My Genealogy Hound

JAMES J. WRIGHT, a merchant of Latour, Johnson County, is a native of this county, having been born in Chilhowee Township, September 10, 1842. His parents were George D. and Elizabeth P. (Cull) Wright, the former of whom was born in Virginia, whence he came with his widowed mother to this state when young. They located near Lexington, where Mrs. Wright was married to a man by the name of Cully.

George D. Wright was reared to farm work, and when his services were not needed at home attended the district school, thus gaining a fair knowledge of the common branches taught. He was married in this county to Miss Cull, and became the owner of a good tract of land in Chilhowee Township, where he was living at the time of his decease, in September, 1873. The mother of our subject lived until October 12, 1882, passing away in Butler, Bates County, this state. Three of the eight children born to her died in infancy, and Richard P. passed away at the age of nineteen years.

The subject of this sketch was given fair opportunities for attending the common schools, and in 1862, one year prior to attaining his majority, enlisted in Company D, Sixteenth Missouri Infantry. He was ordered to the front with his regiment, and in the battle of Prairie Grove, Ark., which followed, he was wounded in the left leg, below the knee. He was laid up in the hospital for some time, and when partially recovered was honorably discharged. Mr. Wright then made his way to Texas, and until 1866 was engaged in working by the month for a stockman. On his return home he brought with him a Texas pony, which, together with a horse in this county, included all his possessions.

In 1867 our subject and his brother, John Wesley, purchased a small stock of general merchandise at Chilhowee, where they were located for about two years. Subsequently they moved their stock to Warrensburg, and later operated together at Holden for two or three years.

While in the latter place, Mr. Wright was married, October 12, 1876, to Miss Minnie, daughter of H. J. and S. C. (Hults) Bates, a sketch of whom will appear on another page of this work. She was born in Burlington, Kan., May 2, 1858, and was educated in Holden. From that place she removed with her husband to Columbus, Mo., in 1881, where for three years he carried on a thriving trade as a general merchant. He afterward lived in Norris, Henry County, where he was located for about eight years, and in 1892 came to Latour, buying Mr. Plain’s store. In addition to carrying on his business, he fills the office of Postmaster, to which he was appointed in July, 1893, and while in Holden he also filled that position for six years. In politics he is, a straightforward Democrat, as was his father before him.

To Mr. and Mrs. Wright there have been born three children. Edgar P. was born September 8, 1877; Clarence Leslie, July 7, 1883; and Harold B., February 19, 1891.