Page:Historical and Biographical Annals of Columbia and Montour Counties, Pennsylvania, Containing a Concise History of the Two Counties and a Genealogical and Biographical Record of Representative Families.pdf/530

 COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

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Ju n e, 1 7 3 1 Michael. N ov. 24. 1 7 3 2; Cath­ m arried Khoda A. Butler, and lives in (he erine, A p ril 6, 17 3 4; John, Ja n . 20. 17 3 6; S u t e o f Ind ian a; E van s, deceased; D ennis; Peter, M ay 13, 17 3 8; David, Aug. 9, 174 0; Albert, deceased; Pcnina, o f D anville; Philip, M aria. A u g. i . 17 4 2; Sally, Ju n e 7, 17 4 5; and d e c c a s ^; Abbie, the w ife o f W illiam Achcn­ Christian, .April 6, 1747. bach, and M ary, deceased. Hiram and Mrs. Michael Bright, son o f Michael, was born Achcnbach, the latter a resident of Gladin I^ebanon county. P a., and w as a saddler brook, Iow a, are (he only survivors. by trade. A t an early day he located in Dennis Bright w as bom M arch 22. 1839. Reading, Berks 0 >., P a., where he kept one on the old homestead in VaUcy township, and of the first hotels and w as a very large land­ obtained his prim ary education in the dis­ owner. In 1760 be built a residence on the trict schools. Then he walked three miles co m er o f F irih and Washington streets, and back and forth daily, that being the distance there lived until his death, in 18 14. H is first from his father’s fam t to Danville, in order m arriage w as to Sarah Stoner, by whom he that he might further his education by a had two children, Michael and Jacob. His course in the Danville Academ y. H e next second union w as to M rs. Catherine Brow er, entered Greenwood Sem inary, where he re­ and their union w'as blessed with four chil­ mained fo r two years, following which he d ren : Sarah, bom Nov. 1 1, 17 6 9; D avid; became a student in the Pittsburgh Com ­ P e te r; and John, who died in infancy. mercial College, where he received a business Returning David Bright w as born in Reading. .Aug. education, graduating in 1856. 5, 17 7 1, and took up agricultural work upon home, he assisted his father in the labors o f reaching manhood. H e also followed team­ the farm until i8 6 t, when he removed to ing and did considerable building in and about I^ fa y e ite. W arren Co., Ind.. which w as the that city, lieing one o f its most enterprising home o f one o f his brothers. Upon the com­ citizens. On Jan, 27. 1793. he married mencement o f hostilities in the C ivil w ar he Catherine Ilottcnsticn, who lived to the age dctcmiined to enter the service, and on .April o f eighty years, and they became the parents 20, 18 6 1, he enlisted in the 15th Imliana 'olo f the foilowing children; Sally, bom Dec. unteer Infantry, fo r three months. T he regi­ 2 5 . 1793. who m arried M. A'eager; Michael, ment was held in Indianapolis by Governor bom .Aug. 16. 17 9 5 : .Abbie. bom Jan. 1. 1797. Alorton until the expiration o f that tenn, and who married George F isle r; WiUiam. liom when (he call fo r three years' men was made Sept. 2. 1798, who married Susan L o ra; he reenlisied. on Ju n e 14. 18 6 1. becoming tirst Catherine, liorn Feb. 19, 1800, the w ife sergeant o f Company A, of the same regi­ o f John G reen; I’eter. born Nov. 2 1 . 18 0 1: ment. T he regiment's first engagement was Joh n, bom Dec. 5, 18 0 3; David, born Dec. 25. at Rich Mountain, W. 'a.. where, having put 18 0 8; Aaron, bom Ju ly 8, 1809. who married the enemy to rout, the regiment was given .Maria M iller; and Francis, born Sept. 1. 18 12 . orders to pursue them in their retreat. .At Peter Bright w as born N ov. 2 1 . 18 0 1. at Elkw atcr the retreating regiment turned and Reading, and early in life moved to A'allcy made a bold stand, and in the engagement township. Montour county, where he pur­ which followed Air. Bright w as wounded by chased the farm which his son Dennis after­ a musket ball passing through his ankle, dis­ w ard owned. There he carried on general abling him to such an extent that he w as pre­ farm ing and became one of the foremo.st men vented from active serv'ice until the following o f that section. He erected new buildings on spring. H e w as then ordered to his regiment the property, and made many other improve­ and was promoted to a captaincy on the staff ments, opening up a limestone quarry, from o f Brig. Gen. George D. W agner, his brigade which he supplied limestone to the DanviUe having been transferred from West Virginia furnaces. H e also burned considerable time, to the arm y o f General BiicU in Kentucky for and w as a very energetic and prosperous busi­ the investment o f Fort H cn iy and Fort ness man. H e died at (he .age o f eighty-one Donelson. Having figured in the capture o f years. In December. 1827. he married Mary the.se two imjiortant [loints. the brigade joined Evans, who w as o f W elsh origin, a daughter the arm y o f (Jeneral Grant in Tennessee, and o f Philip and -Ann F.lizabcth (V a n Rccd) at the iiatilc o f Pittsburg Landing Captain Evans. H er ancestors settled in Chester Bright received an injury in his wounded county. Pa., as early as 1730. Eleven children ankle an«l w as incapacitated for further .active were bom to M r. and Airs. B righ t; Rdiccca. duly. H e w as dciaileil to garrison and pro­ who macricd Emanuel S id le r; .Abner and vost duly, and after a service o f two years David, who died at an early a g e; Hiram, who was honorably discharged. Immediately