Respect and Admiration for the "Great Commoner" is largely responsible for the selection of the above name for this well-known Griggs Township. It was suggested by OLE BAKKEN, who was a great admirer of William Jennings Bryan.
Bryan was created as a civil Township on August 13, 1900 upon petition by 22 persons. The commissioners ordered an election to be held on September 4, 1900. On that date officers were named and a general organization of the Township launched. The officers elected were:
A. H. Overby, Albert Turk and Andrew Dahlin for supervisors, Hans H. Helland for treasurer, and J. D. Johnson was chosen as clerk. Evidently Andrew T. Falla replaced Dahlin as supervisor in 1902, as the records show Dahlin as assessor in 1902.
The first settlers in Bryan are not known, but A. H. OVERBY seems to have been there since 1884. Henry Cole, Grant Richardson, S. R. Klein, Ed Evenson, F. Jeffords, Nils Iverson, John Hagberg, Thune, Hogie, William Lucht and Pugh were familiar names in the early 1900's.
Source: Griggs County History 1879 - 1976 page 244