Bucks County PA Archives Biographies.....Wright, Caleb Earl
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Joe Patterson, Patricia Bastik & Susan Walters Dec 2009

Source: History of Bucks County, Pennsylvania; edited by 
J.H. Battle; A. Warner & Co.; 1887
Doylestown M-Z


CALEB EARL WRIGHT retired lawyer, P.O. Doylestown, was born 
in Wyoming Valley, Luzerne county, Pa., February 4, 1810, 
and is a son of Joseph and Ellen (Hendrick) Wright, the 
former a native of Burlington county, N. J., and the latter 
of Fairfield county, Conn., and of English descent.  His 
grandfather, John Hendrick, was a soldier in the revolution 
and served under Washington.  His grandfather, Caleb Wright, 
located in Luzerne county in 1796, and there followed 
farming until 1811, when he moved to Monmouth county, N. J., 
where he died in 1841.  Our subject's father was also a 
farmer and lived in Luzerne county nearly all his lifetime, 
moving there when he was a young man.  He was a very 
successful farmer.  He died in August, 1855, and his wife in 
1868.  They were the parents of eight children, two of whom 
still live, our subject and Ellen.  Caleb Earl Wright was 
named for his grandfather Wright, and was reared on a farm 
until 15 years of age, attending school as the opportunity 
offered him, although four years of this time were spent in 
classical schools at Plymouth and Wilkesbarre, Pa.  In 1831 
he began reading law with Chester Butler, of Wilkesbarre, 
and finished with John G. Montgomery, of Danville, Pa.  In 
1833 he was admitted to the bar and came immediately to 
Doylestown and practiced in Bucks county for twenty years.  
He then returned to Wilkesbarre and practiced twenty-three 
years.  In 1876 he gave up practice, returned to Doylestown, 
and has since lived a retired life.  He held the office of 
deputy attorney general two terms under Governor Porter.  He 
was collector of internal revenue under President Johnson, 
and was a member of the constitutional convention in 
1872-73.  He was ordained deacon of the Methodist Episcopal 
church by Bishop Ames in 1865; and elder by Bishop Haven two 
year subsequently.  He was married in April, 1838, to Phebe 
A. Fell, daughter of Joseph and Mary (Gillingham) Fell, of 
Bucks county.  They have had three children, two of whom are 
living:  Wilson, who resides in Monmouth county, N. J., and 
Warren, at home.  Mr. Wright is a member of the Methodist 
Episcopal church, and Mrs. Wright of the Society of Friends. 
 Mr. Wright is a local preacher in his church.  He is a man 
of influence and has figured prominently both in Bucks and 
Luzerne counties.  He is the author of three novels:  
"Wyoming," published by Harper in 1845; "Marcus Blair," 
published in 1873 by J. B. Lippincott & Co.; and "On the 
Lackawanna," printed at Doylestown in 1886 for private 
distribution.  He is at present engaged in writing another, 
entitled "A Legend of Bucks County."