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	EDWARD ALBURN WRIGHT. - The business interests of Findlay are varied, embracing many lines of commercial activity.  Perhaps no line in more remunerative than that which caters to the needs of the inner man, supplying him with food, and when it is well cooked and served, the proprietor of such an establishment can be sure of a good patronage.  The restaurant business is one which is steadily improving.  In these days, when it is difficult to obtain efficient servants, many people prefer to take their meals in a restaurant, while there are now few house-wives who do their own baking.      Edward A. Wright of Findlay, is conducting a first-class restaurant and bakery with gratifying success.  He was born in Todds Point Township, June 10, 1871, a son of Morgan and "Lucy (Williamson) Wright.  The father was a native of Todds Point and died in 1897, aged fifty-seven years.  The mother died in 1894, at fifty years of age.  The grandfather was William Wright who at one time owned 2,800 acres.  On this farm in Todds Point township, Morgan Wright spent the greater part of his life, his portion of the land being 240 acres.  In 1892 he retired to Findlay.  In politics he was a Republican, but never held office.  He belonged to the Church of Christ, both in the country and Findlay, and took an active part in its work.  He was very liberal in his donation to the Church, and was a strong supporter of its faith.  Their children were:  Edward A., and three who died in childhood.      When twenty-three years old, Edward A. Wright married Delilah Combs, a daughter of Oliver and Harriet Combs of Altamont, Ill.  They have two living children.  Edward Alburn and James Walter.      In 1904 Mr. Wright established himself in the restaurant and bakery business in Findlay, which he has carried on successfully ever since.  He is a man who understands his business thoroughly, and has therefore been able to build up a large and satisfactory patronage which is constantly increasing.      The present residence, on the homestead place, is one of the oldest in the county, the heavy timbers in it being a special feature of this fine old house.  Edward A.  Wright has added to the original structure, and at present he rents the farm, his energy being devoted to his business. Source:  Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and History of Shelby County, Vol. II, Publ. 1910 - Page 1021
	GEORGE WRIGHT, CAPT. (deceased). - Another brave veteran of the Civil War has responded in the last roll call, and joined his comrades in the great beyond.  Faithful in all things, brave beyond question, devoted to his family, and always interested in the welfare of his community, Captain George Wright, late of Pickaway Township, died in Decatur, Dec. 9, 1906.  He was born in Hutton, Yorkshire, England, fourth son of Robert and Ellen (Bradley) Wright.  In 1847, desiring to seek a broader field for his operations, the young Englishman sailed from Liverpool, and eventually settled in Massillon, Ohio, where he obtained work as a farm hand.  However, this was not what he had set out to do, and in 1859 he came to Shelby County, Ill., and bought 240 acres in Pickaway Township, paying from $9 to $12.50 per acres for it.  His sister, Frances had come to America with him, and lived with him until 1861.      Although a Douglas Democrat, the war changed his political views, and he enlisted, at Jacksonville, in Company B, Fourteenth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, for three months, and then re-enlisted for three years.  He was promoted to the rank of Second Lieutenant, then to that of First Lieutenant, and June 30, 1863, he was commissioned Captain.  He was in many of the most important engagements of the war, including Fort  Donelson, Shiloh, Siege of Vicksburg and New Orleans.  He then was returned to Illinois, and for a month was engaged in recruiting at Jacksonville, from whence he was sent to Huntsville, Ala., where his term of enlistment expired, and he was mustered out of service at Springfield, Ill. in July, 1864.  During all this time he served with distinguished bravery, and his record is one of which his family may well be proud.      In 1864 Captain Wright married Miss Jennie Turner, a native of Ulverston, Lancastershire, England, and five children were born to them, three of whom are now living: Florence, wife of Newton A. Sutton, of La Place, Ill.; Lena, a stenographer and bookkeeper, living at home in Decatur, and J. S.   Two daughters, Maud and Annie, died young.      Captain Wright resumed his occupation of farming when he returned from the army, and developed one of the best farms in the neighborhood.  It is well drained, and very productive.  In the spring of 1896, the infirmities of age made it necessary for him to leave the more active life of the farm, and he retired to the city of Decatur, where the remaining decade of his useful and beautiful life was spent, he dying when eighty-one yeas and one month old.      Always active in the G. A. R., his comrades followed his last remains to their burial place, and the services were touching and appropriate.  However, although his loss was deeply felt, all who knew him realized that his life had been well rounded out, that it had been filled to the full with good deeds, and that to the last his mind was busy with kindly thoughts for the happiness of others.  Never a politician, he did not disturb himself with party strife, but went on his way, always ready to help those who needed assistance, never turning one aside, and it will be hard to discover a man in his time who was a better example of the best type of English gentleman, grafted upon American conditions. Source:  Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and History of Shelby County, Vol. II, Publ. 1910 - Page 1021-1022
