James H. Bright, a merchant and farmer of the Sixteenth District, was born in 1826, at Abingdon, Va.,and when small was brought by his parents to his present location. When twenty-two years old he began life for himself, a poor man, and what he is now worth is the fruit of his own industry and good management. He has followed farming, merchandising and dealing in fine stock; in the latter he dealt very extensively, and was eminently successful. He has driven as many as 850 cattle through to Virginia Markets in one drove, and has shipped as many as 1,900 in one fall season. He owns a good farm of 298 acres, and has given considerable property to his children. He enlisted in 1863, in Capt. Dodd’s Company, Eighty-first Tennessee Cavalry, C. S. A., and altogether served one year’s time.
He was married in 1848, to Miss Nancy McMackin, a daughter of James McMackin, a native of Washington County. One child was born to this union, and died unnamed. Mrs. Bright died in January, MO.
He was married a second time, in the fall of 1850, to Miss Matilda Tedlock, a daughter of John Tedlock, a native of Washington County. Seven children blessed their union: Sarah J., Mary E. (deceased), George W., William D., Jacob A.. John C. Breckinridge (deceased) and James Houston (deceased).
Mr. and Mrs. Bright are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and Mr. Bright is a Democrat in politics, casting his first presidential vote for the Democratic candidate in 1848.
He is the first-born of twins of David and Sallie (Morelock) Bright, natives of Virginia and Greene County, respectively. Mr. Bright came to this locality when a boy. He was colonel of the State militia. Mr. and Mrs. Bright were of German descent. He was a very successful farmer all his life. He was a son of Michael and Louisa Bright, natives of Reading, Penn. He was magistrate for many years. He immigrated to Greene County, Tenn., about 1800. Mrs. Sallie Bright died, and Mr. David Bright then married Lydia Collier, by which union ten children were born.
