Biography of Christopher C Wright, Greene Co, AR

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Submitted by: Michael Brown
        Date: 5 Sep 1998
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
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Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Northeast Arkansas

page 187

Christopher C. Wright (deceased) was one of the representative citizens of Greene
County, and followed the occupations of farmer and miller the principal part of his
life. He was born in Virginia in 1841 and died February 15, 1889, while yet in the
prime of life. His father, Dr. John Wright, is still living in Lunenburgh County,
Va., and is a prominent physician and farmer of that State. Christopher C. Wright
remained in his native State until nineteen years of age, and seven years of that
time were spent at the tobacco-manufacturing business. He then went to Missouri and
remained in Franklin County until the breaking out of the late unpleasantness between
the North and South, when he went South and joined the Confederate army. He was
wounded at the battle of Shiloh, and taken to Memphis, Tenn., where he was
discharged. He then went to Arkansas, remained on Crowley's Ridge for a number of
months, and then re-enlisted in Price's army, with which he continued until the last
raid through Missouri. After the war he came back to Clay County, Ark. (then Greene
County), where he remained three years, and at last settled on what was known as the
Meredith farm, at the original site for the county seat of Greene County, where his
widow now resides. The farm was then unimproved, but Mr. Wright went to work and soon
had it under cultivation and in fine condition. In fact he was so industrious and
such an inveterate worker that he undermined his health, and death was the result.
Aside from his farming interest he also ran a saw and grist-mill, which he conducted
until within a short time of his death, when he sold the saw-mill, and afterward ran
a grist-mill and cotton-gin. This Mrs. Wright now manages and conducts. Mr. Wright
was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, to which he was a liberal
contributor, and although quiet and unobtrusive in his demeanor, not a better man was
to be found in the county. Well respected and cordially liked by all, his death,
which was a sad blow to his wife and children, was also lamented by his many friends.
He was married first at Oak Bluff, Ark., to Miss Ann Boothe, who died about one year
afterward. His second marriage was in January, 1866, to Miss C. A. Ledbetter, a
native of Chatham County, N. C., and the daughter of Thomas and Frances Ledbetter,
also natives of North Carolina. Her parents moved to Arkansas in 1851 and located in
Greene County, within one mile of where the mother is still living, at the age of
seventy-one years. Her father died May 26, 1883. To her parents were born nine
children, two of whom are now deceased. To the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Wright were
born eight children, seven of whom are living: Charles (died in infancy), Lillie,
Billie, Katy, Thomas M. and John H. (twins), Ruby J. and Robert W. Mrs. Wright and
family have conducted the farm and mill since the death of her husband. She and her
eldest daughter belong to the Methodist Episcopal Church.