BRIGHT, JAMES M.
J. M. Bright, a veteran of the Confederate army, and a pioneer settler of Medina county, Texas, was born in Wilson county, Tennessee, July 1, 1830. He is a son of Harvey and Betsey Bright, of North Carolina, in which state they were married; he being of English descent, and the only one of the name known to our subject. The elder Mr. Bright moved from North Carolina to Tennessee, after his marriage, and settled on a farm, and here his children were born and reared, and he resided until his death. He was a consistent and worthy member of the Primitive Baptist church and was well known and highly respected in his community. In politics he was a Democrat, but was never an aspirant for office or notoriety. His wife survived him for a number of years and devoted herself to her children, raising them at the old homestead, where she died at a ripe old age. She, in common with her husband, held membership in the Primitive Baptist church. Their children numbered three: J. M.; Joseph, who was killed at Richmond, Virginia while serving in the Confederate army: and Benjamin, who served through the war, in the southern army, and received wounds in the fight at Murfreesboro which rendered him a cripple for life. Mr. J. M. Bright remained with his widowed mother, in Tennessee, until past eighteen years of age; going, however, in 1849 to Oregon, and the following year to California, where he was employed, for a time in the mines, and later engaged in trading. This line he followed until the early part of 1854, when he joined a party of engineers engaged on a preliminary survey for the Southern Pacific Railway, continuing this survey until they met the eastern party of engineers at the Rio Grande River, when both parties dissolved. From this point, his health having become broken from continued chills and fever, Mr. Bright went to San Antonio with the hope of recuperating, in which search for health he was rewarded by finding that the climate seemed adapted to his needs.
At San Antonio he opened a mechanics' boarding house, which he ran successfully for one year. His next venture was stock raising and farming, which he followed until March, 1862, when he enlisted in Company C, Thirty-second Texas Cavalry, in the Confederate service, going immediately into camp at San Antonio. He met with an accident December 24, 1857, which resulted later in disability, and he was honorably discharged on that account. Recovering, however, he re-enlisted in the early part of 1864, and was assigned to the commissary department, with which he served until the close of the war.
At the conclusion of the war, Mr. Bright resumed his farming and stock raising, devoting most of his time to the latter branch, and having fine herds of horses. Later he moved to Chicon Creek, two miles from the site of the present town of Devine. The range was then free, and the feed good, so that his stock flourished and his herds increased, but in 1867-8 hostile Indians began a series of raids, which materially diminished his herds and those of his neighbors. These Indians were an almost constant source of annoyance for some time, and Mr. Bright relates that they had many fights with them, during which the Indians carried off a number of white scalps to show to their tribe as evidence of their prowess; and that in one fight, which occurred a few miles east of where Devine now stands, the white party were very nearly ambuscaded, but fortunately managed to surround the red-skins and killed all but one of them.
In 1875 Mr. Bright bought out a squatter, who had made some small improvements on his property, and later pre-empted the tract, which consisted of 160 acres, as a homestead, and began making permanent improvements. A portion of this tract he still owns, and here he continued his stock raising until 1896, when he sold out the business. In 1881 the I. & G. N. Railway built through a portion of Mr. Bright's ranch, and the company started the town of Devine. In 1885 Mr. Bright plotted Bright's First Addition to Devine, and in January, 1907, he has plotted Bright's Second Addition. He has been very successful in the sale of lots and improved property in that location, retaining, however, much that is a source of good income, in the way of rentable property. His lots are meeting with a ready sale, the town being a growing one, and the surrounding country settled by thrifty farmers. In 1895 he retired from active farm work and has since given his time to his property interests.
The town of Devine has, apparently, a fine outlook for the future, numbering, already 2,000 inhabitants, and possessing a fine graded school; five churches, including Baptist, Methodist Episcopal, Christian, Catholic, and Mexican Methodist; one national bank, and one state bank; three large cotton gins. It has everything that goes to make up a thriving town with future possibilities, and the outlying district is a fine agricultural section, and raises a variety of fruits in profusion. Mr. Bright states that when he first came to this section there were but few settlers, and that the majority of them were raising stock, without attempting to raise anything but corn, not knowing anything else would mature here. Those who planted grain, however, and gave it proper attention, were amply repaid, and it has been demonstrated that corn raising can be made a success here, as all crops can be raised without irrigation.
