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engage in general landscaping, and started "Logan Nursery" 
upon York Road. William Bright was born at Finden, near 
Ely, England, and "served his time" at gardening with the 
Duke of Norfolk, at Arundel Castle. In America he was a 
man "who kept much to himself," and of whose history little 
is known. Even with his associates he was never intimate, 
and his closest friends knew little more of him than the 
general public. I often saw him, and knew him as others 
knew him, but with few exceptions he was known to all as 
"Bill" Bright. He was a tall, well-formed man of dignified 
appearance, with an address which did not seem to fit his 
surroundings. His presence, charm of manner, rich musical 
voice, beauty of expression, rare conversational powers, 
heightened by his remarkable, fine eyes, made him most com- 
panionable, and his company a rare treat. It is known that 
he had been a member of the "Oxford Blues," — a company 
of horse, — a fine rider, and in Germantown drove the fastest 
horse upon "Plank Road;" that he belonged to a family of 
means, and twice a year received remittances from an estate 
"at home." Beyond this but little more of him personally was 
known. In the year 1888, overcome by exposure, he fell 
upon a door-step near the University of Pennsylvania, West 
Philadelphia, and was carried unconscious into the Philadel- 
phia Hospital where he died. William Bright purchased a 
part of "Stenton" and as indicated, started a nursery "about 
three-quarters of a mile from Fisher's Lane station, on the 
Germantown Railroad, and about the same distance above 
"Rising Sun Village" on east side of York Road, upon 
"Burnt Creek," — the site now being occupied by the Hugh 
Graham Company. At this place Bright grew flowers, did 
landscaping, attended exhibitions, improved grapes, he becom- 
ing a recognized authority upon "Grape Culture," and writ- 
ing an important book known as "Bright, on the Grape," 
which appeared in i860 and passed through two editions. 
William Bright wrote as well as he spoke, and was a frequent 
contributor to horticultural papers. His writings possessed a 
literary flavor not usual with subjects of a practical nature. 
