BIO: J. W. BRIGHT, Centre County, PA

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Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania: Including the 
Counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion: Containing 
Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens, Etc. 
Chicago: J. H. Beers, 1898.
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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD, page 122

J. W. BRIGHT, M. D., of Rebersburg, Centre county, is a physician whose 
professional attainments place him in the front rank among the practitioners 
of this section. European travel and study in the most noted centers of 
clinical work have supplemented the thorough preparation of our own schools, 
while natural talent has enabled him to improve to the utmost these 
advantages and the no less valuable training gained in years of practice. His 
success is the more creditable from having been gained by his own efforts in 
the face of financial difficulties in early life.
  John Bright, great-grandfather of our subject, was born in Pennsylvania of 
pioneer stock, his family having been among the early settlers in the eastern 
counties of that State, and after spending the greater part of his life there 
as a farmer, he came to Centre county to spend his last days. This was in the 
latter part of the eighteenth century, and he was then too old to work. His 
son George, our subject's grandfather, who was born, probably, in Lehigh 
county, was married in Centre county, about 1788, to Eve, daughter of John 
and Barbara (Wolf) Stover. George Bright, who possessed much mechanical 
ability, located at Aaronsburg, and having learned the hatter's trade in the 
East before the removal of the family, he followed that business, and was 
also interested in farming. He and his wife reared a large family, all of 
whom are dead except George, Jr.: (1) David, who never married, was a hatter 
at Aaronsburg; (2) Sophia married Adam Guiswite, a farmer of near Aaronsburg; 
(3) Margaret never married, and her death occurred at the old homestead; (4) 
Catherine was the wife of Samuel Shafer, a farmer, who lived at Madisonburg; 
(5) John, who married Martha Hill, was a brick maker and tanner at 
Aaronsburg; (6) George, a carpenter and cabinet maker, married Sarah Bower, 
and is living in retirement at Aaronsburg at the age of eighty-five years; 
(7) Michael, who married Elizabeth Robinson, was a slave-holder before the 
war, in which he participated on the Confederate side, and his death occurred 
in Memphis, Tenn., in 1893.
  Another member of this family was Samuel Bright, our subject's father, who 
was born, about 1818, at Aaronsburg, near the present site of the Lutheran 
cemetery. He was educated in that town, attending both the common schools and 
the academy, and then learned the carpenter's trade under the instruction of 
his brother George. He was of ordinary stature, was active and supple, and 
possessed decided genius in his line. As a citizen he was well known. He was 
the drum-major of an organization in Aaronsburg, and was a consistent, if not 
an active, member of the Lutheran Church.
  In politics, he was first a Whig, later a Republican, but he had no taste 
for the life of a politician, and he followed the business of carpentering 
and cabinet making until his death; he died at the early age of thirty-eight, 
from the effects of being over-heated, and he was buried at Aaronsburg. His 
wife, Eve Weaver, a daughter of Daniel and Elizabeth (Keplinger) Weaver, was 
born and reared in Haines township, Centre county. Six children blessed their 
union: (1) Mary E. (Mrs. Thomas Miller), of Winfield, Kans.; (2) Anna (Mrs. 
John Walton), of North Bend, Penn.; (3) Jennie, (Mrs. Huston Hunter), of Mill 
Hall, Penn.; (4) James W., professor of English Language in Johns Hopkins 
University,

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.  123

Baltimore, Md.; (5) John W., our subject, and (6) Margaret, who died in 
infancy. After the father's death the mother formed a second union, this time 
with Levi Conser, and now resides at Logantown, Penn. By this marriage there 
are three children: Harry N., Ph.D., now principal of the high school at 
Sunbury, Penn.; Thomas C., M.D., practicing medicine at Sunbury; and Minnie 
M., now Mrs. James Stoman, of Loganton, Penn.
  Dr. Bright was born November 17, 1854, in a house which stood upon land now 
inclosed within the Lutheran cemetery at Aaronsburg. During his boyhood he 
was taken by his mother to Loganton, where he attended school under the 
tutorship of Rev. W. H. Gotwald. Later he pursued a course in the normal 
school at Millersville, and taught successfully for a time in Dauphin county, 
Penn. Being entirely dependent upon his own resources for his education, his 
ambition found many hindrances but "where there's a will there's a way," and 
his was not the sort of a nature to be easily daunted. As he could save 
funds, he would pursue his studies, and thus in time he entered Jefferson 
Medical College at Philadelphia, and was graduated in 1880. In the fall of 
the same year he located at Rebersburg, where Dr. Hilbish, a successful 
physician, then well advanced in years, welcomed Dr. Bright as his successor. 
A young physician could scarcely find a better opening than this, and Dr. 
Bright succeeded from the first, his ability, skill and devotion to his 
chosen work winning and retaining confidence. Each year saw his practice 
increasing; but so far from being content with the attainments which had won 
his success, Dr. Bright showed the true scientific spirit by determining upon 
still further study under the best guidance obtainable. In the fall of 1888 
he went to Europe, and remained until the spring of 1890, attending lectures 
under several eminent teachers, notably those of Leipsic and Vienna. On his 
return he resumed his practice at Rebersburg, and has since continued it with 
growing popularity.
  In August, 1892, the Doctor was married to Miss Sarah M. Meyer, a native of 
Rebersburg, and a daughter of Reuben and Mary (Cosman) Meyer, prominent 
citizens. Mrs. Bright is a member of the Reformed Church and a leader in 
social life, her talents making her an acquisition to any circle. She is 
especially accomplished in music, and taught the art previous to her 
marriage. Three interesting daughters - Mary E., born February 11, 1894, and 
Florence and Lucile (twins), born December 28, 1896 - brighten their home.
  While not a politician, Dr. Bright takes great interest in the success of 
his party, the Republican, and at various times when placed upon the ticket 
for a township office in opposition to his expressed wishes, he has 
acquiesced gracefully and given most acceptable service. His unusually 
thorough preparation for his profession gives him much influence within as 
well as without the charmed circle of the medical fraternity, and he is a 
valued member of the American Medical Association, the State Medical Society, 
the West Branch Medical Society, and the Centre County Medical Society. He is 
a member of the Reformed Church. Socially, he belongs to the Masonic lodge at 
Centre Hall.