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from Past and Present of Mahaska County, Iowa by Manoah Hedge The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co. 1906
W. W. Wright, living on section 6, Cedar township, who is familiarly called "Squire" by his numerous friends, is one of the old settlers of Mahaska county, having located in Cedar township in 1864. For years he has been classed with the prosperous farmers of the locality and owns a well improved tract of land adjoining the village of Wright. A native of Ohio, he was born in Highland county on the 20th of March, 1838. His father, Joseph P. Wright, was born in Kentucky in 1804 and the grandfather, Alexander Wright, was a native of Ireland. Coming to the new world he settled in Virginia at an early day and afterward removed to Kentucky. whence in 1806 he went with his family to Ohio, so that Joseph P. Wright was reared in the Buckeye state. There he married Catherine Barrett, a native of Ohio, and they began their domestic life upon a farm in Highland county, where they lived for several years. In 1864 Mr. Wright removed with his family to Iowa, locating in Cedar township, Mahaska county, his farm being on section 6. There he lived continuously until 1892, when he sold that property and removed to Russell; he and his wife spending their last days with a daughter, Mrs. Johnson. The father died in 1894 and had he lived twenty days longer he would have been ninety years of age. His wife survived him for about a year and a half, passing away in 1895, at which time her remains were laid to rest by the side of her husband in Russell cemetery. In the family of this worthy couple were five sons and five daughters, all of whom reached mature years and three sons and four daughters are yet living. W. W. Wright was reared to manhood in Highland county, Ohio, and pursued a common-school education, after which he attended the Lebanon (Ohio) Normal School. Subsequently he engaged in teaching in Highland county, following that profession for a number of years. He was married there December 12, 1862, to Miss Lizzie Higgins, a native of Highland county, in which locality she was reared and educated. In 1864 W. W. Wright joined his father and the family in Mahaska county and he purchased the land which he still owns. After a residence here of only six weeks he was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife. Concentrating his energies upon his business affairs, he broke the virgin soil with ox teams, erected buildings and carried on the work of the farm for a number of years. In connection with the tilling of the soil Mr. Wright has engaged in raising good stock. In his farm work he has been thoroughly progressive and the admirable results he has achieved are due entirely to his close application, earnest purpose and capable management. By his first marriage Mr. Wright had one son, George M. Wright, who is a farmer of Cedar township. On the 14th of August, 1866, Mr. Wright was married in Knoxville, Iowa, to Miss Sadie M. McKown, who was born, reared and educated in Pennsylvania, a daughter of James McKown, of Elizabeth, Pennsylvania. Mrs. Wright is a lady of good education and was a teacher in Knoxville prior to her marriage. Five children have been born of this union: Minnie V., the wife of D. I. Allsup, who is carrying on the Wright farm; Mattie J., the wife of A. L. Rice, a resident farmer of Spring Creek township; W. Howard, also a farmer of Spring Creek township; Grace, the wife of Walter Gray, a resident agriculturist of the same township and Gail, who is a well educated young lady and is engaged in teaching. Politically Mr. Wright has been a lifelong republican, casting his first vote for Abraham Lincoln in 1860. He has taken an active interest in local politics and for twenty years has served as justice of the peace of Cedar township, his service being continuous in that office save for a brief interval of one year. The cause of education finds in him a warm and stalwart friend and for thirty years he has been a member of the school board, serving as its secretary. He has been a delegate to state and coun ty conventions of his party and does all in his power to further the welfare of the county along political. material, intellectual and moral lines. Both he and his wife are devoted members of the United Presbyterian church in Wright, in which he is serving as an elder and Mrs. Wrigbt is an active worker in both church and Sunday-school. For years Mr. Wright has been recognized as one of the prominent men of the county because of the active and helpful aid which he has given in measures relating to the g eneral welfare and progress. He is a man of tried integrity and worth and has the confidence of the entire community, while he and his estimable wife are greatly respected by all who know them.
Past and Present of Mahaska County, Iowa
Mahaska County, Iowa Genealogy