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NAME: William Bright
REGISTER #: 13245

Military History

RANK/CO/UNIT: Pvt./Co I/36 WI Inf
ENLISTMENT: 1864/07/27 LaCrosse WI
DISCHARGED: 1865/07/12 Jeffersonville, IN, Mustered Out
RE-ENLISTMENT:
RNK/CO/UNIT:
DISCHARGED:
DISABILITY: Defective Hearing, loss right thumb, constipation, and myocardial insufficiency

Domestic History

BORN: Canada (1846?)
AGE: 69
HT/CMP/EYE/HR: 5'10"/Lt, Gr, Gr/literate
RELIGION: Protestant
OCCUPATION: Farmer
RESIDENCE: Santa Cruz
MARRIED SINGLE: Widower
NEXT OF KIN: (Son) Fred Brice Santa Cruz, CA

Home History

PENSION AMOUNT: $16
ADMISSION: 1915/08/12
DISCHARGED: 1917/07/10 Own Request
DATE OF DEATH:
CAUSE OF DEATH:

General Remarks

PENSION CERT: 881,135
EFFECTS:
HOW DISPOSED OF:
BURIAL INFO:

Santa Cruz Sentinel (March 7, 1922)

BRIGHT- In Santa Cruz, March 6, William H. Bright, aged 75 years , 5 months, and 25 days a native of Canada.

Funeral of the deceased will be held from the Chase undertaking parlors Wednesday, March 8 at 2 o'clock P.M. Friends and acquaintances are invited to attend.

Santa Cruz Evening News (March 6, 1922)

Another Good Citizen Called by Death

Another death that came rather unexpectedly occurred shortly before 10 o'clock this morning when Wm. H. Bright passed to final rest at his home on Clinton street. Mr. Bright while living in retirement for some years past on account of poor health seemed to be in unusually good spirits all during yesterday and was able to be about as usual, and there was seemingly nothing to indicate that he was to be so soon called to eternal sleep. Mr. Bright had made his home in Santa Cruz for many years past and was a gentleman, previous to his retirement had passed through a life of much activity. He was not only a farmer of many years experience, but had also followed up the poultry business with the ones largely responsible for making Santa Cruz famous in this line of industry. While born in Canada, he left that country while still in his prime and settled in Wisconsin. Coming westward to California he first took up his residence in San Luis Obispo county, where he followed farming for a number of years before coming to Santa Cruz to reside.

Mr. Bright is survived by a family of four children. Mrs. Ruth Kaler, Anna Bright, and Frank and William Bright. The deceased was 75 years of age and a native of Canada.

The funeral services will be held at the C.C. Chase parlors on Wednesday afternoon at 2 o'clock

Unknown Santa Cruz Paper (March 9, 1922) Contributed by Phil Reader

Funeral Over William Bright

Many gathered yesterday at Chase's undertaking parlors for the funeral of the late William H. Bright, who has made his home on the East Side for a number of years.

The members of Wallace Reynolds post, G.A.R. and of the Women's Relief Corps were present and the ritual for the burial of the comrade was read by officers of the post and hymns were sung by Mrs. George Huntoon and Miss Luella Blanchard. The casket was borne by G.A.R. comrades.

"Wm Bright old soldier buried March 9, 1922, died March 6, 1922"

Editor's Note: William Bright appears on the First Muster of Wallace-Reynolds G.A.R Post.

Death Certificate Notes from Phil Reader

William H Bright, 97 Clinton St. Santa Cruz, age 75 years 5 months 25 days, died March 6, 1922. He was retired and widowed. He was born Sept 11, 1846 in Canada. His father was John Bright of England, and his mother was Elizabeth Kribs of Pennsylvania. He had lived 25 years in Santa Cruz and 47 years in California. Information was supplied By F.A. Bright and he was to be buried in SCruz/OMP cemetery March 9, 1922.

Notes from Edson Strowbridge (April 2000)

William H. Bright enlisted in the Union army on Feb. 2, 1864 and at the age of 18 yrs. He served as a private in Co I of the 36th WI Inf, and was mustered out on July 12, 1865.

He was born in Canada in 1846 and maintained a Farm at San Simeon in San Luis Obispo County.

He died on March 6, 1922 in Santa Cruz at the age of 75 yrs and was interred on March 8, 1922 in Memorial Park in Santa Cruz at Grave Site Blk 8 1/2, Div. D, Gr. 46.

NOTES: US Military Pension Index, IC #88135 filed 1866 Feb. 23; Pensioners on the Roll, Jan 1, 1883 Vol IV; loss of right thumb. $2.66 2/3, Res. Cambria: 1880 US Census, San Simeon, Farmer, wife, Abigail, age 33 yrs, b Canada, had 3 children b. Wisconsin, (see census record for more information); 1892 Great Register, age 46 yrs, 5'11", "Right thumb off at 1st joint", Farmer b Canada, Res.: San Miguel, Reg. Oct 20, 1892; (lived in Cambria 1880, San Miguel 1892); Calif. Death Index, age 75yrs, State File #15544; Santa Cruz Memorial Park, Santa Cruz, CA: Register of Internment's; A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion, Frederick H. Dyer, 1908; Sawtelle Soldiers Home Register #13245; Calif. Death Index, age 75 yrs, State File #1554.

Date of Birth: 1846-09-11

Date of Death: 1922-06-03

County: Santa Cruz

Cemetery/City of Burial: Oakwood Memorial Park

Plot: O85/02

Mortuary: CCC

Cause of Death: Hrt/Carditis

Spouse: (Bright)_ Abigail

Occupation: Poultryman

Religion: P

Height: 5'11

Complexion: Lt

Eye Color: Gr

Hair Color: GR

Local Address: Clinton St 97

Last City: Santa Cruz

Native of: CN

Father Native of: John (EN)

Mother Native of: Kribbs_ Elizabeth (EN)

Enlisted: 1864/07/27

Discharged: 1865/07/12

Military Unit: WI_ 36 Inf_ Co I

Rank: Pvt

Military Notes: E-LaCross_ M/O-Jeffersonville IN

GAR#: WR32

Available records used to obtain information:
Cemetery records
Santa Cruz County death records
Military records
Santa Cruz and Monterey newspapers
Voter Records
Sawtelle Soldiers Home records

CW Reference: SEN 1901/12/06