Neil Bryant (Cornelius A. O’Brien), was the youngest and the last of the three famous brothers of his name that organized Bryant’s Minstrels, in 1857.
Oddly enough, less is known about the early career of Neil Bryant than either of his brothers.
The earliest authentic record obtainable by the author is at the American Hall, Hartford, Conn., June 25, 1851, as a member of Ordway’s Aeolians, a famous Boston organization; it is highly probable that Mr. Bryant was with this company prior to the above date in the Massachusetts metropolis.
He continued with Bryant’s Minstrels in New York until the death of his brother Dan, April 10, 1875; subsequently he organized Bryant’s Minstrels, and gave intermittent performances on the road for a period of about seven years. In 1851, the programme gave Neil Bryant as giving an accordeon solo; in later years he was almost exclusively identified with his performance on the flutina.
About 1882 he secured a government position in Washington, D. C., which he retained until two years prior to his death.
July 11, 1859, Mr. Bryant married Miss Gertrude E. Ransom.
Neil Bryant was born in Keesville, N. Y., 1835; he died in Brooklyn, N. Y., March 6, 1902.
Joe. Murphy (Wm. L. Murphy). It is pretty well known to theatre goers in general, that Mr. Murphy’s early career was spent as a minstrel in California, where he drifted in the 50’s.
As late as 1858 he was with the California Minstrels, with whom he was associated many months in San Francisco.
In 1860 with Billy Birch, a company bearing the name of Birch and Murphy’s Minstrels toured. In 1864 Murphy and (Walter) Bray’s Minstrels were in existence. Mr. Murphy then came East, and with Ben Cotton formed Cotton and Murphy’s Minstrels, opening at Fall River, Mass., about March 1, 1865.