The Wright Families of Pickaway County, Ohio

JOHN C. WRIGHT,* whose fine farm and attractive rural home are located in section 18, Madison township, is considered one of the representative citizens of his locality. Pie was born in this township, April 4, 1841, and is a son of Joseph and Sarah (Platter) Wright.

Joseph Wright, who was born in Ireland, came to America in young manhood, locating in Ross County, Ohio, where he married j Sarah Platter, who was Ixarn in Kentucky, but was reared in Ross County. They moved to Adams County, Ohio, and then settled at Sinking Springs, where Mr. Wright engaged in a mercantile business and was also proprietor of a stage line, from Chillicothe to Marietta, which did a large business before the advent of the railroads. Subsequently he came to Aladison township, Pickaway County and settled on the farm now owned by our subject. He was one of the pioneers and lived out the rest. of his days here, dying on March 3, 1871, in his 79th year. His wife passed away on June 29, 1864, aged 70 years. In politics he was a Republican, having been a strong Whig in his earlier years. At one time he served as township clerk and at all times was a good citizen. His surviving children are: Mary

A., widow of Jonathan Hay, residing at Ashville; Sarah J., who resides with our subject; William, of Ashville; Joseph P., of Ashville; Andrew, of Alontgomery County, Kansas; and John C.

John C. Wright was reared in Aladison township and obtained his early education in the local schools and later enjoyed a term at the Lithopolis High School. He has always been interested in farming and owns a valuable property on which, in 1892, he erected his present substantial and comfortable home.

Mr. Wright was married November 19, 1879, to Julia A. Kerns, who was born in Fairfield County, Ohio, April 8, 1848, and is a daughter of George and Alary (Stucky) Kerns. Her father was born in Fairfield County, Ohio, and was a son of Jacob Kerns, a native of Pennsylvania, and one of. the early settlers of Fairfield County. Mrs. Wright has one surviving sister— Sarah A., widow of Isaiah Doner, formerly of Fairfield County, but now a resident of Aladison township.

Air. and Mrs. Wright have three children, namely: Bertha L., wife of Clarence B.

Noecker, of Walnut township; and George K. and William W., both living at home.

Mr. Wright and wife belong to the Lutheran Church at Lithopolis, of which he is a trustee. In politics he is a Republican. He belongs to Hamilton Grange, No. 436, Patrons of Husbandry, at Groveport, Ohio.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

HULIUS J. WRIGHT, deceased, once a prominent resident of Pickaway County, was born in Loudoun County, Virginia, January 5, 1830, and died in his old home place in the county of his birth, on September 20, 1903. He was a son of Joseph and Mary ( Sullivan) Wright.

The father of Mr. Wright was born in Ireland and died when his son Julius was 13 years of age. His mother was born in Loudoun County, Virginia, and her life closed when her son was a child of five years. The orphan boy was reared in the-home of his grandfather, with whom he remained until he started out in life for himself.

Upon coming to Ohio, Julius J. Wright settled for a time in Ross County. From there he went to Osage County, Kansas, where he took up a government land claim on which he lived for some years. Upon his return to Ohio, he located in Pickaway County, where he lived for many years. On April 5, 1866, he was married to Mary A. Emerson, who was born in Pickaway township, Pickaway County, Ohio, April 5, 1838. She is a daughter of Thomas and Margaret (Kennedy) Emerson, the former

Googl( of whom was born in Virginia and the latter, in Kentucky.

Thomas Emerson was a son of Thomas and Mary (Downey) Emerson, who came to Pickaway County and were very early settlers in Pickaway township. The father of Mrs. Wright became one of the very old residents here, his life extending to 91 years. Of his children, three survive, viz.: James, of Pickaway township; Mrs. Mary A*. Wright; and George T., also of Pickaway township.

The children of Mr. and Mrs. Wright were eight in number, the survivors being: Sarah A., Thomas E., Robert F., Adella M., Laura L. and Walter E. Mrs. Wright resides on a fine farm of 100 acres of well-cultivated land. She is a valued member of Ebenezer Church of the Evangelical Association. Her whole life has been passed in Pickaway County and she is a worthy representative of one of its oldest and most honored families.

MES WARD has been a prominent resident of Pickaway County since 1857. For many years he was actively engaged in farming in Walnut township, where he still owns a large estate; for the past two years, however, he has been a resident and leading business man of Ashville, being president of the Citizens* Bank and extensively interested in the grain business. He was born October 16, 1844, in Fairfield County, Ohio, and is a son of Peter and Mary Ann (Greek) Ward.

