Son of William and Delilah Dillard Bryant, born in the Spartanburg District of South Carolina. He first appears as an unnamed male child between 5 and 9 years old in the household of Wm Bryant, Spartanburg, SC, 1840. In 1850, he is shown in Benton County, Alabama, in the household of William and Delilah, as Boreland Bryant, age 17. In 1860, he is still in his parents' household, Bowlin Bryant, age 24, in Calhoun (formerly Benton) County, Alabama. In 1864, he appears as a petitioner for letters of administration on his father's estate. In those documents his name appears variously as Bowlin Briant and Boling Briant. On the Alabama state census of 1866, he is shown as Bowlin Briant, a head of household, one male over 20 and one female over 20, living next door to his mother Delilah. In 1870, he and his wife are shown as Bowline Bryant, age 37, and Elizabeth, age 29, with children Mary, age 4, and William age 2, living in Pontotoc County, Mississippi. Next door to them is Elizabeth's father, James Wood, along with several of her siblings. In 1875, his brother, Coleman Bryant, applied for letters of administration to sell dower interest of Delila (sic) Bryant, now deceased. Among the heirs listed is Bowland Bryant of Arkansas, county and post office unknown. In 1877, the account for final settlement of her estate shows Bowlin Bryant, Parris (sic) post office, Laamar (sic) Co. Texas. The 1880 census of Lamar County lists the following:
Bolin Bryant 46
Elisabeth P. Bryant 39
Mary H. Bryant 13
William T. Bryant 11
James C. Bryant 8
Ida L. Bryant 6 (Addie)
Samuel Bryant 4
Lemuel L. Bryant 9m
Again in 1880, as in Mississippi in 1870, Elizabeth's father, James Wood(s) is living next door to them, along with her sisters Mattie and Rebecca, as well as Rebecca's husband, Pat Barnes.
In 1900, in Hunt County, Texas, we find the following household:
B Bryant 66
Elizabeth Bryant 59
James Bryant 28
Lilley Bryant 23 (wife of James)
Lemuel Bryant 20
Lee Bryant 14