An American Family History

Bryan Sewell Smith was born August 7, 1896 in Chariton, Lucas County, Iowa. His parents were Josiah Smith and Eliza Fox. He was named for William Jennings Bryan, the presidential candidate. 

Bryan was forced to leave home when he was about fourteen years old. Many memories of and stories about Bryan are written in the Wind in the Willow.

He worked for Adams Express Company and Keller and Keller before he enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1918.

Bryan married Vivian Young on September 4, 1922 in Osceola, Iowa. Vivian was born on May 29, 1900 in  Wisconsin. Her parents were Harvey Young and Amy Foster.

Bryan and Vivian had three children: Robert Jack Smith, born in 1923, William Bryan (Bill) Smith,, born in 1925, and Joan Grace Smith Irwin, born in 1931. Robert and William were born in Red Oak, Iowa and Joan was born in Wyoming.

Moorcroft, Crook County, Wyoming 1928

The family moved to Moorcroft, Wyoming in 1929 and lived on a ranch until 1937. Bryan was the first pumper hired by the True Oil Company in April, 1953 and was the first gauger to be employed by the Belle Fourche Pipeline Company. He retired from that company in 1963.

Moorcroft Oil Worker is Honored
The True Oil Co. honored its first annuitant under the company's retirement plan recently at the annual party for employees in Casper.

Bryan S. Smith of Moorcroft was presented a gold watch by H. A. Dave True Jr., firm president.

Smith was employed by True as a pumper in the Donkey Creek field near Moorcroft in April of 1953, the first pumper hired by the company. In October, 1957, Smith became the first gauger to be employed by Belle Forche Pipeline Co., a job he held with the company until his retirement December 31, 1963. Smith and his wife Vivian, reside in Moorcroft, where they intend to spend their retirement. They have three children; a daughter Joan, of Moorcroft; two sons, Jack, Rawlings; and Bill, Seattle Wash.