Biography - George Wright
GEORGE WRIGHT is a native of Yorkshire, England, where he was born December
30th, 1809. His parents, John and Anne Wright, had a family of twelve
children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the second. John Wright,
with his family, left Yorkshire and embarked for America in 1830, and arrived
at Carrollton, Illinois, in July of the same year. He soon after located on
a farm west of the city, where he was engaged in agricultural pursuits at
the time of his death, which occurred at 9 o'clock P. M. of the 23d of
March, 1865, at the advanced age of eighty-seven years. His widow is yet
living, and resides with her son, David Wright.
George Wright was educated in the schools of his native city, receiving a
good, practical business education;' and when about the age of fourteen he
became an apprentice to learn the trade of carpenter. He came with his
parents to Illinois in 1830, and, for six years after, assisted his father
in carrying on the farm. In May, 1836, Mr. Wright purchased a stock of goods
and engaged in merchandising at Carrollton, which business he continued
until 1871. As a merchant, he proved very successful, combining, as he
does, in a large degree, the essential qualifications of business - having
broad, comprehensive views, and an accurate judgment of man and things. His
success in business is an instance of what perseverance, intelligence, and
integrity may accomplish. Whatever he undertakes, he does with all his
might, and yet, at the same time, he is orderly and systematic in his
performances.
He is plain and unassuming in manners, a genial companion, and generous in
disposition. His judgment is well guarded, and generally found to be correct.
Few men of the city of Carrollton have been engaged in business as long as
Mr. Wright, and made as few enemies. At one time he was interested in three
mercantile houses - one at home, another located at Jerseyville, and the
third at Carlinville.
Believing that "roughing it" alone in this world was not exactly the thing,
and acting upon that idea, in May, 1844, he was married to Miss Anna
Tunstall, the amiable daughter of Captain John Tunstall, formerly of
Louisville, Kentucky, but at that time a resident of Greene county,
Illinois. By this union, Mr. Wright and wife were blessed with four
children, of whom the eldest, a daughter, is now deceased. After eleven
years of prosperity and happy married life, a cloud settled over that
household, and draped in mourning a pleasant home, caused by the death of
Mrs. Wright, which occurred on the 18th of May, 1856. In January, 1860, Mr.
Wright was married to Miriam Tunstall, a sister of his former wife, by which
union he is the father of two sons. Mr. Wright and wife are both members of
the Presbyterian Church.
After becoming a citizen of Illinois, Mr. Wright, from principle, became a
strong supporter of the anti-slavery party, though, as a general rule, he
may be classed among those who manifest little interest in political topics.
Mr. Wright is a man who does his own thinking, and works out his own course,
and the success he has achieved abundantly verifies the soundness of his
judgement. Among the successful merchants of Greene county, he stands
foremost, and almost alone. During his career of almost forty years as a
merchant, he has been fortunate enough to make but few bad deals, as he has
always been guided by his own judgment, rather than by the windy ideas of
those who prove a failure in their undertakings. He commenced life poor, but
by economy and industry, has climbed, round after round, up the ladder of
success, until he has gained a competency. Like most of the pioneers of a
new country, his success was marked by much hard labor; and, by his kind and
gentlemanly manner, he has won the esteem and respect of those who have
acted with him in the history, growth, and development of Greene county.
One thing is said of George Wright which cannot be said of all men: that the
truth of his word is never doubted by those who know him best. He can
certainly be classed among the self-made men of the county. He has now
retired from active business, and, at his beautiful residence, surrounded by
an interesting family, is enjoying the fruits of a well spent life.
Extracted 05 Jan 2017 by Norma Hass from Atlas Map of Greene County Illinois, 1873, page 34.
