Father: Henry Brite
Mother: Elizabeth Betsey Moore

Spouse #1: Amanda Emeline (Evelyn) Duty∼John M. Brite first came to Kern county in 1855. He then located in the Tehachapi valley on the ranch now owned by John Clark. There he built the first house in the valley, which was made from hewn pine logs, after the old Missouri style, like the home of his youth. He lived on this place about three years, after which he sold the same to John Dosier, and in the spring of 1858 located in what has from that date been known as Brite's valley.

John M. Brite was born in Callaway County, Missouri, August 9, 1822. His father, Henry Brite was a farmer and stock-raiser by occupation; was born in Fayette County, Kentucky, and lived near the city of Lexington. He married Elizabeth Moore, a daughter in one of the first families of that county. Of their twelve children (eight of whom lived to maturity) John M. was the fifth born. About the year 1819 the family emigrated to Missouri and subsequently to Texas, where both parents died the mother in Clarksville, Red River County, in 1839, and the father in Bastrop County, in 1865. Of their children Eliza H. came to California, married Benjamin Barton of the famous Barton ranch, and lives in the city of Redlands, San Bernardino County; Wharton H. came to the mining regions of this State and died some time in the fifties. Aside from these and the subject of this sketch, no other members of the of the family ever came to this coast.

November 22, 184:9, Mr. Brite married Miss Amanda E., daughter of Joseph Duty, Esq., of Traverse County, Texas. She was born September 1, 1833. Thirteen children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Brite, as follows: Elizaheth Louise, born July 27, 1851; Joseph Henry, May 21, 1853; James Moore, January 8, 1856; Mary Elizabeth, November 25, 1857; Lucas Franklin, August 13, 1859; Martha Ann, September 20, 1861; Eliza Lee, June 22, 1863; William Longstreet, March 16, 1865; John Brackenridge, December 10, 1866; Charles Richard, October 26, 1868; Chloe Mildred, January 17, 1871; Clara Ellen, March 10, 1873; Cora May, August 26, 1876.