Biography - JAMES H. WRIGHT
James H. Wright, one of the oldest grain buyers in the county, residing
at Arthur, was born near the town of Poland, Trumbull (now Mahoning) county,
Ohio, February 6, 1827, and is a son of James and Mary (Kidd) Wright, who
were born near Poland, Trumbull (now Mahoning) county, Ohio, of Scotch-Irish
origin.
Rev. James Wright (father) received his education for the Presbyterian
ministry at the Canonsburg College, and spent most of his life in preaching
the gospel, first at Poland, and later at Westfield, Pennsylvania. He died
in 1843 at the age of fifty-nine years. His father was Alexander Wright, who
was an early settler from the north of Ireland, to Washington county. He
married a Scotch girl by the name of Esther Silcox. Robert Kidd
(grandfather) was also a native of Ireland, was an early settler in Trumbull
county, Ohio, and in religious affairs he was known as a Seceder in that
day, now known as a United Presbyterian.
James H. Wright was reared in his native county, and in Pennsylvania,
receiving the advantages of an ordinary education. In 1857 he came west and
located at Arcola, which at that time contained but three houses, and was
for several years engaged in farming in that vicinity. In 1873 he commenced
buying grain at Hindsboro, where he continued successfully in business until
1886, when he removed to Arthur, where he has since resided, engaged in
buying grain for the firm of Bartlett, Kuhn & Co.
In 1848 Mr. Wright was united in marriage to Miss Sarah E. Rogers, who was a
daughter of Samuel and Sarah Waugh Rogers. She was born in New Bedford,
Pennsylvania. They have seven children: William, who resides in Cairo;
Sadie; Frank E., who lives in Arthur, engaged in the lumber business; Samuel
R., a farmer in South Dakota; John M., engineer of his father's grain
elevator; Nettie, wife of G. H. Damron, of Arcola; and A. K. resides in
Springfield, Illinois. Mr. Wright has been an Odd Fellow since 1852, and has
served as president of the town board of Arthur. James H. Wright has passed
the allotted three-score and ten years of man, but, owing to his abstemious
habits and good constitution, he still enjoys good health, and it is hoped
that he will live for many years to continue the good which has been
characteristic of his life.
Extracted 11 Sep 2019 by Norma Hass from the Historical and Biographical Record of Douglas County, Illinois, published in 1900, pages 247-248.
