Genealogy Data
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Birth : 6 August 1857 in Concord (Dodge Co.), Minnesota
Death : 16 February 1930 in Bonners Ferry, Idaho
Burial : Bonners Ferry, Idaho
[joan'sfam.FTW]
William is the brother who rescued Margaret, Wallace and Etta while they were living in Ortonville, Minnesota (c.1879). He apparently was living with his parents' at the Willmar (MN) Hotel at that time. He is never mentioned again in Etta's diaries. Robert Corkins (descendant of Keturah, William's brother) has sent this information about William:
" William moved with his family (Margaret and William Wright) to North Dakota (probably Arvilla). He was first married to Martha Brady Johnson (1884). They divorced, one surviving child (James). In the fall of 1898 he married Anna Johnson at Grangeville, Idaho. In June, 1899, (June 7) they bought 320 acres in Paradise Valley (ID) from the Great Northern Railway (should be Northern Pacific). About 1910 he built the largest barn in Paradise Valley with only a mule for help (in November 1899 they had a ball to celebrate). He put a cupola on top as a lookout for strangers and a place to get away from the mosquitoes. He changed the name of the valley from Mosquito Flats to Paradise Valley. Mounted on a tall pole by the back door of the house was a very large bell used to call for help from family and neighbors. This bell dates to 1747* and is still in the family in Spokane, Washington. Anna died in 1920 and Will in 1930. They are both buried in the Paradise Valley Cemetery. Will was married twice (records verify only once) before and had two sons, James and Edwin (who died when small). Will's estate went to a sister and family (presumably Mary Elizabeth (Lizzie) Stevens (Stephens) who lived there for a couple of years before selling to John Yoder." ( Wm's original farm house was moved to the next farm formerly owned by Mr. Widiven).
The obituary in the Willmar (MN) Tribune (Feb. 1930) states that William did not know the whereabouts of his son by his first wife (James?) The obit also states that Mr. Wright was a fancier of horses and was a picturesque figure on the streets of Bonners Ferry, usually driving a spirited team. (see appendix)
In September, 2001 Robert Corkins took Joan to William's farm near Bonners Fairy (Paradise Valley, ID.) It is a beautiful property - - mountains, a stream and flat land for farming. William also had a mine in the side of the mountain (probably looking for silver?). An interesting sketch written by Edwin E. Corkins is appended. It tells of the summer Edwin spent with his great Uncle Will. Logging must have been William's primary source of income. Unfortunately William's property must have been taken over by the bank for back taxes during the depression of the 1930's. William died in 1930.
* The bell apparently belonged to John Wright, William's grandfather. (See notes under Elizabeth (Lizzie) Stephens. Robert Corkins has the bell in his basement and Dayton, Ohio is marked on it. Some of this does not quite make sense as Montgomery County was not settled until the Northwest Territory was opened for development c. 1799.
Parents:
Father: Wright, William R.Family:
Mother: Tilden, Mary
Marriage: 1884 in Grand Forks, North DakotaFamily:
Spouse:Johnson, Martha BradyChildren:
Wright, Edwin
Death : North Dakota
[joan'sfam.FTW]
Robert Corkins has sent a 'copy of "Family Record of William Wright and Family Copied in 1927" (written by Keturah). That record says that Edwin 'died young' in North Dakota.
Wright, James
Death : 5 January 1893 in Idaho Springs, Colorado
Burial : Idaho Springs, Colorado
[joan'sfam.FTW]
According to Robert Corkins, James married and had 2 children. So far we have been unable to find more information about James.
Marriage: 1898 in Grangeville, Idaho
Spouse:Johnson, Anna
Death : 1920 in Bonners Ferry, Idaho
Burial : Bonners Ferry, Idaho
There are many interesting stories in the lives of those represented here. Please help me add information, photos, or whatever you feel comfortable with.
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This page has been slightly reformatted and preserved in memory of its creator and my brother.
(aka Bruce Johnson)
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