Rev. William Wright Biography, Genesee County, Michigan

This Biography extracted from “Portrait and Biographical Record of 
Genesee, Lapeer and Tuscola Counties, Michigan…”, published be Chapman 
Bros., Chicago (1892), p. 964-965


This copy contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives.


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REV. WILLIAM WRIGHT is a prominent local preacher of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church, located at the present time in Grand Blanc Township, 
Genesee County. He resides on section 27, where he has a pleasant and 
well cultivated farm. The Rev. Mr. Wright is a native of Greene County, 
N. Y., and was there born March 23, 1816. He is a son of James and 
Cynthia (Clark) Wright, the former being a native of New York and the 
latter of Connecticut. His grandfather, William Wright, served as a 
soldier in the Revolutionary War.

   In 1836 our subject emigrated to Michigan with his parents, coming 
by way of Lake Erie and Detroit. He accompanied the household goods by 
the water way and his parents came hither by the overland route, coming 
along the Canadian border and across to Detroit and arriving in 
Michigan about one week after their son. The family first located in 
Livingston County and there lived for several years. They then moved to 
Shiawassee County where they made their home also for seven years. Mr. 
Wright's parents passed away from this world in Livingston County, this 
State.

   The original of our sketch took upon himself the obligations of 
married life while a resident of Livingston County. His marriage with 
Miss Lucy Osborn was solemnized September 7, 1837. The lady was born in 
Greene County, N. Y. She was a daughter of Ard and Caroline Osborn. 
When eighteen years of age she emigrated to Michigan with her parents 
and settled in Livingston County, where the family was known as among 
the most prominent pioneer settlers. The Rev. Mr. Wright and his wife 
were the first couple married in Iosco Township, Livingston County.

   By the union of our subject and his wife there have been nine 
children, six of whom are still living. They are Hiram, Ard, Jane, now 
Mrs. Hadley; Sarah, now Mrs. Peter Davis; Emma, wife of John Babcock, 
and Ella, wife of Fred Lawson. For many years after their marriage the 
family resided in Livingston County, and are entitled to the 
distinction and regard paid to pioneer settlers, for they made their 
home in the woods and combatted the usual hardships of pioneer life.

   In 1862 Mr. Wright came to Genesee County and settled on his present 
farm having ever since made this his home. He is the owner of eighty 
acres of land in a good state of cultivation. He has served in various 
township offices, and has been School Inspector. He favors the 
Prohibition party in politics. The original of this sketch received but 
a common school education, but is a shrewd, keen reasoner. For forty 
years he has been a minister of the Gospel in the Methodist Episcopal 
Church, having been licensed to exhort when only eighteen years old and 
in 1840-41 he was licensed to preach. He now occasionally acts as local 
preacher and always embraces every opportunity to raise his voice in 
favor of temperance. In fact every good and pure cause finds in him a 
stanch supporter.

   Our subject and his wife are just at the age when they thoroughly 
enjoy the comfortable home which their financial position enables them 
to maintain and also the friends that gather about them. They have 
always led useful lives at d are still engaged in various benevolent 
enterprises.

   For years they have been leaders of the most sterling class of 
society in their locality. Our subject is a genial end venerable 
gentleman who is well informed on all current topics. He is a typical 
representative pioneer of Michigan. His life has been characterized for 
the many kind deeds that he has done and for its noble aims. It is 
truly worthy of admiration and imitation of future generations.




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