Bio: Wright, William Henry (Commemorative Bio - 1895)

Poster: Crystal Wendt

William Henry Wright

William Henry Wright was born in Allegany County, N. Y., September 2, 1850, and is a son of William M. and Elizabeth (Hinds) Wright. When he was about nine years of age he accompanied his parents on their removal to friendship, Adams Co., Wis., where his father engaged in the hotel business and conducting a stage line between Kilbourn City and Grand Rapids up to the time of his death, which occurred May 24, 1882. His wife died in Allegany County, N. Y., about 1857.

The subject of these lines acquired the greater part of his education in the public schools of Friendship, and after leaving school worked in his father’s hotel and at stage driving until he had attained his majority. He then began learning the trade of a mason and plasterer, and has since followed those pursuits. He first came to Grand Rapids in 1868, and made his home here at intervals until 1886, since which time he had been a permanent resident, and in the line of his chosen occupation he is now doing a good business. In February, 1873, he was united in marriage with Clement Eaton, who was born July 14, 1850, a daughter of Alanson and Elmira (Snyder) Eaton, who were among the earliest settlers of Grand Rapids, the former having located here in 1846, and the latter in 1848. Mr. Eaton was a pilot on the Wisconsin River for over twenty years, and died May 16, 1883, in the city which he had so long made his home. Mrs. Eaton is still living in Grand Rapids. Their family numbered ten children, seven of whom are yet living, as follows: Clement, wife of our subject; Derinda, wife of Edward Mahoney, engineer of the Grand Rapids Fire Department; Annie, wife of Patrick Burnett, who is living in Phillips, Price Co., Wis.; Mary Edwardsen, wife of Robert Blow, a resident of Stevens Point, Portage Co., Wis.; Cholia, wife of John Patrick, of Grand Rapids; William Alanson, who makes his home in Grand Rapids; and Cora, wife of Dayton Sizer, a resident of Stevens Point, Wisconsin.

The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Wright has been blessed with a family of seven children, as follows: Rose E., born January 8, 1874, William Alanson, born February 17, 1876 – the first white child born in what is called Grandfather’s Falls, about twenty miles above Merrill, Wis., Beulah E., born January 16, 1878; Mary Ann, born July 23, 1881; Orinda, born June 17, 1886; Cora C., born April 9, 1888; and Iona, born July 1, 1892. The parents and their children attend the Congregational Church, and in his political connections Mr. Wright is a Republican.

---Source: Commemorative Biographical Record of the Upper Wisconsin Counties of Waupaca, Portage, Wood, Marathon, Lincoln, Oneida, Vilas, Langlade and Shawano. publ. 1895 by J. H. Beers & Co., Chicago 1110 pages, illustrated; Page 538-539