Fergus County Democrat. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1904-1919, 1911-04-11
JOHN /, BRIGHT
BURIED SUNDAY
Beautiful Services at the Hotel Apart.
ments Followed by Interment
in City Cemetery.
LOSS TO Community
Decedent Was a Builder Who Con-
tributed Much Toward the Prog
ress of His Home City.

-
After lingering for more than a
week at the point Of death, John L.
Bright peacefully passed away at his
apartments in the Bright hotel last
Thursday morning at Ais. When the
end came, he was surrounded by
loved ones, who had watched over
him tenderly throughout the long ill
ness preceding the final summons.
Complications brought on by ner-
vous disorder were the cause of
! death.
Funeral Sunday Afternoon.
The funeral services were held at
| 2 o'clock Sunday afternoon from the
| Bright apartments in the hotel. which
shall long stand as monument to
| the decedent's progressiveness. A
large number Of immediate friends
were present at the services, which
were conducted by the Rev. Ernest
Wright, Of the Presbyterian church.
The pallbearers, selected by Mr..
Bright few days before his death,
were ]. D. Waite, R. W. Reynolds,
| w. D. Symmes, R. Won Tobel, G. ].
Wiedeman and Frank E. Wright. The
casket was covered with numerous
beautiful floral pieces, attesting the
high esteem in which the decedent
was held by hundreds OF people in
this city, where he has made his home
for so many years Many carriages
followed the remains to their last
resting place in the city cemetery
Mr.. Bright's Career.
The following sketch Of Mr.
Bright's long and active career was
prepared for the press by one of Mr..
Brights close friends and associates
| John Lawrence Bright was born
December 5th, 1852, at Westerville, a
small place about twelve miles from
Columbus, Ohio, the son Of Rev John
Bright and was related to the Eng
lish statesman of that name. He was
one Of family Of eight children, five
boys and three girls. Two Of his
brothers, George w. and c. F. Bright
are both prominent business men O
Columbus, Ohio; the three sisters
Mrs. Mary Pittman, of Reno, New.
mother of Our townsman, Tom Pitt
man; Mrs. W. N. Miller, wife o
Judge Miller, OF the supreme cour
Of West Virginia, and Miss Cleont
Bright, OF Westeryille, Ohio, all sur
vive him. Two brothers, Samuel E.
father Of Walter Bright of this city
and Jesse /. Bright, are deceased.
Mr. Bright began his business ca
reer early in life, at Columbus, AM
spent the greater portion Of his lif'
there in active business pursuits
Shortly after he first became attract
ed bv the superior advantages o
Montana, Mr., Bright lost the fortune
which he had accumulated in busines
in Columbus. His first venture il
the state Of his adoption was in con
nection with the old Spotted Hors
mine, and was not success. No
deferred. however, by the lack of sue
; cess attending that enterprise, he mex
made overtures for the purchase O
the plant and business Of the Citizens
Electric company of this city, til
stock of which was at that time owne
i'll small blocks by many of our citi
zens, none of whom had much knowl
edge of the business. These negotia
tions resulted in Mr.. Bright's acquir
ing the property at which was con
sidered very high figure by the oil
stockholders. Mr.. Bright immediatel,
went into the new business with TIL
accustomed energy of his nature. ant
soon placed it upon a splendid foot
ing, which it never lost as long as h
was in control of it.
Big Deal Closed Last Saturday
After the Lewistown Coal Gas (
Light company was organized abou
a year ago by Mr.. Gebo, he made
proposition to Mr.. Bright to purchas
J the plant and business Of the old com
. pany. which was accepted, the latte
realizing that Lewistown was hardl.
large enough to support we'll tw,
plants of this kind This deal wa
not closed until last Saturday.
For number of years after tn
burning of the old Lewistown hotel
our city was very much in need o
greater hotel facilities. to meet TIL
eyer-growing demands. Numerou
projects for the construction of sucl
!. a hotel building as was required wer
discussed from time to time by diff
ferent ones of our citizens. but notl,
S ing tangible was realized until MI
t Bright announced. as a complete sur
prise to our citizens. that he woul,
erect such building: and. suitin.
$ action to the word, building opera
Y tions began at once. ana were carrie'
: to speedy result. the present Brigh
e hotel
y Another enterprise started by MI
r Bright was the purchase OF the Nc
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