Among the early merchants of Bright Star were: Turk Bailey, S.L. Baker, H,W. Stuckey, John Stevens, and Isaac Kelly. Among the pioneer physicians were Dr. Stuckey, Dr. Mitchell, Dr. McGee, Dr. Blanton, Dr. Curry, Dr. Jeter, Dr. Dodd, and later the Dr. McCaslands and Dr. Mathis. Patrick Hazel was the first jeweler. He came from Indiana to Bright Star and spent the rest of his life here. His son, J.A. Hazel, is a jeweler here until the present day. James Stevens was engaged in the hotel business. The schoolhouses were of the rude fashion of pioneer schools and among the first teachers was Professor Wooliver, who was totally blind and was also a great musician. There were pool halls, tenpin alleys, swimming pools, dance halls and many other places of amusement in Bright Star. Circuses and menageries, with the usual accompaniment of sideshows, were exhibited here. William Foster operated a saw mill near Bright Star for many years. He was the father-in-law of the outlaw, Cullen Baker. One of the amusing incidents happened at Bright Star during its balmy days was concerning Dr. A.C. McCasland, a man beloved and respected by all who knew him, and because he was of a jovial nature, was the subject of many pranks played by his friends. "Doc", as he was called, became enraged at a negro by the name of Ben Johnson and remarked to some of his friends that he was going to kill him. One cold night while snow was on the ground, some of his friends procured an old dummy man, which had been used to scare hawks, and placed it in a street in Bright Star and "Doc" drew his revolver, walked to the door, fired at the dummy and it fell. "Doc", supposing he had killed Ben, got on his horse and fled from his home. Some of his friends immediately got on their horses and rode about four miles for "Uncle Tommy Thomas," who was Justice of the Peace, to hold an inquest. Uncle Tommy was aroused from his peaceful slumber and proceeded on horseback to the scene of the tragedy. After viewing the body by the dim light of a lantern, he held inquest according to law. Some of the jury of inquest, knowing the joke, handled Ben roughly and received the repremandment of Uncle Tommy, who said, "Although his skin is black he had a soul." The verdict of the jury of inquest was held to the effect that Ben met his death by a bullet from Doc's pistol, after which the body was to be buried, this accordingly done in an alley nearby, and upon a slab placed at the head of the grave was written this epitaph- Here lies Ben Johnson, Cold and straight, He's gone to wait at the Golden Gate. Here lies Ben Johnson dead as a rock, He came to his death at the hands of old Doc. Before Uncle Tommy had time to make out his fee bill, the joke was revealed, and the boys had to dig up a nice little sum of cash and deliver it to him to appease his anger, thus the tragedy ended. At the advent of the Texas pacific Railway, trading points were established at Atlanta and Queen City, Texas, which caused Bright Star to begin to decline. Many people moved to new towns on the railroad, and the leading merchants established themselves in business in the railroad towns. Some years later, the Kansas City Southern Railway came through, and all the business concerns left Bright Star and the post office was discontinued. Bright Star was placed on a rural route, and today all these events are merely a memory of the past. Although Bright Star will never be a trading point again, it is making progress in a glorious undertaking. One of the greatest rural high schools in the state of Arkansas is being established here. People of high intelligence and integrity have made this possible by the consolidation of thirteen school districts. ((There is more on modern Bright Star, the school, and teachers, etc.))