Earliest known ancestor is James Monroe BRYANT born May 1856 in TN. Family history only...not documented....is he had a brother Thomas, they were orphaned as children & raised by an Aunt & Uncle (believed to be Thomas & Martha Little LURRY - his 2nd wife-his 1st was Sarah Allen) in Jonesboro, AR. I "believe" their father was possibly named John. James named his only son John Thomas Bryant & in 1860 census a John Brant (sp), age 25 so b. apx 1835 in NC, was living with the Lurrys in Jonesboro. The Lurrys returned to TN but don't know when. James was a surveyor in MO as a young man, then went to AR where he met & married Roxie PRINCE HALBROOK, they had Nancy Zellar Bryant who married Jake Arthur RICHARDSON.