Dr. C. H. Wright

    Dr. C. H. Wright, was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, December 222, 1839. His parents were John H. and Anna M. Wright.

    His father was born and raised in Maryland, his mother in Virginia. They were of English and German origin.

    In early life Dr. Wright was thrown upon his own resources and had to make his own way to educated himself; with pluck and energy, he succeeded in getting almost through his collegiate course at the Hartsville University, and one course of lectures in medical college. When the war broke out he volunteered as a private soldier on the 16th of April, 1861, for three months. At the expiration of this term he re-enlisted with Col. Lew Wallace in the El4eenth Indiana Zouave Regiment, for three years; in which regiment he served as a private soldier until after the battle of Shiloh, being in the battles of Fort Donnelson and Pittsburgh Landing, and after the battle was detailed to take charge of a number of sick and wounded on board a floating hospital (or hospital barge) "Ripley". When this boat was retired, was made hospital steward and assigned to duty on board the hospital boat "Stephen Decatur," and remained in this capacity until late in the summer of 1862, when, by reason of injuries previously received while on the road to Corinth, was so incapacitated for any kind of duty, was, by special order, sent to St. Louis, Missouri, and discharged, totally disabled.

    During the following winter recuperated, and finished a second course of lectures in the St. Louis Medical College, graduating in the spring of 1863. Commenced the practice of medicine in that city, but getting stronger determined to go to the front again; this time passing an examination by board of examining surgeons, became an acting assistant surgeon, U.S. A., in which capacity he served for several months, when the exposure and hardships were too much for him, and he was again compelled to return North, or die from injuries and hemorrhage from the lungs. During the following winter he improved very much in health, and again, in the spring of 1864, assisted in organizing the 134th Indiana Regiment, and went South with it as regimental quartermaster, in which regiment he served his time out, and was mustered out with the regiment at the expiration of its term.

    During the fall of 1865 went North, and while there, having an opportunity, took a third course of lectures at Ann Arbor, Michigan, coming back to Indiana in April, 1866, much improved in health. In June he married Miss Jennie Davis, a former schoolmate, and immediately commenced the practice of his profession in Jackson County, Indiana. In May the following year his wife died. In 1869 he again broke down in health; this time consulted the eminent surgeon, Dr. Geo. C. Blackburn of Cincinnati, and while under his care and advice became much stronger, and attended another, the fourth course of lectures,  at the Ohio Medical College, graduating form that  college March 1, 1870.

    He was again married, to Miss Jennie Vawter, of Jackson County, and remained there until April, 1873, when he moved to a healthier location at North Madison, where he has resided and practiced his profession to the present date.

    During his professional life he has been for many years a member of the National Medical Association, having represented both County and State Societies in that body; also for twenty years a member of the State Medical Society; is at present Medical Society and Secretary of the Jefferson County Medical Society.

    He has been nineteen years a member of the I. O. O. F., having represented his lodge in the Grand Lodge of Indiana; is at present a member of Madison Lodge, No. 72, in Madison. He has, for some years been a member of Alois Bachman Post, G. A. R., and one term surgeon of the Post; was appointed Examining Surgeon on the Board of Pension Examiners, at Madison under President Arthur, and was relieved from duty, for being an offensive partisan, when President Cleveland came into office.

    He has at present a pleasant home, a fine practice, and a very productive as well as beautiful farm near his home.

    He is one of the most successful practitioners in the county, and has attained to more than an ordinary degree of success in his profession, and is regarded as one of the most progressive members of the medical fraternity.

Source: Biographical and Historical Souvenir for the counties of Clark, Crawford, Harrison, Floyd, Jefferson, Jennings, Scott and Washington, Indiana. By John M. Gresham & Co., 1889.