Topics in History

History of Abbeville

By John W. O'Bryan Jr.

    John W. O'Bryan Jr. was born on June 30, 1917.  After graduating from Abbeville High School, he married Mary Olga Sagrera and became the father of two sons, John W. O'Bryan III and Patrick O'Bryan.  When World War II came along he joined the U.S. Air Corps and became a pilot.  He was killed in battle on July 11, 1944, when his airplane was shot down in the North Sea.  His grave is in Graceland Cemetery in Abbeville.

He was the son of John W. O'Bryan and Ella Villemez.  John Sr. was the publisher and editor of the Abbeville Progress, a newspaper which competed with the Abbeville Meridional from 1913 until 1945.  John Sr. had died shortly before his son was killed, at which point Ella, believing that she and her remaining son could not carry on the work of the newspaper, sold out to the Meridional.

John Jr. at some point, probably as a high school project, wrote a booklet entitled "History of Abbeville."  It was written in longhand and was illustrated with picture postcards showing views of old Abbeville.  Not only does the booklet present historical information and images about Abbeville, it is historical in itself, being the product of an authentic Abbeville war hero and containing a collection of old picture postcards which cannot be found elsewhere.  The booklet exhibits talent, charm, and and an obvious love of his hometown by the author.  The Vermilion Historical Society is proud to present the booklet here, and is indebted to Mary Olga Sagrera O'Bryan, John W. O'Bryan III, and Patrick O'Bryan for allowing us to share this wonderful piece of Abbeville history with others.

The original booklet is on display at the Alliance Center, 200 N. Magdalen Square, Abbeville, Louisiana.  The booklet is presented here in the form of a slideshow.  Click on the link below to go to the slideshow page.

History of Abbeville Slideshow

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This page was last updated on 10/28/2007.