Dr. John Weaver Bright

Male 1854 - 1922  (67 years)


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  • Name John Weaver Bright 
    Title Dr. 
    Born 17 Nov 1854  Rebersburg, Centre County, PA Find all individuals with events at this location  [1
    Gender Male 
    Occupation Physician 
    Died 20 Sep 1922  Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, PA Find all individuals with events at this location  [2
    Buried Westminster Cemetery, Bala Cynwyd, Montgomery County, PA Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Person ID I997  Kreider Moyer
    Last Modified 6 Oct 2020 

    Father Samuel Bright,   b. 1818, Aaronsburg, Centre County, PA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 1856, Centre County, PA Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 38 years) 
    Mother Eve Margaret Weaver,   b. 23 Dec 1822, Centre County, PA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 26 May 1904, Sugar Valley, Clinton County, PA Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 81 years) 
    Family ID F462  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family Sarah Margaret Meyer,   b. 29 Dec 1862, Rebersburg, Centre County, PA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 26 Sep 1949, Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, PA Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 86 years) 
    Married 1892  [1
    Children 
     1. Mary E. Bright,   b. 11 Feb 1894, Rebersburg, Centre County, PA Find all individuals with events at this location
     2. Florence Thring Bright,   b. 28 Dec 1896, Miles Township, Centre County, PA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 21 Jun 1995, Contra Costa County, CA Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 98 years)
     3. Lucille Bright,   b. 29 Dec 1896, Pennsylvania Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 4 May 1992, Contra Costa County, CA Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 95 years)
    Last Modified 17 May 2018 
    Family ID F235  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsBorn - 17 Nov 1854 - Rebersburg, Centre County, PA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsDied - 20 Sep 1922 - Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, PA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsBuried - - Westminster Cemetery, Bala Cynwyd, Montgomery County, PA Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth 
    Pin Legend  : Address       : Location       : City/Town       : County/Shire       : State/Province       : Country       : Not Set

  • Notes 
    • Page 122 COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

      JW. 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.: (i) David, who nevermarried. 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 Aarons- burg; (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 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, 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 Miliersville, 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 j'ears, 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 1 1, 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 Re- formed Church. Socially, he belongs to the Masonic lodge at Centre Hall. [1]

  • Sources 
    1. [S5] Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania, J.H. Beers & Co., (Name: Beers & Co, 1898;).

    2. [S38] Find A Grave database.