Los Angeles County, CA, Biographies This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm HON. JOHN RYLAND BRIERLY was born at Great Falls, New Hampshire, July 16, 1839. His father, Rev. Benjamin Brierly, was a native of England, and when a child came to America with his father. He received his education at the Newton Theological Seminary, Newton, Massachusetts, and after graduating there preached at Dover, Great Falls and Manchester, New Hampshire; Springfield, Vermont, and Salem, Massachusetts, coming from the latter place to California in 1849. In 1850 he was chaplain in the California State Senate, and during the same year organized a private school at Sacramento, which he taught one year. He then had charge of the First Baptist Church of Sacramento, until June, 1852, the First Baptist Church of San Francisco until 1858, when, resigning the latter, he removed to his farm adjoining the city limits of San Jose. In 1860 he became pastor of the Baptist Church at Nevada City, at which place he died in July, 1863, at the age of fifty-one years. His mother, nee Mary Jane Harville, was born at Amherst, New Hampshire. She was a graduate of the Seminary at New Hampton, where she was married to Rev. Mr. Brierly in 1836. Previous to her marriage she was a teacher in the public schools of her native State. She was the mother of two children: Frank A., the subject of this sketch, and Mrs. Jennie M. Tarlton, of San Jose, California. Her paternal ancestors were English, while on her mother's side they were Scotch-Irish, the latter being among the first settlers of Londonderry, New Hampshire, and the Harville homestead at Chestnut Hills, Amherst, has been the home of the Harvilles for over two centuries. The subject of this sketch did not come to California until 1852, when, in his thirteenth year, he accompanied his father, who had returned to New Hampshire on a visit. After remaining here one year he went back to his native State and attended the seminary at Claremont until August, 1855, when he again came to California accompanied by his sister. He made his home in San Francisco until November, 1856, when he went to his father's farm near San Jose, remaining there until February, 1860. In that year he came to Los Angeles County, and engaged in farming and stock-raising till July, 1863, when he returned to San Jose and attended the San Jose Institute one year. He was then employed in the schools of Santa Clara until March, 1866, when he was elected superintendent of schools of Santa Clara by the school board, and was so employed till March, 1868. He then taught in the public schools of Santa Clara County two years, in Los Angeles County three years; and in 1873 was appointed United States gauger, serving as such till May, 1876. At that time he engaged in the real-estate business at Los Angeles. During 1880 he was assistant secretary of the State Senate, and in 1881, journal clerk of the same. He was also deputy county clerk for a time, and in 1882 received the appointment of collector of customs for the district of Wilmington, with headquarters at San Pedro, California, holding the position until the expiration of his term of office in 1886. In November of that year he was elected by the Republican party a member of the State Legislature to represent the Seventy-sixth Assembly District. In the assembly he served as Speaker pro tem, and was chairman of the committee on education. He was also selected by the assembly Republican caucus to take charge of the general appropriation bill during the absence of the chairman of the Ways and Means Committee. In June, 1887, Mr. Brierly engaged in the real-estate business at Los Angeles, and so continued until being deputized county superintendent of Los Angeles County by Superintendent W. W. Seaman in. April, 1888, and is now filling that position. Mr. Brierly says he is a "confirmed bachelor and a crank on public schools." He is an exempt fireman, having been a member of the Los Angeles fire department for ten years, and eight years during that time was president of Confidence Engine Company, No. 2. On the 22d of February, 1884, he was presented with a beautiful gold badge by the members of his company, which he wears continually, and on which is inscribed, "Our Dad, from his boys." He is a charter member of Los Angeles Lodge, No. 55, A. O. U. W., and also of San Pedro Lodge, No. 3,342, K. of P., of which order he is the Past Chancellor and District Grand Chancellor. An Illustrated History of Los Angeles County, California � Chicago, The Lewis Publishing Company, 1889 Page 703 Transcribed by Kathy Sedler