Mr. Bright has seen the development of this section from its primitive state, and. pardonably, looks with pride upon the present evidences of prosperity, for this state of affairs was made possible only through the hardships and deprivations that the pioneer settler underwent in building the foundations on which this present prosperous town was erected.
Mr. Bright's wife was a Miss Sarah A. Lackey, a lady of culture and refinement, and a daughter of John Lackey of Tennessee, who in an early day moved to Texas and settled near San Antonio where he engaged in the stock business, following that successfully until 1849 when his death occurred as a result of cholera which was then prevalent in that section. Mrs. Bright was a worthy helpmeet and devoted her life to her home and community. She died March 15. 1904. She was an honored member of the Christian church. [A Twentieth Century History of Southwest Texas, Volume 2, 1907, pages 191-193]
J. M. Bright, a veteran of the Confederate army, and a pioneer settler of Medina county, Texas, was born in Wilson county, Tennessee, July 1, 1830. He is a son of Harvey and Betsey Bright, of North Carolina, in which state they were married; he being of English descent, and the only one of the name known to our subject. The elder Mr. Bright moved from North Carolina to Tennessee, after his marriage, and settled on a farm, and here his children were born and reared, and he resided until his death. He was a consistent and worthy member of the Primitive Baptist church and was well known and highly respected in his community. In politics he was a Democrat, but was never an aspirant for office or notoriety. His wife survived him for a number of years and devoted herself to her children, raising them at the old homestead, where she died at a ripe old age. She, in common with her husband, held membership in the Primitive Baptist church. Their children numbered three: J. M.; Joseph, who was killed at Richmond, Virginia while serving in the Confederate army: and Benjamin, who served through the war, in the southern army, and received wounds in the fight at Murfreesboro which rendered him a cripple for life. Mr. J. M. Bright remained with his widowed mother, in Tennessee, until past eighteen years of age; going, however, in 1849 to Oregon, and the following year to California, where he was employed, for a time in the mines, and later engaged in trading. This line he followed until the early part of 1854, when he joined a party of engineers engaged on a preliminary survey for the Southern Pacific Railway, continuing this survey until they met the eastern party of engineers at the Rio Grande River, when both parties dissolved. From this point, his health having become broken from continued chills and fever, Mr. Bright went to San Antonio with the hope of recuperating, in which search for health he was rewarded by finding that the climate seemed adapted to his needs.
At San Antonio he opened a mechanics' boarding house, which he ran successfully for one year. His next venture was stock raising and farming, which he followed until March, 1862, when he enlisted in Company C, Thirty-second Texas Cavalry, in the Confederate service, going immediately into camp at San Antonio. He met with an accident December 24, 1857, which resulted later in disability, and he was honorably discharged on that account. Recovering, however, he re-enlisted in the early part of 1864, and was assigned to the commissary department, with which he served until the close of the war.
At the conclusion of the war, Mr. Bright resumed his farming and stock raising, devoting most of his time to the latter branch, and having fine herds of horses. Later he moved to Chicon Creek, two miles from the site of the present town of Devine. The range was then free, and the feed good, so that his stock flourished and his herds increased, but in 1867-8 hostile Indians began a series of raids, which materially diminished his herds and those of his neighbors. These Indians were an almost constant source of annoyance for some time, and Mr. Bright relates that they had many fights with them, during which the Indians carried off a number of white scalps to show to their tribe as evidence of their prowess; and that in one fight, which occurred a few miles east of where Devine now stands, the white party were very nearly ambuscaded, but fortunately managed to surround the red-skins and killed all but one of them.
