Thomas Barbour Bryan

Biography

Thomas Barbour Bryan was born in 1828 and became a leading businessman whose investments in railroads, real estate, and the grain trade helped shape the growth of Chicago and the Midwest, while he consistently promoted civic pride and the thoughtful planning of his adopted cities.

He devoted his later years to philanthropy, offering support to cultural institutions and relief efforts and encouraging others to invest in the public good; his generous spirit is memorialized at Oak Hill Cemetery.