Henry H. Bryant is engaged in the drug business in Tippecanoe City and for many years has been connected with the business interests which promote the commercial activity of the place. The prosperity, welfare and development of a town depend upon its enterprising merchants and manufacturers, and it is said that he who conducts a growing enterprise does more for a city than the one who makes munificent sums of money. Mr. Bryant is an industrious, energetic man, and while his life has not been characterized by events of startling importance it indicates that the pathway of industry and honor lead to success.

He was born on the farm now owned by the Miami Fruit Company, his birth occurring on the 17th of February, 1840. For many years the Bryant family has been connected with this section of the state, for William Bryant, the Grandfather, was through a considerable period a well-known farmer in Miami county. His last days, however, were passed in Indiana. Archibald Bryant, the father of our subject, was born in this county, and when he had arrived at years of maturity married Catherine Cecil Carver, by whom he had four children, namely: Henry H.; Mary, who died in childhood; Eliza, the wife of John Simons; and Jerome, who died in infancy. Our subject also had one half brother and two half sisters,--Nancy, Thomas and Barbara. Throughout his business career the father carried on farming, his life's labors being ended in death in 1849. His wife, long survived him, passed away in 1873, at the age of sixty-eight years.

Mr. Bryant, of this review, spent his early boyhood days on his father's farm, and when a lad of twelve summers began working as a farm hand for Mr. Held in Elizabeth township, with whom he remained for two years, receiving his board and clothing in compensation for his services. He was connected with the agricultural interests until 1859, when he began selling fruit trees, his time being thus occupied for two years. In May, 1861, however, he put aside all personal considerations in order to respond to his country's call for troops, enlisting as a private in Company G, Tenth Ohio Infantry, at the first call, for three- months volunteers. He was mustered in at Camp Dennison and on the expiration of his term received an honorable discharge. He then returned to Tippecanoe City, but in the following August enlisted as a member of the band connected with the Forty-second Ohio Infantry. The regiment was sent to eastern Kentucky and he continued as one of its musicians until March, 1862, when he re- turned home on a thirty days furlough. During his absence at the north the order was issued for the discharge of regiment bands and he therefore continued at home until May, 1864, when he once more enlisted, becoming sergeant of Company A, One Hundred and Forty- seventh Ohio Infantry, under a call for one hundred-day men. Under command of Colonel John W. Woodward, the regiment went to the defense of Washington and remained in the vicinity of the capital city until discharged.

When his term had expired, Mr. Bryant again came to Tippecanoe City and was engaged in house painting and paper-hanging until 1867, at which time he went to Nebraska, cultivating a farm near Brownsville, that state, for two years. He also engaged in painting and paper-hanging at Brownsville until December, 1872, when he once more came to Tippecanoe City, following those pursuits here until 1888. He then entered into partnership with James H. Kinna and U. J. Favorite in the operation of a flowering mill, which they successfully conducted until 1897, when Mr. Bryant sold out and entered into partnership with William E. Ten Eick in the drug business. They conducted a well-appointed store and received a liberal patronage.

On the 30th of October, 1873, Mr. Bryant was united in marriage with Miss Sarah A. Turner, of Tippecanoe City, by whom he had one son, Charles F., who is clerking in a drug store. In addition to his residence and store, Mr. Bryant owns fourteen acres of land within the corporate limits, which he has laid out in town lots. For two years he has served as a member of the city council, and, while in office or out of it, has ever given his support to those measures which he believes calculated to prove a public benefit. He exercises his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the Republican party, and is a member of the D. M. Rouzer Post, G. A. R. He enjoys meeting with his old comrades of the blue as they thus recall the incidents and scenes of the civil war, when they loyally followed the starry banner on the battlefields of the south. Mr. Bryant is to-day as true to his duties of citizenship as when in the military service and is recognized as one of the representative business men of Miami county.