In 1875 Mr. Bright bought out a squatter, who had made some small improvements on his property, and later pre-empted the tract, which consisted of 160 acres, as a homestead, and began making permanent improvements. A portion of this tract he still owns, and here he continued his stock raising until 1896, when he sold out the business. In 1881 the I. & G. N. Railway built through a portion of Mr. Bright's ranch, and the company started the town of Devine. In 1885 Mr. Bright plotted Bright's First Addition to Devine, and in January, 1907, he has plotted Bright's Second Addition. He has been very successful in the sale of lots and improved property in that location, retaining, however, much that is a source of good income, in the way of rentable property. His lots are meeting with a ready sale, the town being a growing one, and the surrounding country settled by thrifty farmers. In 1895 he retired from active farm work and has since given his time to his property interests.
The town of Devine has, apparently, a fine outlook for the future, numbering, already 2,000 inhabitants, and possessing a fine graded school; five churches, including Baptist, Methodist Episcopal, Christian, Catholic, and Mexican Methodist; one national bank, and one state bank; three large cotton gins. It has everything that goes to make up a thriving town with future possibilities, and the outlying district is a fine agricultural section, and raises a variety of fruits in profusion. Mr. Bright states that when he first came to this section there were but few settlers, and that the majority of them were raising stock, without attempting to raise anything but corn, not knowing anything else would mature here. Those who planted grain, however, and gave it proper attention, were amply repaid, and it has been demonstrated that corn raising can be made a success here, as all crops can be raised without irrigation.
Mr. Bright has seen the development of this section from its primitive state, and. pardonably, looks with pride upon the present evidences of prosperity, for this state of affairs was made possible only through the hardships and deprivations that the pioneer settler underwent in building the foundations on which this present prosperous town was erected.
Mr. Bright's wife was a Miss Sarah A. Lackey, a lady of culture and refinement, and a daughter of John Lackey of Tennessee, who in an early day moved to Texas and settled near San Antonio where he engaged in the stock business, following that successfully until 1849 when his death occurred as a result of cholera which was then prevalent in that section. Mrs. Bright was a worthy helpmeet and devoted her life to her home and community. She died March 15. 1904. She was an honored member of the Christian church. [A Twentieth Century History of Southwest Texas, Volume 2, 1907, pages 191-193]
BRIGHT, JAMES M.
J. M. Bright, a veteran of the Confederate army, and a pioneer settler of Medina county, Texas, was born in Wilson county, Tennessee, July 1, 1830. He is a son of Harvey and Betsey Bright, of North Carolina, in which state they were married; he being of English descent, and the only one of the name known to our subject. The elder Mr. Bright moved from North Carolina to Tennessee, after his marriage, and settled on a farm, and here his children were born and reared, and he resided until his death. He was a consistent and worthy member of the Primitive Baptist church and was well known and highly respected in his community. In politics he was a Democrat, but was never an aspirant for office or notoriety. His wife survived him for a number of years and devoted herself to her children, raising them at the old homestead, where she died at a ripe old age. She, in common with her husband, held membership in the Primitive Baptist church. Their children numbered three: J. M.; Joseph, who was killed at Richmond, Virginia while serving in the Confederate army: and Benjamin, who served through the war, in the southern army, and received wounds in the fight at Murfreesboro which rendered him a cripple for life. Mr. J. M. Bright remained with his widowed mother, in Tennessee, until past eighteen years of age; going, however, in 1849 to Oregon, and the following year to California, where he was employed, for a time in the mines, and later engaged in trading. This line he followed until the early part of 1854, when he joined a party of engineers engaged on a preliminary survey for the Southern Pacific Railway, continuing this survey until they met the eastern party of engineers at the Rio Grande River, when both parties dissolved. From this point, his health having become broken from continued chills and fever, Mr. Bright went to San Antonio with the hope of recuperating, in which search for health he was rewarded by finding that the climate seemed adapted to his needs.
At San Antonio he opened a mechanics' boarding house, which he ran successfully for one year. His next venture was stock raising and farming, which he followed until March, 1862, when he enlisted in Company C, Thirty-second Texas Cavalry, in the Confederate service, going immediately into camp at San Antonio. He met with an accident December 24, 1857, which resulted later in disability, and he was honorably discharged on that account. Recovering, however, he re-enlisted in the early part of 1864, and was assigned to the commissary department, with which he served until the close of the war.
