Bryant

By Ray Steelman

The Book, Bryant, tells the story of the pioneer family that immigrated to the US from Ireland in 1745. It follows the family through parts of three centuries until the present. It's great reading, inspirational, motivational, and touching. In the author's own words: "Little did I know that the family, in which I was born, had such an honorable and distinctive history. In time, I learned about the family heritage, the generations of interesting characters and the dramas that had taken place over the years. I learned about William R. Bryant’s shrewd business deals; Eliza Hicks Bryant’s close encounter with a black bear and three wild Indians; the colorful family negro, Joe Ferguson, and his impact on the Bryant family; John David Bryant’s escapades during the Civil War; the heritage of the Bryant farm; and the hundreds of other stories that made the Bryant family one of America’s most exciting pioneer families." The book is all true and taken from family notes and from word of mouth.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ray Steelman
• Release date: Feb 6, 2023
• ISBN: 9780964718043

Ray Steelman

The AuthorsSharon and Ray SteelmanDuring the past forty years, Sharon and Ray Steelman have started and run six successful businesses. Their most recent accomplishment is Bama Jammer TM Promotions. Beginning from scratch, with no money, no equipment, and no office, in seven years they transitioned a modest business into an advertising specialty and Identity- clothing company with markets stretching across the US and abroad. After trial and error, long hours and lots of sweat equity, the pieces finally began to fit.It is amazing enough to build six successful businesses, but to do so completely debt-free is even more amazing. By applying Biblical principles, frugal business practices and good work ethics, Sharon and Ray have proven that anyone can realize the “American Dream!”Ray's Abbreviated Bio:Born in Fayetteville, TN .. Lincoln Co. Schools .. MTSU (MA & BS) .. Post graduate studies.. HS Teacher/Coach/Administrator .. Runner/Walker .. Entrepreneur .. Many businesses .. Avid harmonica player .. Some banjo .. 400+ recordings .. General aviation pilot .... Kentucky Colonel .. Retired .. Writer .. Author .. Poet .. Hobby songwriter .. Hobby historian .. Storyteller .. Aviation videographer .. Diet and workout nut .. Saw Bigfoot .. Hit 400’ HR .. Former garbageman .. Sings like Alfafa .. 4 simultaneous state harmonica championships...100s of YouTube videos .. E-Books .. Audio artist.. Married the homecoming queen.. Trophy husband.. Wrote 13 books.. TV personality for four years (NBC Affiliate).. 15 appearances at Opryland.. Owned 8 airplanes.. 7 grandkids.. National and regional business awards.Sharon’s Abbreviated Bio:Born in Ft. Ord, CA .. Lived in Panama... Huntsville City Schools .. Homecoming queen.. University of Alabama Huntsville .. Runner/Walker .. Life-long entrepreneur .. Many businesses .. Married her HS vice-principal .. Speaks Chinese.. Great cook and homemaker.. Retired .. Gardener.. Author ... Makes the world’s best homemade ice cream.. Trophy wife .... A great listener.. A tireless worker.. Diet and workout nut .. E-Books .. Ray’s best friend.. Professional shopper.. A good conversationalist.. Co-wrote 13 books.. A visionary.. Scholarship benefactor.... Humanitarian.. Taught Sunday school.. Lifelong Biblical student.. Co-owned 8 airplanes.. 7 grandkids... Everyone’s best friend.. National, local and regional business awards.. Doubts Bigfoot exists.. Didn’t see Ray hit that 400’ home run either.Our autobiography:We reached down to pull ourselves up by our boot straps. We realized that we had no boots. We improvised.

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About The Author, Ray Steelman

Ray Steelman has spent most of his life living in Huntsville, Alabama. He has had numerous books and publications to his credit. Including this book, Ray has authored twelve books, some of which have been marketed by Books-A-Million, Barnes and Noble, Baker and Taylor, Walmart, Hohner, Inc., Amazon.com, Apple Books, Scribed, Overdrive, Gardeners, Kobo, Gaylord Entertainment, Opryland, Smashwords, and many tourist attractions and local and regional book stores. He has also has been published in numerous nostalgic, historical, business and trade magazines. Ray has had many articles published in Middle Tennessee State University’s Off Center Magazine, Life Insurance Selling, Home Mechanix, Broker World, Yesterday’s Memories, Our Old Town, Health Insurance Underwriter, Harmonica Educator, Old Tennessee Valley Magazine and others. Ray also has produced two harmonica instructional videos and six easy-listening harmonica albums that have been marketed and sold internationally. Ray has over three hundred YouTube and Vimeo harmonica, vocal and aviation videos that are viewed around the world each day. In one past year, Ray was named Writer of the Year by Yesterday’s Memories Magazine, a nostalgic publication with national circulation.

Biographical Link: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/jammer4664

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Dedication

Over forty years ago, I pulled into the drive-through window at a McDonald’s fast food restaurant on South Parkway in Huntsville, Alabama. A pretty young lady came bouncing to the window, smiled at me and blurted, Welcome to McDonalds. Could I take your order please? Yes, I responded. I’ll have a sausage and biscuit, a diet coke, and…what time do you get off? While many shook their heads in disbelief, three months later we were married.

