My Genealogy Hound

William P. Wright, owner and proprietor of the comfortable hostelry known as the “Davisburg House" at Davisburg, Michigan, is a well known resident of Springfield township, where he was born in a log house, July 2, 1860, and is a son of Hon. David Austin Wright, and a grandson of Derrick J. Wright, both natives of New York.

Derrick J. Wright came to Michigan in 1843, a wagonmaker by trade, and soon established a good business which prospered until his death in 1850 at Austin, Oakland County. He left the following family: David Austin, who became a distinguished citizen of Oakland County; Horatio, deceased; William P., deceased; Mrs. Jane Bond, deceased; Mrs. Marietta E. Maxon, of Attica, New York; James D., of Churchville, New York, and a daughter who married a Mr. Palmer, and is now deceased.

Hon. David Austin Wright was born at Granville, Washington County, New York, June 16, 1813, in 1824 moved to Oneida County, and in 1843 came to Michigan, locating in Springfield township, Oakland County, where he died January 19, 1877. He learned his father’s trade and worked for some years at wagonmaking at Austin, serving also as undertaker, and later built and operated a foundry, making castings, etc. His public spirit and ability made him soon one of the leading men of the place and when the post office was established the village was given his middle name of Austin, and he was made postmaster, an office he held for 25 years. A stanch Democrat, in 1849 he was sent from Oakland County to the lower house in the Legislature and in 1852 he was chosen State Senator. He was one of the organizers and a leading member of Austin Lodge, No. 48, F. & A. M., was very prominent in Austin Chapter, No. 44, R. A. M., and was a Knight Templar for years. He was three times elected coroner of Oakland County and so great was his personal popularity that he could have secured any township or county office he desired. With all his weight of public office, concern for the development of public sentiment and desire of political prominence for his section, Mr. Wright continued for years to be the model farmer of his locality. He owned 600 acres of land in Springfield and Groveland townships and was one of the most successful wheat and wool growers of the northwestern portion of the county. He was well known and enjoyed the largest measure of public esteem given to any one man of his times in Oakland county.

David Austin Wright was married September 13, 1834, to Mary D. Campbell, and two children were born to them, namely: Mrs. Susan S. Phillips of Pontiac; and Mrs. Sarah N. Murgittroyd, deceased. His second marriage took place March 7, 1853, Harriet E. Gross, who was born April 27, 1831, in Hampshire County, Massachusetts, and who is a daughter of Jonah and Harriet (Harwood) Gross, of Enfield, Massachusetts, becoming his wife. Jonah Gross came to Michigan in 1832 and located on the northeast quarter of section 10, Springfield township, Oakland County, being the second settler in the township. Five children were born to our subject’s parents, namely: Porter A., a hardware merchant of Holly, Michigan; Alice A., who died in infancy; Theodore G., deceased; William P., of this sketch; and Mrs. Lucy J. Mathews, of Lansing, Michigan.

William P. Wright was reared and educated in Springfield township, which has always been his home. He remained on the farm until the age of 30 years and then embarked in a hardware business at Davisburg, with his brother Porter A., under the firm name of Wright Brothers, which was managed with great success for eight years, when our subject purchased the “Davisburg House,” the only hotel in the village. Since December, 1898, Mr. Wright has been its popular host. He has engaged in other business enterprises, operating a cider and feed mill with his brother for 12 years, and a threshing machine for some eight years.

Mr. Wright was united in marriage March 7, 1883, to Nettie Jane Campbell, who was born in Groveland township, Oakland County, Michigan, and was one of the three children of Capt. Allen and Elizabeth (Downey) Campbell, the other two being Alexander J. Campbell and Mrs. Fannie J. Eden, both of whom reside in Groveland township. The one child of this marriage is a son, David Allen, born July 19, 1886, who is now living with his parents in Davisburg.

Capt. Allen Campbell was born at Grandholm, Scotland, November 11, 1817, and when 10 years of age he immigrated to this country with his grandmother, who located at Paterson, New Jersey. At 17 years of age he went to sea, shipping from New Bedford, Massachusetts. He continued in that vocation, sailing the high seas, until 1847 and during the Mexican War commanded the United States transport (schooner) “Heroine,” running between the United States and Mexico. At the close of the war, in 1847, he came to Groveland township, Oakland County, and bought 120 acres of land in section 16, which is still in the possession of the family. He filled many town offices and positions of responsibility and trust. In 1875-76 he represented the first district of Oakland County in the State Legislature. On May 30, 1854, he was married to Elizabeth Downey, daughter of Alexander and Jane (Hamilton) Downey, who still survives him and resides on the farm he purchased in 1847. He died June 22, 1883.

Politically Mr. Wright is an active member of the Democratic party. Fraternally he is a member of Austin Lodge, No. 48, F. & A. M., and Tent No. 367, Knights of the Maccabees, of Davisburg. Mr. Wright has many friends in his locality, being a man of frank and genial nature, kind and neighborly, honorable and charitable.