At the conclusion of the war, Mr. Bright resumed his farming and stock raising, devoting most of his time to the latter branch, and having fine herds of horses. Later he moved to Chicon Creek, two miles from the site of the present town of Devine. The range was then free, and the feed good, so that his stock flourished and his herds increased, but in 1867-8 hostile Indians began a series of raids, which materially diminished his herds and those of his neighbors. These Indians were an almost constant source of annoyance for some time, and Mr. Bright relates that they had many fights with them, during which the Indians carried off a number of white scalps to show to their tribe as evidence of their prowess; and that in one fight, which occurred a few miles east of where Devine now stands, the white party were very nearly ambuscaded, but fortunately managed to surround the red-skins and killed all but one of them.
In 1875 Mr. Bright bought out a squatter, who had made some small improvements on his property, and later pre-empted the tract, which consisted of 160 acres, as a homestead, and began making permanent improvements. A portion of this tract he still owns, and here he continued his stock raising until 1896, when he sold out the business. In 1881 the I. & G. N. Railway built through a portion of Mr. Bright's ranch, and the company started the town of Devine. In 1885 Mr. Bright plotted Bright's First Addition to Devine, and in January, 1907, he has plotted Bright's Second Addition. He has been very successful in the sale of lots and improved property in that location, retaining, however, much that is a source of good income, in the way of rentable property. His lots are meeting with a ready sale, the town being a growing one, and the surrounding country settled by thrifty farmers. In 1895 he retired from active farm work and has since given his time to his property interests.
The town of Devine has, apparently, a fine outlook for the future, numbering, already 2,000 inhabitants, and possessing a fine graded school; five churches, including Baptist, Methodist Episcopal, Christian, Catholic, and Mexican Methodist; one national bank, and one state bank; three large cotton gins. It has everything that goes to make up a thriving town with future possibilities, and the outlying district is a fine agricultural section, and raises a variety of fruits in profusion. Mr. Bright states that when he first came to this section there were but few settlers, and that the majority of them were raising stock, without attempting to raise anything but corn, not knowing anything else would mature here. Those who planted grain, however, and gave it proper attention, were amply repaid, and it has been demonstrated that corn raising can be made a success here, as all crops can be raised without irrigation.
Mr. Bright has seen the development of this section from its primitive state, and. pardonably, looks with pride upon the present evidences of prosperity, for this state of affairs was made possible only through the hardships and deprivations that the pioneer settler underwent in building the foundations on which this present prosperous town was erected.
Mr. Bright's wife was a Miss Sarah A. Lackey, a lady of culture and refinement, and a daughter of John Lackey of Tennessee, who in an early day moved to Texas and settled near San Antonio where he engaged in the stock business, following that successfully until 1849 when his death occurred as a result of cholera which was then prevalent in that section. Mrs. Bright was a worthy helpmeet and devoted her life to her home and community. She died March 15. 1904. She was an honored member of the Christian church. [A Twentieth Century History of Southwest Texas, Volume 2, 1907, pages 191-193]
J. M. Bright, a veteran of the Confederate army, and a pioneer settler of Medina county, Texas, was born in Wilson county, Tennessee, July 1, 1830. He is a son of Harvey and Betsey Bright, of North Carolina, in which state they were married; he being of English descent, and the only one of the name known to our subject. The elder Mr. Bright moved from North Carolina to Tennessee, after his marriage, and settled on a farm, and here his children were born and reared, and he resided until his death. He was a consistent and worthy member of the Primitive Baptist church and was well known and highly respected in his community. In politics he was a Democrat, but was never an aspirant for office or notoriety. His wife survived him for a number of years and devoted herself to her children, raising them at the old homestead, where she died at a ripe old age. She, in common with her husband, held membership in the Primitive Baptist church. Their children numbered three: J. M.; Joseph, who was killed at Richmond, Virginia while serving in the Confederate army: and Benjamin, who served through the war, in the southern army, and received wounds in the fight at Murfreesboro which rendered him a cripple for life. Mr. J. M. Bright remained with his widowed mother, in Tennessee, until past eighteen years of age; going, however, in 1849 to Oregon, and the following year to California, where he was employed, for a time in the mines, and later engaged in trading. This line he followed until the early part of 1854, when he joined a party of engineers engaged on a preliminary survey for the Southern Pacific Railway, continuing this survey until they met the eastern party of engineers at the Rio Grande River, when both parties dissolved. From this point, his health having become broken from continued chills and fever, Mr. Bright went to San Antonio with the hope of recuperating, in which search for health he was rewarded by finding that the climate seemed adapted to his needs.
