Franklin-Hocking-Fairfield County OhArchives Obituaries.....Bright, Catherine August 28, 1917
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Judy Woerner judyw0113@yahoo.com April 7, 2006, 11:49 am

Lancaster Daily Eagle, August 30, 1917

     LIFE HISTORY of a Centenarian
Mrs. CATHERINE LEOHNER BRIGHT, was born June 23d, 1816, near Bremen, Fairfield 
county, where she spent her girlhood days.  Passed to the higher life August 
28th, 1917 — 101 years, two months and five days.

After her marriage to JOSEPH B. BRIGHT they located near Logan, in Hocking 
county, Ohio, where they resided during the majority of the years of their 
married life.  Over twenty years ago they moved to Franklin county, Ohio, 
lived at Flint Station, Westerville and Columbus.

She was the mother of thirteen children, six boys and seven girls, of which 
four boys and three girls are now living, to wit:  MALINDA NUNEMAKER, JOSEPH 
L. BRIGHT, JOHN A. BRIGHT and WESLEY R. BRIGHT Columbus, WILLIAM S. BRIGHT of 
Wellston, SARAH A. BLACKSTONE of Logan and MARGARET B. RUTTER of Westerville.  
These, with many grand-children, relatives and friends are left to mourn their 
loss.

At the age of twelve years she united with the Evangelic church in which she 
remained about six years, then moved to Hocking county, Ohio, and there being 
no church there, she helped organize a United Brethren Mission in an old log 
school house near Logan, Ohio.  Soon after, she aided in building a United 
Brethren Church known as Bethany, located on Old Town Creek near Logan; 
identified herself with same and has been a member of the United Brethren 
church about eighty-two years, totaling a membership of eighty-eight years.

She lived in Logan when perhaps nine-tenths of the present incorporate limits 
were in the virgin forest and barely enough inhabitants to have an old time 
wood chopping and quilting, or an apple cutting and apple butter boiling.

She was a grand, loving and faithful Christian mother, an attendant of church 
from the cradle to the grave, always persistent and untiring in her efforts to 
further the interests of the interests of the church and for the uplift of 
society.

She was of German and English decent.  Her ancestors were people of great 
longevity.  Her father passed to the higher life at the age of eighty-two 
years, her mother at the age of ninety-five years, her brother JESSEE LEOHNER, 
of Lancaster, Judge and member of the House of Representatives, at the age of 
seventy-eight years, her brother Rev. ABRAHAM LEOHNER of Colfax, Ohio, at 87 
years and LYDIA MILLER at eighty-two years.  Other sisters and brothers at the 
ages from seventy-four to eighty-five years; three nieces at the age of eighty-
four, eighty-eight and ninety years.

Her father and mother were southerners, raised in Rockingham county, Old 
Virginia, and left the old Dominion about one hundred and three years ago.  
Names of parents—GEORGE LEOHNER and SUSANNAH RHODES.  The LEOHNERS were 
earnest and strong adherents to the Christian religion.  Their geniality, 
sociability and kindness were strong factors in securing to them the love and 
esteem of those around them.

These trials, together with a good Christian life were characteristic of 
Mother BRIGHT.  The scorching summer sun or the rigid winter storms would not 
deter her from attending church, and she said:  “I never get sick from 
attending church.”

It can be said of her that she never lived but the one life—a good, faithful 
Christian life.  It is interesting to hear her tell of what she has 
experienced and of the great changes that have taken place during the one 
hundred and one years of her life.  We will not attempt to repeat any of them, 
except what she said one evening after the Columbus flood, which she had just 
passed through.

In speaking to her son, J. L., she said:  “Well, I have been chased by the 
Indians, saw the stars fall, saw Halley’s Comet twice, lived through three 
wars, saw and passed through the Columbus flood.  Now, I want to go to my long 
home before any other calamity befalls me.”

An Indian — old Dick — lived with her parents about six years, when she was a 
little girl.

Mrs. BRIGHT has been a most interesting figure in the life of the Avondale 
United Brethren church, where she was a regular attendant at the Mission 
conducted in 1901, on the site of the present church.  It was she who broke 
ground at the commencing of the church edifice and again at the laying of the 
cornerstone she was present and sang a hymn, and when the church was dedicated 
in 1904, she was again on the program.  The Pastor Rev. A. J. WAGNER and the 
members never failed to honor her with a special service on the occasion of 
her many birthdays, including the one hundredth, June 1916.

Her home life and Christian influence, emanated from a soul so full of 
radiation, were truly commendable.  But she has passed to that radiant shore 
where she rests and will weep no more.

The floral tributes speak volumes and are indicative of the love, veneration 
and appreciation in which she was held by loving friends.  Stars instead of 
flowers will be her decorations hereafter.  Her relation to the church, to her 
associates and to society are discontinued and her work is done.  She rests at 
home


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