	JOHN SHERMAN WRIGHT - No other human occupation opens as wide a field for the profitable and agreeable combination of labor with cultivated thought, as agriculture.  Ere long the most valuable of all arts will be that of deriving the most comfortable subsistence from the smallest area of soil.  Many are the changes which have taken place in American agricultural methods, transforming farm life, formerly so hard, into the most independent, peaceful and agreeable existence.  Farm life today offers more inducements than at any previous period in the world's history, and is calling millions form the factory, the store and desk, while those who have been reared on the farm are remaining in the country, well content with their lot in life.  One of the most thoroughly progressive men of Shelby County, Ill., is John Sherman Wright, of Pickaway Township, who was born in Todds Point Township, July 30, 1865, and was only six years old when his parents moved to his present farm.  He is a son of the late Captain George Wright, whose biography appears on another page in this volume.  Mr. Wright remained with his father, when he was twenty-one became his partner, and this association continued until Captain Wright retired to Decatur, when Mr. Wright took sole charge.      The beautiful home of Mr. Wright is known as the Prairie View Farm, and he makes a specialty of breeding heavy horses, cattle, sheep and hogs.  The breeds he prefers are as follows: Shire horses, Shorthorn cattle, Shropshire sheep, and Poland-China hogs, and all his stock is registered.   His exhibits at the various fairs are always fine, commanding much admiration, and he enters his stock in the County, District and International Exhibits.  He carried off ribbons in the last International Stock Show, as well as from many others.  The result of his care in breeding is very satisfactory, especially in his cattle, and his stock always commands high prices, no matter whether the times be good or hard.  Mr. Wright is continuing his farm upon the lines laid down by his father, except that he is all the time taking advantage of improvements offered; he is well informed regarding the various changes that have taken place in farming methods, and speaks especially of one attempt that was made many years ago to provide underground ditch drainage.  A mole plow was hauled by a capstan over the land, so that dirt was thrown out and a hole left.  This however, was not found to be satisfactory, although it was along the same liens as the placing of tile.      In 1909 Mr. Wright built a magnificent modern two-story residence on his farm, which is one of the best in the county.      On Feb. 19, 1896, Mr. Wright married Mary E. Carlyle, daughter of John and Sarah Carlyle of Penn Township, who settled in Shelby County, where Mrs. Wright was born, but later moved to the vicinity of Bethany, Moultrie County, where they now reside.  The little daughter of the family, Agnes Elizabeth, is a dear child of four years, who is the pet of her father's heart.      Mr. Wright is one of the most genial of men, delightful to meet, a good conversationalist, and one who knows his business thoroughly.  Because of this and the fact that he is progressive enough to appreciate the fact that there must be advancement in farming, as in all other lines, he has been very successful, and at the same time has made friends all over the country. Source:  Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and History of Shelby County, Vol. II, Publ. 1910 - Page 1022
	WILLIAM WRIGHT (deceased) - Some men there are whose kindly lives and many deeds of goodness live after them, making their memory a sacred thing, to be tenderly cherished by their families and friends.  The late William Wright who was intimately associated with the growth and development of Todds Point Township, Shelby County, was born Jan. 1, 1810, in Bourbon County, Ky., and died Apr. 6, 1871.  He was a son of Robert Wright, who came of a Virginia family; Robert Wright and his wife died when William was a young man.      Coming to Illinois at an early day, William Wright married in Shelby County Feb. 1, 1838, Martha Dowdy, daughter of Daniel and Nancy (Tyndall) Dowdy, who had settled in Okaw Township.  Mrs. Wright died in 1882, aged sixty-six.  After marriage Mr. Wright settled in Todds Point Township, where he became the owner of 3,200 acres, which he bought when land was cheap, entering a great deal of it from the Government.  He was a large stockman, and bought and sold land extensively.  The residence he put up in 1855 still stands, and is built of lumber hauled from Chicago for the purpose, in wagons.  Mr. Wright was best known as a stockman, buying much stock in season, and raising large herds of cattle himself; he often sold to Nelson Morris.  Probably in his time he was the largest dealer and grower of cattle in Shelby County.  A most excellent judge of stock, he made money.  A very strong Republican, Mr. Wright was a leader in his party.      The children born to himself and wife were as follows:  Morgan, who died when fifty-eight, a sketch of whom is found elsewhere in this volume; Daniel Robert, was a farmer in Todds Point Township, and died when fifty-nine; Samuel M., of Shelbyville; Mary E.; Anthony T., of Bloomington; William, of Moultrie County; Laura Alice who married R. K. James, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this volume; and Cordelia, who married William M. Pogue, of Findlay.      Although Mr. Wright has been dead many years, he is well remembered, and the good he did will never be forgotten.  He was a man of strong character, who impressed his personality upon people and things, and made many friends throughout a wide area of country. Source:  Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and History of Shelby County, Vol. II, Publ. 1910 - Page 1023