
the able lawyers of Johnston County is J. B. O'Bryan, the Tishomingo,
who was born in McLennan County, Texas, in 1869. His parents were
Irwin T. and Mattie F. (CHANDLER) O'Bryan. The father, a native of
North Carolina, went to Texas in 1846 and was there appointed
lieutenant in the Sixth Texas Cavalry, which took part in the Mexican
war. He was a graduate in medicine from Tulane University at New
Orleans and practiced his profession for thirty-five years in Texas.
Mr. O'Bryan's paternal grandfather, who died in 1825, was one of the
most prominent men of North Carolina. On the maternal side the
subject of this sketch is a grandson of the Rev. P. B. Chandler, who
was a pioneer of Texas and one of the best known Baptist ministers of
that state. Two of the latter's brothers, Capt. Joel W. Chandler and
Lieut. Harrison H. Chandler, participated in the battle of San
Jacinto under Gen. Sam Houston.

J. B. O'Bryan acquired the elements of knowledge in the public
schools of Texas, and was subsequently a pupil at Baylor University
at Waco, that state. In 1886 he was graduated with the degree of A.
B. from Washington and Lee University, after which he began the study
of law in the office of Judge Clark at Waco. Here he began the
practice of his profession after his admission to the bar in 1895,
but in 1899 he moved to Tishomingo, where he entered into a law
partnership with William H. MURRAY, an intermarried citizen, with
whom he was associated for a number of years, Mr. Murray attending to
those cases coming to the firm which were to be tried in the
Chickasaw tribal and Federal courts and Mr. O'Bryan to those which
were to be tried in the Federal courts. The firm built up a wide
practice over the Chickasaw Nation and North Texas, the association
of the two partners being severed only when Mr. Murray, in 1906,
became a member of the Constitutional Convention, of which he was
also president. Subsequent to this Mr. Murray advanced to other
honors, being speaker of the House of Representatives of the First
State Legislature, a candidate for the democratic nomination for
governor and a member of Congress, which last mentioned position he
still holds. For some time after the dissolution of the partnership
between Mr. Murray and Mr. O'Bryan, the latter was associated with
George W. BURRIS, a pioneer lawyer of this section, but is now
practicing alone. He is a member of the county and state bar
associations, of the Tishomingo Commercial Club and of the
Presbyterian Church. He also belongs to the good Roads Club and has
taken an active and useful part in the development of this town and
county. He is a democrat in politics and several times has served as
special judge. An interesting feature in his early career is that
Judge George W. CLARK, of Waco. Texas, with whom he studied law, was
an opponent of James HOGG in one of the most spectacular campaigns
for the governorship that was ever waged in Texas. While he never
participated actively in the events relating to the Indian history of
Johnston County, Mr. O'Bryan, during his residence here of sixteen
years, has been an interested spectator of the transition from the
tribal era to the beginning of the progress of this region under
state government.

Mr. O'Bryan was married in 1889 at Hubbard City, Texas, to Miss
Lessie MCLAIN, daughter of one of the leading cattlemen of that
section. They have seven children, namely: Henry, manager of the
plant of the Southwestern Lumber company, at Wapanucka; J. H. Jr.,
who is engaged in business at Girard, Texas; and Bessie J., Kate,
Gladys, William M. and Thomas, who are residing at home with their
parents.

Typed for OKGenWeb by Charmaine Keith, October 17, 1998.