My Genealogy Hound

JAMES W. WRIGHT, blacksmith, Le Roy; one of the early pioneers of Illinois; born in Indiana, Nov. 5, 1827. He emigrated with his parents when 1 year old, and located in Vermilion Co., near Danville, Ill., in the fall of 1828; he was raised to heavy farm labor until 21 years of age, when he met with an accident by a tree falling upon him, which broke his leg and caused him to relinquish farming; he then went to Danville, where he learned and worked at the blacksmith trade for three years, and, in the winter of 1851, removed to Bloomington, McLean Co., where, after working one year, he came to Le Roy and associated with T. D. Gilmore, in the blacksmith trade two years; then one year with John Kline, under the firm name of Wright & Kline; then two years with Robert Ingle, when Mr. Wright bought his partner’s interest, and continued three years alone; he then admitted his old partner John Kline, which partnership continued two years, since which time Mr. Wright has continued business alone. Of town and school offices he has held his share, having been Town Trustee, School Trustee, one of the first Aldermen, and was elected the second Mayor of the city of Le Roy, which office he held for two years. His marriage with Martha F. Gilmore was celebrated Feb. 14, 1853; she was born in Warren Co., Ky., Nov. 21, 1834; nine children were the fruit of this union, four of whom are living, viz.: Matilda, E., born Feb. 3, 1854, now Mrs. Townsend L. Smith; William, born June 27, 1858; James W., born March 25, 1869; McLean, born March 22, 1877; the deceased are Thomas D., Stephen A. Douglas, Joseph Price, Cora Bell and Francis. Mrs. Wright was the daughter of Thomas D. Gilmore, one of the early settlers of McLean Co., who emigrated from Kentucky, and located in Empire Township, in 1836, where he now lives, at the age of 64 years. Her grandfather lived to the ripe old age of 98. Mr. Wright’s mother was one of nine children, all of whom are now living, the youngest being 65 years, and the oldest being 79 years of age. Silas Waters is one of the number. The above family of nine children with their parents crossed the Alleghany Mountains in a two-wheel cart, drawn by one horse, during the year 1814.