Moses Austin Bryan, grandson of Moses Austin, whose 1821 contract with Mexico opened Texas to Anglo-Americans, came to Texas in 1831 and worked with his uncle, Stephen F. Austin. He fought in 1836 in the Battle of San Jacinto, served as secretary of the Republic of Texas Legation to the United States in 1839, joined the 1842 Somervell Expedition to resist Mexican aggressions in Texas, and rose to major in the Confederate Army during the Civil War from 1861 to 1865. Bryan was the father of 5 children.