Founded by John A. Bryan in 1840, the modest village bearing his name soon came to be known as the “Fountain City” for its many artesian wells bubbling with clear, cool water. As roads and rail began to crisscross the Midwest, Bryan, the seat of Williams County, grew in local and regional significance as a bustling locale where politics, agriculture and industry intersected with profit.
Perhaps most famous for internationally known products such as the Ohio Art’s Etch-A-Sketch and Spangler Candy’s Dum Dums pops, Bryan is also the hometown of several notable natives including a silent screen star, an astronaut, professional athletes, prominent academics and nationally known authors. Recently named one of the 100 best small towns in the United States, Bryan still reflects the culture and values of traditional America.
Highlights of Bryan include:
• Settling the “Fountain City”
• Bryan Becomes Modern
• A Vibrant Community
• Commerce and Industry
• City Celebrations
• Noteworthy Natives
Available at area bookstores, independent retailers, and online retailers, or through Arcadia Publishing at (888)-313-2665 or online.
Arcadia Publishing is the leading publisher of local and regional history in the United States. Our mission is to make history accessible and meaningful through the publication of books on the heritage of America’s people and places. Have we done a book on your town? Visit arcadiapublishing.com.
