RUBEN G. BRIGHT, of
the well-known firm of Dillon & Bright, importers and breeders of
French
horses at Normal, was born in Linn County, Ky. Sept. 25, 1852. The
parents of
our subject were Henry and Maria (Gentry) Bright, also natives of
Lincoln County,
where they lived until their death. The father was twice married, and
by his
first union had four children and by the second three.
Ruben G. Bright is
the second child born of his father's first marriage, he was reared to
manhood
on a farm, and devoted his time to agriculture and stock-raising, in
the
meantime receiving a common school education, and supplemented by a
course of
study at Lexington College for two years. In 1870 our subject came to
this
State, and locating at Normal purchased a farm of ninety acres two and
a half
miles northeast of that city. On this place he located and engaged in
its
improvement and the raising of stock, and there met with success.
In 1874 Mr. Bright
was united in marriage with Miss Sarah, daughter of Ellis and Martha
Dillon. He
then began to deal in French draft horses, and in 1882 made his first
trip to
France, and on his return brought with him ten head of horses of that
breed. In
1884 he again went to France, and this time imported twenty head, six
of them,
however, being for other parties. In 1885 our subject formed a
partnership with
Adolphus Dillon, which relationship has continued until the present
time, under
the firm name of Dillon & Bright. Mr. Bright's wife departed this
life
April 28, 1881, leaving one daughter, Bernie. In politics Mr. Bright is
a
Democrat, although an earnest worker in the cause of temperance. In
religion he
holds fellowship with the Christian Church, and is one of the prominent
and
foremost citizens of the county.
Portrait
and biographical album of McLean County,
Ill. : containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of
prominent
and representative citizens of the county, together with portraits and
biographies of all the governors of Illinois, and of the presidents of
the
United States. (Chicago: Chapman Brothers, 1887), 127.
Transcribed by Judy Rosella Edwards
