William Joel Bryan

William Joel Bryan (December 14, 1815 – March 3, 1903) was a Texas soldier and land owner.

Bryan was born at Hazel Run in Sainte Genevieve County, Missouri to James Bryan and Emily Austin Perry. He attended school at Potosi, Missouri until 1830. In 1831, William Joel Bryan's mother (Emily) and stepfather James Franklin Perry followed Stephen F. Austin to Texas. They settled in the eastern part of Brazoria County, Texas. In 1832, the family moved to Peach Point Plantation, in Jones Creek, Texas, where Bryan was instructed by a governess and his parents together took care of the plantation, cattle and other such property of Bryan's uncle Stephen F. Austin. (The estate of Stephen F. Austin went in whole to Emily Austin Perry and remained her separate property until she died in 1851.)

In 1835, Texas declared its independence from Mexico. Bryan took his part in the revolution at his uncle's side, along with the rest of the Brazoria County Volunteers, during the siege of Bexar. He also served with Sam Houston in the retreat of the army across Texas. However, he became ill with the measles shortly before the battle of San Jacinto. Between 1836 and 1839 he served in a managerial capacity at Peach Point.

In April 1840, he married Lavinia Perry, his stepfather's niece. The two of them settled at Duranzo Plantation, an extension of Peach Point Plantation given to them as a wedding gift. The couple had seven children, four of whom joined the Confederate Army. During the Civil War, Bryan fed Confederate troops stationed at the mouth of the Brazos at his own expense.

In 1865 he granted the Houston & Texas Central Railroad a right-of-way through his land in Brazos County. A projected townsite, Bryan, Texas was named in his honor. This name, "Bryan" can be traced back as far as to James Bryan. William Joel Bryan gave the town financial assistance and helped to establish its bank. Bryan was a member of the Texas Veteran's Association.

The Brazos County Historical Commission erected an Historical Marker for William Joel Bryan.

Though some may refer to him as W.J. Bryan, a distinction should be made between William Joel Bryan and William Jennings Bryan.