I was born Dec 19 1829.  My parents were Jeremiah and Mary Bright.  The following is our record.

1.  Jeremiah N. Bright born Sept 24 1806 in Fairfield Co Ohio and died Dec 25 1840 in
     Hocking Co Ohio
2.  Mary Bright born March 3 1811 in Montgomery Co Ohio and died Oct 22 1863 [image] in
     Elkhart Co Union Town Ind.
3.  David M. Bright born Dec 19 1829 Montgomery Co Ohio
4.  George W. Bright born July 30 1830 and died March 25 1852 in Elkhart co Ind
5.  John Bright born Sept 16 1831 Montgomery Co Ohio
6.  Susannah Bright born Sept 16 1833 Elkhart Co Ind. And died Feb 18 1838
7.  Eliza Ann Bright born Sept 3 1837 Elkhart Co Ind. And died Sept 27 1838
[image] 8.  William L. Bright born Jan 3 1835 Elkhart Co Ind.
9.  Mary Bright born Dec 31 1840 Hocking Co

My parents were church members (Dunkers) and tried to serve God according to the Light and knowledge they had of the word of God.  And trust have found their way to heaven.  They also tried to rear there family in the nurture and Admonition of the Lord.  Some time say one year or more I,  my mother moved to Elkhart Co Ind.  Here as a conseyuence we were scattered myself, [image] and the next two oldest of my brothers, lived with my mothers relatives.  Some 1 or 2 years after the death of my father my mother again married to Christian Stouder. With whom she again had 5 children.  The following is their record.

1.  Lydia Stouder born June 29 1843 Elkhart Co. Ind.
2.  Christian Stouder born April 14 1845 do “   “
4.  Lovina & Lucinda Stouder born Jan 5 1847 do “  “
5. Samuel Stouder born
 

[image]         Page 5
April 21 1850

So this is the record of all of us.  With my uncle I lived 5 or 6 years then went to learn a trade (potter) near my mothers home Elkhart Co Union Town Ind. with one David Dansman, I then being in my 19th year.  After learning 3 years I still worked for my boss, so as to acquire me enough money to buy 40 acres of land near my mothers home.  By this time, thought it best to exchange my single for a mariage state.  So in August 22 1858 I married Elisabeth Jane Rinehart.  Sometime after my mariage [image] I sold my farm (not yet having moved on it yet) and moved to Wells Co Ind.  Here I again bought me 40 acres of land.  Built a house and moved in to it the 5 day of April 1860.  Here we spent our time some 5 years.  And again sold my farm, and came to Michigan Monroe Co Bedford Town.  Here I again bought 40 acres of land and built a house on it, where we now live with a family of children.  The number of us which the family record will show.  It was the 7th of April 1866 that we came here.

[image] Family Record

1.  David M. Bright born Dec 19, 1829 do “  “
2.  Elisabeth Jane Bright born Sept 3 1835
3.  William M. Bright born Dec 19 1859 Elkhart Co Ind. Union Town
4.  a son born (not named) Jun 17 1861 and died the same day Well Co Ind.
5.  Mary Emmy Bright born May 29 1862 Wells Co Ind.
[image] 6. Matilda Salome Bright born Jan 29 1864 do died Feb 3d 1881 in the morning at 20
    minutes to 4
7.  Sarah Catharine Bright born Dec 25 1865 do “  “
8.  Rose Anna Amanda Bright born Nov 28 1867 Mich. Monroe Co. Bedford Town
9.  Susannah Tyora Bright born Feb 25 1870 do “ died Feb 6 1881 at 8 oclock in morning
10.  John David Bright born July 9 1873 do “  “

The 3 youngest of the children baptized by the Rev Jonas Borough Dec 11 1873

[image] My & my Companion conversion

In 1848 (may or June) I sought and found him whom may soul loved.  At a camp meeting held by the ‘Evangelical Association” Kosciosko Co Scott Town Indiania

“O happy day”
When Jesus washed my sins away

In 1852 (June) I was baptized by the Rev Bishop John Seibat (?) Solomans Creek Benton Town Ind.

In Jan 2 1859 my companion was converted to God Elkhart Co Ind.
 
 

[image] Page 10
Bedford Monroe Co Mich.

Since we live in Michigan the Lord has blessed us wonderfully both temporal & spiritually not only now but ever since we have a being God was good to us.  Glory be to him.  It was here that  I  & my companion came to a knowledge & better understanding of ourselves concerning the perfect will of God.  To serve him more perfectly.

AT THIS POINT THERE ARE OBITS FOR MATILDA & SUSIE PASTED TO A PAGE 11 [image].  ALSO NOTE THAT ALL THE PAGES BETWEEN 11 & 28 WERE CUT OUT.
 
