My Genealogy Hound

JESSE M. WRIGHT, who is living on section 15, Vergennes Township, Jackson County, where he devotes his time and attention to agricultural pursuits, was born in Breckenridge County, Ky., April 7, 1839. His father, David Wright, was born in Norfolk, Va., and during the greater part of his he followed school teaching. To some extent he also engaged in farming. He removed from Norfolk when a young man, in order to acquire the means whereby he could pay his tuition in school. He was industrious, enterprising and ambitious, and his life was well spent. He died of Asiatic cholera in 1850. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Elizabeth Jacobs, was a daughter of Harrison Jacobs, a Revolutionary soldier. The paternal grandfather was a large slaveholder in Virginia, as was Mr. Jacobs. Both of them offered Mr. and Mrs. Wright slaves, but they refused to accept them, for they believed strongly in Abolition principles. Both were prominent and active members of the Methodist Church, and in politics he was a Henry Clay Whig. He was a very popular and successful teacher, and had the respect and confidence of all who knew him. His wife passed away in Kentucky in 1890.

In the Wright family were the following children: John, Tabitha; Ann, wife of David Schnyder; Francis, who died at the age of twenty five; Sarah, wife of James Goff; Martha, wife of Charles Walters; Catherine, wife of Jackson Johnson; Elizabeth, wife of Charles Barnett; Jane, wife of Walter Welsh; and David, who was murdered in Hawesville, Ky., in 1892.

After the death of his father, our subject remained upon the home farm and took care of his mother and the family. He worked hard, and with his earnings he educated his three sisters, Catherine, Elizabeth and Jane. In 1861 he came to Illinois, but continued to assist his mother and her family. He went to work as a tobacconist in Raleigh, where his elder brother, John, was established in business, and there continued for nine years.

On the 12th of July, 1866, Mr. Wright wedded Mary C. Johnson, and their union has been blessed with the following children: Iona A., born August 13, 1867; Ella May, November 18, 1869; Mary A., born January 9, 1871, and died in infancy; Thomas D. A., born December 26, 1874; William H., January 26, 1877; Jesse M. J., December 5, 1880; Harry E., March 9, 1888; and Charles H., October 24, 1892. The eldest daughter is now the wife of Rufus Wiseley, of Murphysboro.

A year after his marriage, Mr. Wright removed with his family to DuQuoin, where he followed cigar-making and coopering until the spring of 1878, when he came to the farm on which he now resides. It is under a high state of cultivation and well improved; it is one hundred acres in extent, and has upon it a comfortable and commodious residence and all other modern accessories and conveniences. Mr. and Mrs. Wright are prominent members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he serves as Trustee and Assistant Superintendent of the Sunday-school. In politics he was formerly a Republican, but is now independent, supporting the man whom he thinks best qualified for the office. He is regarded as one of the influential citizens of his neighborhood, and is
highly respected by his many friends and acquaintances in the community.

Mrs. Wright is a daughter of Thomas N. Johnson, who was born near Lebanon, St. Clair County, Ill., July 7, 1816, and was a son of Malcolm and Rebecca Johnson. His father was born in Ireland, January 12, 1777, and when a small boy came with his parents to America, locating in Kentucky. After his marriage he emigrated to St. Clair County, Ill., which was then an almost unbroken wilderness, in which the Indians were far more numerous than the white settlers. He worked in the fields with his rifle strapped to his back, in order to be ready for any hostile attacks from the Indians. He had a large family. Margaret, born September 12, 1808, married Charles McDonald January 21, 1835; James was born November 10, 1809, and married Nancy N. Bonus March 31, 1833; George, born February 18, 1811, died October 29, 1823; William, who was born May 17, 1815, wedded Mary L. Holt November 13, 1834; Theophilus M., born January 25, 1814, married Elizabeth I. Chapman May 25, 1838; Thomas N. married Harriett T. Peoples December 10, 1840; John W., born February 5, 1819, married Ann Smith August 3, 1850; Jesse H., born August 20, 1820, married Cornelia S. Butcher April 25, 1847; Lavina was born January 19, 1824; Mary, born August 24, 1825, became the wife of A. B. Sharp November 7, 1844; Sarah N., born April 10, 1827, became the wife of Alex Chesney July 4, 1847; and Hugh, born January 25, 1829, completes the family. Among the sons were four Methodist ministers, and the parents and children were all members of that church. The father died April 2, 1841, and his wife passed away September 12, 1858.

Thomas N. Johnson was reared on the home farm, and completed his education in McKendree College. For several years he engaged in blacksmithing and farming, and then entered the work of the ministry, in which he was actively engaged from 1853 until 1877, when, on account of failing health, he was superanuated, still he continued his labors as far as able. He preached forty-seven hundred and thirty sermons and took twenty-two hundred and fifty persons into the church. He died December 8, 1891, at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Wright. His wife, who was born November 8, 1817, died November 21, 1883. Their children were: Martha J., born April 30, 1842; John D., April 13, 1844; Mary C., July 7, 1848; Laura E., August 31, 1852; and Lavina E., November 25, 1854. The father of this family was one of the most energetic men, and never allowed any obstacle to turn him from the path of duty. In disposition he was gentle, kind, sympathetic and generous, and never neglected an opportunity to do good. Surely the world is better for his having lived.