Peter Ward and his wife were both natives of Fairfield County. In the spring of 1849 he moved to Allen County, where He resided for four years, being killed in 1853 by a team. William Ward, the great-grandfather of our subject, was a native of England who came to this country and first settled in Virginia. In 1802 he moved to Pickaway County, which at that time was included in Ross County. William Ward, grandfather of James Ward, was born in Virginia and upon coming to Ohio settled in Pickaway County; later lie married and moved into Fairfield County.

James Ward, the subject of this sketch, was compelled to leave home at an early age because of the death of his father. He went to the home of his brother-in-law, Sidney J. Ward, at 12 years of age and bound himself to his brother-in-law until his 21st year, under the condition that he was to be given a horse, bridle, saddle and a suit of clothes, which he received in 1865. He received his early education in the common schools and 'afterward took a special course in the normal school at Lebanon, Ohio, preparing himself for teaching. After leaving school, he engaged in farming and also taught school for 16 winters. Since then he has devoted his time and energies to agricultural pursuits. He finally, in 1878, bought the farm where he had lived as a boy and as a tenant, paying $114 per acre, and having 10 years to pay for the same.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

CHARLES EDWARD WRIGHT, an energetic agriculturist and citizen, who has been operating a farm of 187 acres in Harrison township since 1900. was born at Circleville. Ohio. March 17, 1877.

Charles Edward Wright, Sr., whose death occurred in 1877, was born at Baltimore,

Maryland, and early in life became a resident of Pickaway County, Ohio, of which he became one of the most prominent citizens. He was a member of the manufacturing firm of Haswell, Wright & Company, and for many years was also connected with the old Scioto Bank. He served in the Civil War as a lieutenant in Company A, 114th Reg., Ohio Yol. Inf., and the hardships then endured terminated his life at a comparatively early age, just as he was entering into a very broad field of usefulness. His wife, Lovina Thompson, was a daughter of Dr. Jesse C. Thompson, who was 9ne of the earliest medical practitioners of Pickaway County, locating at South Bloomfield in 1837, and practicing there until his death in 1889. Dr. Thompson was widely known for his skill and it is thought that he was the first practitioner in the West to perform what is known as the Caesarean operation. Dr. Thompson's wife, Emily Sage, was a daughter of Harley Hi Sage, who was a soldier in the Revolutionary War. The following children were born to our subject’s parents, all of whom are living, namely: Thompson B., a physician of Circleville; Annie E., wife of Thomas W. Browm. who resides near Circleville; and J. W., jobber of machinery, who lives in St. Louis.

Charles E. Wright, the subject of this sketch, has been a resident of South Bloomfield and the vicinity nearly all his life. Pie esquired his education in the schools of the village and in those of the county seat, finishing his education in 1895 'm the Circleville High School. Since then, with the exception of his period of service in the Spanish- American War, he has been continuously engaged in farming. His enlistment was in Company M, Fourth Ohio Infantry, U. S. Volunteers. His command was stationed at Fort Thomas until August 1, 189S, when it was ordered to Newport News, Virginia, and then to Puerto Rico. Mr. Wright participated in the campaign on the island until he was sent home as a victim of typhus fever. He was mustered out of the service after peace was declared.

On December 12, 1905, Mr. Wright was married to Katherine Harman, daughter of

R. D. and Ella (Shotts) Harman, the ceremony occurring at the home of the bride's parents near Bell Center, Hardin County, Ohio. Mr. Wright is a Republican in his political affiliation.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

EDWARD WRIGHT, an enterprising and progressive farmer of Muhlenberg township, and a member of the Board of Infirmary Directors of Pickaway County, was born in Fairfield 1 County, Ohio, May 24. 1861. He is a son of John Wright, who was born in Fairfield Conn tv and there died, having lived there all his life (with the exception of 12 or 15 years spent in Pickaway County), engaged in farming and stock-raising.

Edward A right was reared and educated in Fairfield County and at the age of 22 moved to Jackson township, Pickaway County, where he purchased a tract of 90 acres and engaged in farming until 1905. He then purchased a tract of land in Muhlenberg township, where he has since been engaged in farming and stock-raising. Fie also owns the 90-acre farm above mentioned, which he is having farmer by a tenant.

Mr. Wright was married December 24, 1884, to Susie Lernay, a daughter of Lewis Lemav, who was engaged in farming in Muhlenberg township. Mrs. Wright died on August 10, 1905, leaving seven children, namely: Florence, Bertha. Nellie, Dona, John, Gilbert and Evert. Mr. Wright has always taken an active interest in politics, has served as trustee of Jackson township for six years and has also held numerous other minor offices.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.