 

[image]        Page 29
This page has many unreadable parts:

December 21 today a hard conflict these words were ???cious  I am without spot & blame before him  love.  Feb 4, 188? This evening I truly could draw ?igh to God in full assure faith, O how near god is ?lorry was this year we moved from Bedford Monroe County to Leelnau Kassion Michigan.  Since we here we have been sorely tried ??? taking away our dear Tilly Susia.  They and only 3 days apart of that dreadful disease diptheria.  Tilly died Feb 3, 1881 in the morning 20 minutes till 4 clock & Susia in the morning at 9 o clock how trying this was to us.  I am reconciled for it I God or me & not mine.

        Page 30 & 31

[image] So in memory & to relieve my mind I have tried to compose some verses in reference to my Dear Tilly & Susia

(“Our Tilly + Susia no more”)

O Tilly + Susia you left me so soon
When you were quite young and in full bloom
You bloomed for many years like a flower in may
But now by gods spirit you are wilted away

Of diptheria they suferd much anguish  + ??
Until by the savior were relieved from the same
They have gone to the savior to live evermore
Way over yonder on the evergreen shore

Twas only 3 days apart they did leave
Which caused me much sorrow + for them + now
But God saw fit to order it so
Which saved them from pain misery + w??

[image] The savior did call them to mansions above
Always enjoy his presence + love
The savior have gone who did them reclaim
From the thralldom of sin o bless his name

Now Tilly + Susia we do for you mourn
And never shall see you till the resurrect mourn
The place is so dreadful + with holy awe
Reverence the spot where we you last saw

Yes Tilly she said before she left here
Soon shall go home to my savior dear
So Susia she said where Tilly has gone
I so will go + forever be at home

They used to sing so nice+ beautiful songs
God + their savior to whom the prais belongs
Now their nice singing here is passed
In heaven they now sing where they arrived at last

Now they do peacefully slumber + rest
In heaven they are safe + are numberd with the blest
[image] So now I would say to you good bye
Until we shall meet in the sweet by + by

Isaia 40 67.2v
Again we do see that poor man but
Yes surely the people is but grass
And in to the grass Gods spirit doth blow
And soon we wilt down + from earth go

Isaiah 40 6.72 verses
But thanks be to God his word shall abid
And always can have it for our guide
To lead + to guide + direct us there
Where God and the holy angels are.

[image]        Page 33

My experience

I was truly converted to God at a camp meeting held at Kosciusk Co Scott Township Indiana May or June 1848.  Years before my conversion God called after me to turn + live but did not heed the calls till the above sated time.  To said meeting I went with the intention to become right.  I was here but a short time, when I came to see what I must do to be saved.  Seeing the children of God enjoying themselves in the worship of God

[image]        Page 2
I also became anxious to enjoy what they enjoyed.  O how I longed to become right to enjoy the love of God.  So there was a privelige for those as I was to come to the anxious seat so I with a goodly no of other came forward to seek God.  O how I then did ask God I was in earnest.  I well remember at the time how the brethren tried to comfort and direct me to Christ.  O how earnestly did the sainted Samuel Dickover try to show me the way to Christ while at the altar.  How precious were his words in my seeking God.

[image]        Page 3
I prayed as best I could + thanks be to God before the close of said meeting I was saved by the grace of God.  Found him whim my soul loves from this meeting I went home rejoicing in God on + on “to grow in grace + in the knowledge of our lord + saviour Jesus Christ”.  In the year 1872 Feb 4 it was through the teaching of Rev B F. Wade that I got light to seek a deeper work of grace.  So I sought God for more grace + was not disappointed but found more grace.  Glory to my God.

“I now have found abiding rest for which I long was sighing”

[image] Now I could own all Gods promises.  Now I could read his word in a differen light.

Sometimes I feel that holy awe that dare not move and all the silent heaven of love.
 

ON THE NEXT PAGE IS A NEWSPAPER CLIPPING FROM THE ??? COMMERCIAL GAZETTE PASTED IN THE BOOK

[image] A Mediumistic Theory – Rev. Dr. D. D. Oheden, the famous Methodist minister, evolved a curious theory shortly before his death.  He said the mind of man consisted of the entire nervous system, and not the contents of the cranium alone.  He taught that the ramifications of the nerves conforming in themselves to the form of the nerves conforming in themselves to the form of the human body, made the soul of man just like his body in shape.  He believed at death this contour of the body separated itself from the body and became the eternal spirit, visible to its fellows and under some conditions to terrestrial folds.  “Emerging upward,” he says, “the spirit awakes into pure ether – a blessed atmosphere.”  He intimated that apparitions are glimpses of the beings of this close by but usually invisible world.  “Even the resurrected body of Christ,” he says, “walked through the sold wall of the house, and first revealed itself to His disciples at the table”

END

Information from Fran Angst-Robertson's website indicates that David Miller Bright died July 31, 1905, in Kasson Twp., Leelanau County, Michigan [website accessed August 20, 2003].