At San Antonio he opened a mechanics' boarding house, which he ran successfully for one year. His next venture was stock raising and farming, which he followed until March, 1862, when he enlisted in Company C, Thirty-second Texas Cavalry, in the Confederate service, going immediately into camp at San Antonio. He met with an accident December 24, 1857, which resulted later in disability, and he was honorably discharged on that account. Recovering, however, he re-enlisted in the early part of 1864, and was assigned to the commissary department, with which he served until the close of the war.
At the conclusion of the war, Mr. Bright resumed his farming and stock raising, devoting most of his time to the latter branch, and having fine herds of horses. Later he moved to Chicon Creek, two miles from the site of the present town of Devine. The range was then free, and the feed good, so that his stock flourished and his herds increased, but in 1867-8 hostile Indians began a series of raids, which materially diminished his herds and those of his neighbors. These Indians were an almost constant source of annoyance for some time, and Mr. Bright relates that they had many fights with them, during which the Indians carried off a number of white scalps to show to their tribe as evidence of their prowess; and that in one fight, which occurred a few miles east of where Devine now stands, the white party were very nearly ambuscaded, but fortunately managed to surround the red-skins and killed all but one of them.
In 1875 Mr. Bright bought out a squatter, who had made some small improvements on his property, and later pre-empted the tract, which consisted of 160 acres, as a homestead, and began making permanent improvements. A portion of this tract he still owns, and here he continued his stock raising until 1896, when he sold out the business. In 1881 the I. & G. N. Railway built through a portion of Mr. Bright's ranch, and the company started the town of Devine. In 1885 Mr. Bright plotted Bright's First Addition to Devine, and in January, 1907, he has plotted Bright's Second Addition. He has been very successful in the sale of lots and improved property in that location, retaining, however, much that is a source of good income, in the way of rentable property. His lots are meeting with a ready sale, the town being a growing one, and the surrounding country settled by thrifty farmers. In 1895 he retired from active farm work and has since given his time to his property interests.
The town of Devine has, apparently, a fine outlook for the future, numbering, already 2,000 inhabitants, and possessing a fine graded school; five churches, including Baptist, Methodist Episcopal, Christian, Catholic, and Mexican Methodist; one national bank, and one state bank; three large cotton gins. It has everything that goes to make up a thriving town with future possibilities, and the outlying district is a fine agricultural section, and raises a variety of fruits in profusion. Mr. Bright states that when he first came to this section there were but few settlers, and that the majority of them were raising stock, without attempting to raise anything but corn, not knowing anything else would mature here. Those who planted grain, however, and gave it proper attention, were amply repaid, and it has been demonstrated that corn raising can be made a success here, as all crops can be raised without irrigation.
Mr. Bright has seen the development of this section from its primitive state, and. pardonably, looks with pride upon the present evidences of prosperity, for this state of affairs was made possible only through the hardships and deprivations that the pioneer settler underwent in building the foundations on which this present prosperous town was erected.
Mr. Bright's wife was a Miss Sarah A. Lackey, a lady of culture and refinement, and a daughter of John Lackey of Tennessee, who in an early day moved to Texas and settled near San Antonio where he engaged in the stock business, following that successfully until 1849 when his death occurred as a result of cholera which was then prevalent in that section. Mrs. Bright was a worthy helpmeet and devoted her life to her home and community. She died March 15. 1904. She was an honored member of the Christian church. [A Twentieth Century History of Southwest Texas, Volume 2, 1907, pages 191-193]
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