W. Obryant

SOURCE: "History of Champaign County, Illinois with Illustrations," 1878

SURNAMES: DRULLINGER, LUDWICK, OBRYANT

 

W. OBRYANT, a native of the southwestern part of this county, was born April 5, 1843, and is the son of John C. Obryant, of Virginia, who first drew breath in the rural districts of old Virginia in 1811. His grandfather, Holcomb Obryant, was of Irish descent, and the first representatives of the family in this country located in Virginia and became the progenitors of a numerous family. The mother of our subject was Eliza DRULLINGER, a native of Ohio. Of her marriage with John C. Obryant there were born two sons and eight daughters, seven of whom lived to mature years, married and settled in homes of their own. The mother is still surviving, making her home with her children, and enjoying remarkably good health for a lady seventy-two years of age.

The subject of this history spent a part of his early life in Vermilion County, but attained his majority in this county. During the progress of the late war he enlisted in Co. K, 125th Ill. Vol. Inf., and followed the fortunes of a soldier until the close, taking part in many of its important battles, namely, Perryville, Ky., Chickamauga and Mission Ridge, besides meeting the enemy in various skirmishes and experiencing many hairbreadth escapes. He wound up his military career by joining the army of Gen. Sherman in its march from Atlanta to the sea, going through the Carolinas and being at the battle of Bentonville, whence they moved on to Richmond and from there to Washington to the final grand review, after the surrender of Lee's army. Here Mr. Obryant, with those of his comrades who remained alive after their terrible experiences, was honorably discharged and subsequently paid off at Chicago.

Our subject, after once more becoming a civilian, returned to Vermilion County, where he remained until the spring of 1866. He then made his way to St. Joseph Township, where he began farming, having in view the establishment of domestic ties and a home of his own. The lady destined to become the sharer of his fortunes was Miss Mary LUDWICK, to whom he was married Feb. 17, 1869, in St. Joseph Township. Mrs. Obryant is a native of Indiana, born near La Fayette, and the daughter of John and Eveline LUDWICK, natives of Maryland and Virginia, respectively. After marriage the young people settled near what is now Mayview, where Mr. Obryant rented a tract of land for a term of five years. He continued there prosperously, and when his lease had expired purchased ninety acres of land near the farm of Isaac Leas, which is now known as the Leas Farm. Our subject occupied this ten years, then sold out and took possession of his homestead. Here he has operated on the theory of Horace Greeley, that a small amount of land well cultivated is more profitable than a larger area partially neglected. He has but eighty acres, but has brought it to a fine and fertile condition, built a good residence and barn, and has excellent grades of Short-horn cattle, together with hogs and horses of no mean degree.

The household of Mr. and Mrs. Obryant now includes three bright children-Frank E., Anna May, and W. Roy. The parents ar members in good standing of the methodist Episcopal Church, at St. Joseph, in which Mr. Obryant has officiated as Steward and Trustee for a number of years, and has been continuously identified with the Sunday-school, in which he has always maintained an active and kindly interest.