My Genealogy Hound

Below is a family biography included in The History of Laclede County, Missouri published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1889.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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H. T. Wright, circuit clerk and hardware merchant, of Lebanon, was born in Portland, Me., January 30, 1848, and is the son of Henry B. and Harriet (Hayes) Wright, both natives of Maine, and of English origin. The Wright family were among the colonists who settled in, Massachusetts in 1620, and one Christopher Wright, of whom mention is made in the late English histories, was one of the Guy Fawkes plotters. The paternal grandfather, Christopher Wright, was born in Marshfield, Mass., and immigrated to Portland, Me., where he was among the earliest settlers. During his early life he was engaged in merchandising, and his latter days were spent as director in some large institution. The maternal grandfather, Reuben Hayes, was born in North Yarmouth, Me., and spent his entire life there. He was a tiller of the soil. Henry B. Wright, father of our subject, was born in Portland, Me., and here passed his days. He died in December, 1853. He was for eighteen years president and secretary of the Ocean Insurance Company, of Portland, Me. H. T. Wright, our subject, was the only child born to his parents. He secured a good practical education in the schools of Yarmouth, and at the age of sixteen he went to sea, where three years afterward he was made second in command, and made voyages to Europe, South America, Australia and Callao, Peru, on the western coast. He followed the sea for six years. In the winter of 1870 he came west and located at Lebanon, Mo., where he followed farming until 1874, being then elected county clerk, which office he held until 1876. In 1883 he engaged in the hardware business, which he has since conducted. In 1886 he was elected to the office of clerk of the circuit court, a position he still holds. He is a member of the school board, being president of the same at this date. He is secretary of the Laclede and Lebanon Loan and Building Associations; is a member of the Masonic fraternity, of which he is Past Master, Past High Priest and Past Eminent Commander. He was married in 1873 to Miss Martha L. Munger, a native of Oswego, N. Y., who bore him six children: Harriet B., Grace E., George R., James H., Henry F. and Louisa T. Mrs. Wright is a member of the Congregational Church.

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This family biography is one of 104 biographies included in The History of Laclede County, Missouri published in 1889.  For the complete description, click here: Laclede County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps

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