Valarus John Brian was born August 9, 1894, at Pollock, Grant Parish, Louisiana, in the home of his grandparents. He made several moves with his family as he was growing up in Louisiana and Texas. After the family moved to Lubbock, Texas, the United States entered World War I. Valarus enlisted in the U.S. Army in1916 from Amarillo, Texas. The Army sent Valarus to Camp Bowie in Fort Worth, Texas for training. He served in WWI as Stable Sergeant, Headquarters Company, 132nd Field Artillery, 61st Brigade, 1st Texas Cavalry, 36th Division in France. Valarus injured his spine in a fall on the ship that was returning him to the United States after the war. He became a disabled WWI veteran when the wounds he suffered in his spine contracted tuberculosis, a condition known as Pott?s disease. As there were no miracle drugs at the time, there was no cure for the disease. The tuberculosis of the spine became chronic and would flare up periodically. The flare-ups would necessitate a lengthy stay in a hospital. After the war he lived near Itasca, Texas on the property of his brother-in-law, Joe Nichols.He was in the Veteran?s Hospital in El Paso, Texas for about seventeen (17) months. He later was in Kerrville, Texas in the Veteran?s Hospital. Valarus and his first wife, Annie Bolton, divorced and he moved to Chicago, Illinois in 1925. Chicago is where he met his second wife, Florence Mary Healy. Valarus and Florence married on October 22, 1928, at Crown Point, Indiana.

The first place Florence and Valarus lived inChicago was an apartment at 2902 W. Addison. Later, they moved in with Florence?s Mother at 5830 Roscoe Street. Their first child, Valerie, was born on September 9, 1929, and died the same day. Chicago is also where the next two of their children were born, Joan Diane and Valarus John, Jr. (Jack). Both were born at Norwegian American Hospital. The family moved to Bristol, Indiana where they lived with Florence?s sister, Marie. While living in Bristol, their fourth child, Barbara Leane, was born. Later they moved to Elkhart, Indiana where the rest of their children, Nancy Ann, Sandra Lou, Judith Ann, Linda Lee, and Carole Lynn were born. The family lived at 2900 Pleasant Plain for thirteen (13) years before moving to 1536 Fairview, Dallas, Texas in June of 1946. Valarus?s mother, Cynthia Leana Tull and father, Francis Nathaniel Brian lived at 1506 Fairview. Since Valarus was a disabled veteran, he could not hold down a full time job, but he did work for Watkins Products when he was able in both Elkhart and Dallas. Later, he raised birds for a living. Valarus was a very good carpenter and in his dealings with bird dealers he was extremely clever. He stayed home and took care of their children while Florence worked. He spent the majority of his life in Veteran Hospitals, Chicago?s Hines Veteran?s Hospital, the VA Hospital in McKinney, Texas and Lisbon Veterans Hospital in Lancaster, Texas. Valarus died on March 15, 1964, and is buried in Calvary Hill Cemetery in Dallas, Texas.