It is not the purpose of the writer of the history of his people to lay claim to any other hue or tint of blood than, that same rich shade wherewith the Creator has supplied the whole human race. We believe "that all men are created free and equal," also that God "hath made of one blood all nations of men."

Just as money in the bank gives a man *a measure of credit", and as the ownership of a home gives him some comfort, so the knowledge that his lineage is clean and sturdy contributes justly to his self respect. As the Bible tells us, "A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches and loving favor rather than silver and gold." The last time that the writer talked to K. D. Brian, his dad, before death came to him in the Amherst Hospital, Amherst, Texas, he said to me, "Ted, I am not leaving you any earthly wealth, but a good name for you to keep."

The most ancient nations of the world are venerators of ancestry. The Chinese worship the tablets upon which the names of their ancestors are engraved. The Hebrews entrusted to the priesthood, as one of their sacred duties, the keeping of the family genealogies, as the Bible bears out. "So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David until the carrying away into Babylon are fourteen generations." Matthew 1:17. In other words, forty-two generations are listed here in Matthew from Abraham to Christ.

The name Brian was taken from the Celts and means Strong or Salty. It is interesting to note that the spelling from the beginning was BRIAN, but in its travel in time and place the spelling has been changed in many ways.

[note: many spellings Brian/Bryan/Briant/Bryant resulted from government officials attempting to phonetically spell our surname for those that could not read or write ]