Bryson, Texas
THE HISTORY OF BRYSON
In 1874, near Carmichael Creek, a loose community grew into Mt. Hecla. The first postmaster was Ham Milliken in 1878. Three years before that, the first school was started by Professor Willis called “Cottonwood.” It started as a log cabin, but was soon moved to a frame building. Dwellings continued to be built westward and the frame school was replaced by a two-story structure.
Henry E. Bryson and many other familes came from Alabama, Tennessee and Georgia in search of cheap farm land. Henry E. Bryson a Civil War Veteran, farmer and stockraiser, built first log cabin here in 1878. After Bryson Post Office was established in 1882, the town developed as a center for the growing of cotton and grain. Less than a century later oil was found and the population exploded. Bryson was known as the Jack County Petroleum Capital
Rock Island Railroad reached here in 1902. Though oil was discovered in the county in 1898, not until the mid-1920s did Bryson become the processing center for local oil producers. Oil increased the town's population until Bryson became the second largest town in the county.The first oil well was drilled 1925. The town had a gasoline plant in 1920's and 30's; from 1935 until late 1964 an oil refinery was in operation here.
In 1926, the town finally obtained electricity. Soon after, Brazos Gas Company started piping gas, which replaced coal and wood as fuel.
On June 6, 1929, the town had its first mayor-council form of government. B.B. Bryson, Sam Cullers, L.O. Moore, J.R. Clayton, Willis G. Stamper, Jr., Mike Newsom, Cecil B. Williams and Willard Schlittler all served as mayor over the years. W.J. Eatherly, W.L. McCloud, Mrs. John (Atla) Rudolph and Mrs. Bob (Virgie) Mitchell all served as secretaries over the years.
On May 1, 1937, the town obtained running water and a sewer system from the deep well water system. However, in 1981 the Bryson Lake replaced this system with a coverage of 150 acres
