Fayette County PA Archives Biographies.....Brightwell, Nathan B. May 18, 1831 - ????
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Marta Burns marta43@juno.com August 29, 2024, 3:39 pm

Source: Gresham and Wiley, 1889: Biographical & Portrait Cyclopedia, Fayette Co, PA, pg 396
Author: John H. Gresham & Samuel T. Wiley

    Nathan B Brightwell was born at Arnold's Mills, 
Washington township, Fayette county, Penna, May 18, 1831.  
His grandfather, Thomas Brightwell, was a native of 
Maryland, a soldier of the War of 1812 and married Mrs 
Elizabeth Madden Hart.  His father was a miller by trade, 
came from Maryland in 1824 to Brownsville in search of his 
uncle, Joshua Brightwell, whom he found in Washington 
township on the Johnson R Stephens farm.  
    November 9, 1826, he was married by Rev James Sanson to 
Miss Zeruiah Briggs, daughter of Nathan Briggs and Althea 
Pitcher Briggs, the former a blacksmith and both natives of 
New England.  
    Mr and Mrs Brightwell had twelve children, of whom six 
are living: John B Brightwell, born December 8, 1827; James 
S Brightwell, December 7, 1829; Nathan B Brightwell, May 18, 
1831; Elizabeth Brightwell, August 29, 1833; Margart P 
Brightwell, September 23, 1835; Nancy J Brightwell, October 
8, 1837; Althea Brightwell, March 30, 1840; William F 
Brightwell, January 23, 1842; Zeruiah Brightwell, February 
12, 1844; Jemima L Brightwell, December 2, 1845; Sarah E 
Brightwell, December 6, 1846; Rufus P Brightwell, September 
14, 1848.  The father was a Baptist and the mother was a 
Methodist.
    Nathan Brightwell was educated in the common schools, 
was brought up to milling and followed that business until 
his mill was burned in 1876 when he removed to his present 
farm, the John Tiernin farm.  
    In 1856 he was married to Miss Catherine Tiernin.  They 
have five children: John T Brightwell married Margaret 
Alter; Charles E Tiernin married Minnie M Wilson; Micheal W 
Brightwell died at 4 1/2 years of age; William D Brightwell, 
a school teacher and United States storekeeper at 
Gibsonton's Mills, and Eliza K Brightwell, wife of William M 
Finch.
    Nathan B Brightwell has been for over thirty years a 
prominent member of the Masonic fraternity and has filled 
many important positions of the order and in his lodge.  He 
is a charter member of Fayette City Lodge No 511, I O O F.  
He has filled nearly all the offices of his township and 
borough.  He is one of the reputable men of the borough, 
owns a comfortable home, is well and favorably known 
throughout the county and is a staunch democrat.  

Additional Comments:
Originally submitted 2000.

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