Bio of Wright, Rufus C. (b.1836) Wabasha Co., MN
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This bio comes from "HISTORY OF WABASHA COUNTY" 1884.
Check out Barbara's site for more great information on this book:
http://www.rootsweb.com/~mnwabbio/wab1.htm
There are also some pictures and information from descendents for some 
of the bios on her pages.

Wright, Rufus C. was born in Bakersfield, Franklin county, Vermont,
February 3, 1836. His father, David Wright, and mother, Clara Hodgkins,
were natives of New England, and sprang from New England stock. His early
life up to sixteen years of age was spent upon his father's farm, with
such advantages as the usual country schools of that day offered. At that
time, being ambitious of obtaining a better education than had thus far
been offered, he gained the consent of his father to work and obtain the
means of attending the academy of his native town, where he attended
several terms, also a similar institution in a neighboring village,
working and teaching meantime to defray expenses. Now, being about
twenty-one years of age, and desirous of seeing more of the world, he came
west, and traveled about one year with a brother, who was lecturing at
this time; but not being satisfied with this, he purchased an outfit
himself, giving descriptive lectures upon the science of astronomy,
traveling most of the time in the southern states, which was during those
excitable times just preceding the war of the rebellion. But as the
approach of the coming storm came near, the south grew too warm for him,
and he came north - not leaving, however, until after Lincoln had been
elected president. The breaking out of the rebellion found him in Ohio,
and soon after the first battle of Bull Run he was on his way to New York
with a company of Ohio boys to join the Union army; was there mustered
into the 65th N. Y. Vol. Inf., commanded by Col. John Cochrane. He was
with McClellan in his Peninsular campaign, participated in the battles of
Williamsburgh, Fair Oaks and Malvern Hill, being wounded in the two last
battles - at Malvern Hill severely in right shoulder and lung, - taken
prisoner, had a month's experience in the prisons of Richmond; from there
paroled and taken to hospital at Chester, Pennsylvania; was from there
discharged from the service in December, 1862, and remained out about one
year, when he re-enlisted in the 10th Mass. Battery, and served under
Grant in the army of the Potomac until the close of the war, having been
in most of the leading battles from the Wilderness to final surrender of
Lee's army at Appomattox Court House. He was a second time discharged from
the service at Boston Harbor in June, 1865, having served in all about
three years in the army. After a rest of a few months he again came west,
remaining most of the time in Wisconsin, variously employed, usually
teaching during the winter months, until July, 1869, he came to Minnesota.
His last year in Wisconsin was spent in St. Croix county. Arriving in
Plainview the last days of July, 1869, with its bountiful crops almost
ready for the reaper, he decided to remain here awhile, assisting in
securing crops during the fall, and in the winter teaching the school in
the district in which he now resides. Being so well pleased at this time
with the beauty and natural fertility of the soil of Greenwood Prairie and
surrounding country, he decided to remain longer and turn his attention to
farming, which he did. He was married March 26, 1871, to Miss Ettie Wood,
who had but recently come from Schoharie county, New York, from where
several of her family had come before her, and become early settlers of
Plainview and vicinity. In 1874 he bought his present farm of one hundred
and sixty acres of Stephen Struble, situated about three miles northeast
from the village of Plainview, and is now engaged in diversified
agriculture. He is in politics republican, liberal in religious views.
Belongs to Masonic fraternity and the Grange. Has been assessor of the
town since 1881.