Montour County PA Archives Biographies.....BRIGHT, Dennis 1839 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/pafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com August 1, 2005, 12:13 am Author: Biographical Publishing Co. DENNIS BRIGHT, a retired hardware merchant, resides in a handsome home at No. 132 West Market street, in the borough of Danville, Montour County, Pa. The record of his life reveals unusual activity, and the height of the success which he has attained reflects great credit on his general business ability. Although at present he is not actively engaged in business, he is largely interested financially in a number of enterprises. He is a son of Peter and Mary (Evans) Bright, and was born in Valley township, Montour County, then Columbia County, Pa., March 22, 1839. The family is of French and German extraction and was established in this country by Michael Bright, who was born in Christianstadt, Germany, May 6, 1706, and was a son of John Bright. Coming to America in October, 1726, at the age of twenty years, when the province of Pennsylvania consisted of three counties, namely: Philadelphia, Bucks, and Chester, he located in Chester County. In 1728 he located at Schaefferstown, Chester County, one of the oldest towns in the state, and there he became an extensive land-owner. He was united in marriage with Margaret Simon, a daughter of Jacob Simon, and their union resulted in the following issue: Jacob, born April 13, 1729; George, born in June, 1731; Michael, born November 24, 1732; Catherine, born April 6, 1834; John, born January 20, 1736; Peter, born May 13, 1738; David, born August 9, 1740; Maria, born August 1, 1742; Sally, born June 7, 1745; and Christian, born April 6, 1747. Michael Bright, the great-grandfather of our subject, was a saddler by trade, and at an early day located in Reading, Berks County, where he kept one of the first hotels and was a very large landowner. In 1760 he built a residence at the corner of Fifth and Washington streets, and there lived until his death, in 1814. His first marriage was with Sarah Stoner, by whom he had two children: Michael and Jacob. His second union was with Mrs. Catherine Brower, and their union was blessed with four children: Sarah, born November 11, 1769; and David, the grandfather of our subject, Peter and John, who died in infancy. David Bright was born in Reading, August 5, 1771, and took to agricultural pursuits upon reaching manhood. He also followed teaming and also did considerable building in and about that city, being one of its most enterprising citizens. On January 27, 1793, he married Catherine Hottenstien, who died at the age of eighty years, and they became the parents of the following children: Sally, who was born December 25, 1793, and married M. Yeager; Michael, born August 16, 1795; Abbie, born January 1, 1797, married George Fisler; William, born September 2, 1798, married Susan Lora; Catherine, born February 19, 1800, was the wife of John Green; John, born December 5, 1803; David, born December 25, 1808; Aaron, born July 8, 1809, married Maria Miller; and Francis, born September 1, 1812. Peter Bright, the father of our subject, was born November 21, 1801, and early in life moved to Valley township, Montour County, and purchased the farm which our subject now owns. There he carried on general farming and became one of the first men of that section. He erected new buildings on the property and made many other improvements, opening up a limestone quarry, from which he supplied limestone to the Danville furnaces. He also burned lime to a great extent, and was a very energetic business man, accumulating a handsome competency. He died at the age of eighty-one years. In December, 1827, he was joined in Hymen's bonds with Mary Evans, a daughter of Philip and Ann Elizabeth (Van Reed) Evans, and the following children were born to them: Rebecca, who married Emanuel Seidler; Abner, and David, who died at an early age; Hiram, who married Rhoda A. Butler; Evans, deceased; Dennis, the gentleman whose name heads these lines; Albert, deceased; Penina, of Danville; Philip, deceased; Abbie, the wife of William Achenback; and Mary, deceased. Dennis Bright obtained his primary education in the district schools, after which he walked three miles daily, that being the distance from his father's farm to Danville, in order that he might further his education by a course of study in the Danville Academy. He then entered the Greenwood Seminary, where he remained for two years; following this he became a student in the Pittsburg Commercial College, where he received a business education. Returning home, he assisted his father in the labors about the farm until 1861, when he removed to Lafayette, Warren County, Ind., which was the home of one of his brothers. Upon the commencement of hostilities in the Civil War our subject determined to enter the service, and on April 20, 1861, he enlisted as a private in the 15th Reg., Ind. Vol. Inf., for three months. The regiment was held in Indianapolis by Gov. Morton until the expiration of that term, but when the call for three-years' men was made he re-enlisted on June 14, 1861, as first sergeant of Company A, of the same regiment. The regiment's first engagement was at Rich Mountain, W. Va., where, having put the Rebels to rout, the regiment was given orders to pursue them in their retreat. At Elkwater the rapidly retreating Confederates turned and made a bold stand, and in the engagement which followed our subject was wounded by a musket ball passing through his ankle, disabling him to such an extent that he was prevented from active service until the following spring. He was then ordered to his regiment and was promoted to a captaincy on the staff of Brig.-Gen. George D. Wagner, his brigade having been transferred from West Virginia to the army of Gen. Buell in Kentucky for the investment of Forts Henry and Donelson. Having figured in the capture of these two important points, the brigade joined the army of Gen. Grant in Tennessee, and at the battle of Pittsburg Landing Capt. Bright received an injury in his wounded ankle and was incapacitated for further active duty. He was detailed to garrison and provost duty, and after a service of two years was honorably discharged. He immediately thereafter received an appointment as an assessor of internal revenue. He was subsequently appointed lieutenant-colonel of the 8th Division of the National Guard of Pennsylvania. He located in Danville, where, in company with Col. Charles Eckerman, he purchased the plant now known as the Atlantic Oil Refining Company, which was established by John Heller and Charles Shultz. From the crude oil they refined illuminating oil and lubricating oil in large quantities and did a very extensive business. In 1872 they disposed of the business to Bailey & Welsch. Our subject, having heard nothing for some years of his brother Philip, who had gone to California, crossed the continent to search for him and found that he had been robbed and murdered. Returning one year later he bought the hardware establishment of Van Allen & Company in the Opera House block in Danville, and carried on this business with characteristic ability for a period of fifteen years. He then sold the business to E. J. Moore, and has since lived a retired life, with the exception of carrying on farming on the old family estate in Valley township, which lie still owns. He also continues to conduct his limestone quarries. He is the owner of considerable property and has a winter home and orange grove in Marion County, Fla., where he spends the winter months, which are so cold and disagreeable in the Northern States. His home in Danville was built by Thomas Beaver; it is a fine brick residence and commands an excellent view of the Susquehanna River and beautiful mountain scenery. In 1872 Mr. Bright married Lucy Reay, a daughter of John Reay. She is a lady of excellent qualities, is kind and charitable, and has proven a worthy companion and a loving wife. She is of English birth, but was reared and educated in California. Our subject is a Republican in his political affiliations, and the manner in which he is esteemed by his fellow-citizens was shown when he was elected to the Legislature in 1872, being the first of his party to represent the district in that body. A kind husband and a true friend, our subject is well thought of by every one. Additional Comments: Extracted from: Book of Biographies of the Seventeenth Congressional District Published by Biographical Publishing Company of Chicago, Ill. and Buffalo, NY (1899) This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/pafiles/ File size: 8.9 Kb