BIOGRAPHY - JAMES M. WRIGHT
JAMES M. WRIGHT, who is a retired farmer now residing in Kempton, was
born in Trenton, N. J., February 15, 1835, and is a son of George and Mary
Wright, both of whom were natives of Lincolnshire, England. His father came
to America about 1830. Crossing the Atlantic he settled in New Jersey, where
for some time he made his home. In 1854, he emigrated Westward to Illinois,
locating in Winnebago County. His death occurred in Vermillion, S. Dak., on
the 7th of September, 1889. His wife passed away on the 3d of November,
1886. Eight children have been born unto them: William, who died in infancy;
James M. of this sketch; John, who died in 1857; Mary Ann, wife of Isaiah
Washburn, a resident farmer of South Dakota; George, who is also engaged in
farming in South Dakota; Charles, who died in 1882; and Peter, whose death
occurred the same year.
Our subject acquired a common-school education in the State of his nativity.
He accompanied his parents on their removal to the West and has resided in
Illinois almost continuously since. He remained with his father, working on
the farm, for two years, and then started out in life for himself, working
as a farm hand by the month, until the breaking out of the late war. When
the South rebelled in 1861, he responded to the call for troops to aid in
the preservation of the Union and enlisted as a private in Company C,
Fifty-fifth Illinois Infantry. The important engagements in which he
participated were the siege of Corinth, Arkansas Post, Champion Hills, the
siege of Vicksburg, and the battles of Jackson, Mission Ridge and Atlanta.
When his three years' term of service had expired, he was honorably
discharged on the 30th of October, 1864.
Mr. Wright then returned to Illinois and again engaged in farming. In 1865,
he removed to Grundy County, locating near Lisbon, where he resided until
1871. That year witnessed his arrival in Ford County. He had previously
married on the 3d of September, 1868, the lady of his choice being Miss
Sarah E. Ashton, daughter of John and Elizabeth (Shaw) Ashton. Three
children have been born of their union but all are now deceased. Clara died
April 19, 1880; George H., April 20, 1880; and Alice May, August 27, 1887.
On coming to Ford County, Mr. Wright made a location in Mona Township, where
he rented land for seven years. He then purchased a farm of two hundred
acres on section 32, Rogers Township, where he made his home until 1884. In
that year he came to Kempton, where he has since made his home, living
retired. His life has been well and worthily spent and by his industrious
and persevering efforts, he accumulated a sufficient capital to enable him
to rest from business cares and spend his remaining days in peace and
retirement. He is a prominent citizen and well deserves representation in
this volume.
Extracted 14 Dec 2017 by Norma Hass from Portrait and Biographical Record of Ford County, Illinois, published in 1892, page 200.