That innocent meeting terminated Sharon’s career as a hamburger flipper and began the biggest adventure of our lives! I stumbled into my life’s partner, business partner, fellow adventurer, explorer, lover and best friend! Together we have overcome what seemed to be insurmountable hurdles. We have beaten the odds time and time again. We began without a dime in our pockets, and accomplished things that others said could not be done. Together, we have built six businesses; raised three great kids; visited a lot of places; won more awards than I can remember; got our pictures in the paper; accumulated lots of stuff; traveled the world; bought and flew airplanes; met Zig Ziglar, Steve Wynn, Dave Ramsey, Phil Niekro, Craig Kimbrell and sports stars and athletes, country music stars, movie stars, one President, one First Lady and other important and famous people; We were TV personalities; wrote books; played the harmonica and banjo; owned Cadillacs, Jaguars and Mercedes; juggled; won a dance contest; taught Sunday School; were featured in many magazines; made a few speeches; got some money in our pockets; became grandparents; and lived life to its absolute fullest. How could I not dedicate this book to my wife, Sharon, my greatest inspiration?

Ray Steelman

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Introduction

My mother, Mabel Catherine Bryant, was the youngest of three children, two girls and a boy, born to my grandparents, Forest Raymond Bryant and Alice Anna Rudd Bryant. Shortly after the birth of my younger brother, Joe, my mother found herself to be a young divorced girl of seventeen with two small boys to raise. Because of this, for most of our early years, Mother, Joe, and I lived with my grandparents, the Bryants. Joe and I were always sheltered from our natural father’s side of the family, knew nothing about them, and grew up influenced entirely by the Bryant family. Later when our mother married, James Aaron Counts, we were then exposed to the Counts family, but naturally, we were still influenced mostly by the Bryant clan.

As I think back to my earliest memories, I can vaguely recall my great grandfather, Franklin Spear Bryant. The family referred to him as Pa Bryant and, through a child’s eyes, I can remember him as a grumpy old man who yelled at Joe and me each time we meandered too close to the deep, hand-dug well. I specifically recall one time when Joe, our first cousin Jimmy Taylor, and I ran from Pa Bryant as he chased us into the house after we had committed some long-forgotten childhood misdeed. I can remember standing in front of his casket and looking at his lifeless body as Joe, Jimmy and I experienced our first encounter with the inevitable… death.

I also remember my Great-Uncle Walter and Great-Aunt Jimmie Bryant and how they always welcomed me to their Bryant farm which bordered my grandparent’s farm on the east side. Their home was just a quarter of a mile down the Flintville Road from my grandparent’s front door, and a real adventure to walk to their house under the canopy of oak, poplar, maple and elm that enclosed the road. I remember how I learned to enjoy Aunt Jimmie’s Crowder peas and unseasoned potatoes which she always fixed for me when I visited. For several years, I mowed their yard, did simple chores, and spent hours on the front porch listening to tales about the Bryant family and swapping knives. These were two of Uncle Walter’s favorite past times. I remember, how I would peep during the congregational prayers at Corder’s Crossroads Church of Christ and catch Uncle Walter’s wink as he was also peering around the room while the others bowed their heads in prayer. I also remember the times that Uncle Walter would place his 20-gauge scatter gun in my hand. He would instruct me as to exactly where I should go to find those red fox dens, and shoot those rascals who were making daily raids on the Bryant hen house. And I remember the deep, cool, beaconing, hollows of the Bryant farm and how good the ice-cold limestone spring water tasted on those sultry, hot Tennessee summer days. I vividly recall how I was repeatedly warned about the Bryant sink hole. Uncle Walter told me that the sinkhole had no bottom, and if I feel into it, I would never stop falling! And I remember how my heart raced the one time that I wandered too close to the edge of the sink hole and was only one step away from that eternal plunge before I discovered my mistake.

I also remember going squirrel hunting with my grandfather and how I scampered down the deep slopes of the Bryant hollows to retrieve the unfortunate creatures that fell victims of Granddaddy’s skills with a twenty-two caliber rifle. I will never forget as a small child, walking with him to the tracks and seeing for the first time the wooden water tank. It had fallen into disrepair after the demise of the steam engines that formerly travelled the Alabama and Mississippi Railroad line. I recall, years later, my first visit to Central State Mental Hospital in Nashville to visit with my Granddaddy who had suffered a nervous breakdown from which he would never fully recover.

I will never forget Christmas as a child, and how that always meant a visit to the Bryant farm, where my grandmother fixed those huge meals and the family always came home. I remember how Christmas always smelled like evergreens, leather from my cowboy holster and gunpowder from the fireworks that Uncle Frank Bryant brought home each year. That was an exciting time to be a youngster growing up in the Bryant family.

Little did I know that the family in which I was born, had such an honorable and distinctive history. In time, I learned about the family heritage, the generations of interesting characters and the dramas that had taken place over the years. I learned about William Robert Bryant’s shrewd business deals; Eliza Hicks Bryant’s close encounter with a black bear and three wild Indians; the colorful family Negro, Joe Ferguson, and his impact on the Bryant family; John David Bryant’s escapades during the Civil War; the heritage of the Bryant farm; and the hundreds of other stories that made the Bryant family one of America’s most exciting pioneer families.

BRYANT, is a book written in hopes of preserving the history, the triumphs and the tragedies of the Bryant family. It is written so that generations