WILLIAM M. WRIGHT of
the Wright family were natives of Ireland.
Seven brothers emigrated to America in an early day, and
settled in the colony of Virginia, on the James River,
where they and their descendants afterwards acquired
large landed estates. They were millwrights by
trade. On the maternal side the family is of
English ancestry. They were closely connected with
the Granger and other families prominent in the history
of Virginia. Reuben Wright, the father of
the subject of this sketch, was born in Virginia.
He was a soldier in the war of 1812. Some few
years after the close of that struggle, he removed to
Tennessee, where he lived until December, 1830, when he
emigrated to Illinois and settled in Shelbyville, and
remained here until his death in1837. In his
younger years he served an apprenticeship to the
carpenter's trade, and worked at that business in his
after life. He married Martha Reed; she was
born and raised in Virginia. By this marriage
there were ten children, six of whom are now living.
William M. is the second in the family; he was
born in Rutherford county, Tennessee, August 12, 1818.
When his father removed to Illinois he was in his
twelfth year. In 1832 he entered a general store, as
clerk, and remained continuously in that capacity until
1853, when he embarked in mercantile business for
himself. From that time to the present he has been one
of Shelbyville's merchants. He was happily united in
marriage to Miss Agnes Lloyd, of Springfield,
Illinois. She died without issue. He then married
Miss T. Lloyd, of the same family as his former
wife. By this union there were two children, one living,
whose name is Mary M., wife of Edmund
T. Bayce. After the death of his second wife, he
married his present wife, whose maiden name was
Nancy Earpe.
In religious matters, Mr. Wright subscribes to
the tenets of the Christian Church, and is a member of
that religious denomination. Politically, he was an old
line Whig, and a great admirer of Henry Clay,
for whom he voted for president in 1844. After the
disbandment of the Whig organization he joined the
Democratic party, and voted for James Buchanan
in 1856. Since that time he has been an active, zealous
and consistent member and advocate of democratic
principles. However, he is not a politician in the
strict sense of the word, further than to give
expression to his sentiments in the exercise of the
right of suffrage. Sometimes, in heated campaigns, like
the one just passed, he gives counsel from the rostrum,
advising his friends to act wisely and to cast their
ballots for men and measures that will insure an honest
and faithful administration of public affairs, and the
perpetuation of free government in our common country.
He has been tendered offices of honor and trust, but
steadily refused to accept or allow his name to be used
in that connection. He has always claimed to be an
humble citizen, striving by honor able means to gain a
competency for himself and those depending upon him, and
to add his mite to the material wealth of his town and
county, and be recognized as a private citizen thereof.
Four years ago he consented to act as supervisor for his
township; his object in accepting the office was that he
might be in a position to make two, much-needed
improvements, viz.: the building of a bridge across the
Okaw, on the east side of the city, and the building of
a new court-house for the county. Both these objects he
has accomplished. The magnificent temple of justice that
adorns the public square, and which stands in grand
imposing architectural skill and beauty, is an enduring
monument of his industry, patience and good management.
As chairman of the building committee, he has watched
its construction with jealous care, from the laying of
the first foundation-stone to the cap-sheaf upon the
highest pinnacle. When the proposition was first made in
the board of supervisors to build a new court-house, he
alone was in favor of it against the nineteen remaining
members who opposed it; but notwithstanding this united
and unanimous opposition, he per severed and triumphed
over all opposition, and to-day has the proud
satisfaction of seeing the new court-house in process of
rapid completion; and built, too, at an expenditure of
less money than any other court-house in the state, of
equal proportions and of same materials. Let honor be
bestowed where honor is due. In his official capacity
and in matters appertaining to public trusts, he is a
careful and prudent servant of the people, and carefully
guards the interests of his constituents. He belongs to
the positive order of men, and per consequence, has not
the art of dissimulation; he arrives at a point by a
direct course. Men of this order are of necessity frank
and open, and you are never left in doubt as to their
position upon any question.
Mr. Wright may be regarded as one of the few
living pioneers of Shelby county. A half-century has
fled by on the relentless wings of time since he has
taken up his abode and made Shelbyville his home. In all
these years and among these people, he has appeared in
the character of an upright, honorable and just man,
striving to do unto others as he would have others do
unto him.
Source:
1763 Combined History of Shelby and Moultrie Counties, Illinois - Published by
Brink, McDonough & Co., Philadelphia -
Corresponding Office, Edwardsville, ILL -
1881 - Page 158 |
