Genealogy Data
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Birth : 12 October 1830 in Illinois
Death : 8 May 1887 in Arvilla, North Dakota
[joan'sfam.FTW]
William was born in Illinois and presumable went to Indiana with his parents (c. 1834). Some records show his middle initial as R. and some as F. Illinois was settled as early as, or earlier than Indiana. Louis Jolliet and Jacques Marquette, French explorers who traveled down the Fox River in Wisconsin, to the Wisconsin River, Mississippi River to what is now Illinois c. 1673. The first settlement in Illinois was a mission in what is the present Utica, IL. Another French explorer, Rene Robert Cavalier, built in the neighborhood of Lake Peoria and a permanent settlement in that area was established. It seems that William's father, John R. Wright, first traveled to Illinois from Ohio and later when the north central part of Indiana was opened for settlers they moved to Miami Co., Perry Twp. Indiana. William is listed in the 1850 Indiana census, and that is where he must have met Mary Tilden, his wife. (Marriage record has been verified at the Peru County Court House.)
William next appears in the Dodge Co., Minnesota 1860 census as well as the Minnesota Territorial Census of 1857. Tildens and Wrights lived on adjacent census tracts and research into land records in Dodge Co.(Concord), beginning in 1856 (before Minnesota became a state) indicate they bought and sold land almost continuously while living there. Joan has a booklet titled HISTORY OF NOTEORD from Neil Wheeler (appended). In that booklet a William Wright is listed as a "Supervisor" when Concord Township was organized. The history also noted that "Hammond and Wright" were the proprietors of Concord's first store (dry goods, general merchandise), this could be William or John R. Wright his father. William and Mary Tilden Wright arrived in Dodge County with nine other Tilden families in 1854-55. Also see THE HISTORY OF DODGE COUNTY by Elbert Tilden (son of Austin Tilden) (appended in the Tilden volume).
William and Mary (Tilden) Wright moved to New London (Kandiyohi Co.,) Minn in 1865. John R. Wright, Williams father is listed as living next to him in 1860 Dodge Co. census with wife Keturah and is involved in these land sales. In the territorial census James is living with William and Mary. A Warranty Deed dated August 10, 1867 found in the Kandiyohi County court house notes sale of land from Lemuel and Phibena McLouth to William Wright ($300).
In the 1880 census William and Mary are listed as living in Willmar. In Mary Tilden's obituary it says that Mr. Wright, in company with Messrs. Adams, Larson and Sperry, built the first grist mill at New London in 1867. In 1876 they moved to Willmar where they lived first on a farm and then 'keeping the Willmar hotel'. This is consistent with their daughter Margaret and her children returning to Willmar from Ortonville and living at her parents' hotel - I believe this was also called the Willmar House. Eventually William and Mary moved to Arvilla, North Dakota where William died. (Interesting to note that William is not buried in Fairview Cemetery in Willmar. Is he buried in Arvilla, ND?)
Parents:
Father: Wright, John R.Family:
Mother: Thornton, Keturah
Marriage: 26 January 1850 in Peru (Miami Co.) Indiana
Spouse:Tilden, MaryChildren:
Birth : 9 August 1832 in Millersberg, Holmes Co., Ohio
Death : 14 June 1897 in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota
Burial : Fairview Cemetery, Willmar, Minnesota
[joan'sfam.FTW]
(In several family notes by Helen McGovern the name Hill is added to Mary's name. Further research indicates a sister was married to Levi Hill, which may explain this confusion).
Mary Tilden and her husband William Wright came to Dodge County Minnesota (from Miami County, Indiana) in about 1855 as part of a group of 10 Tilden families (headed by William Tilden). They were amongst the earliest settlers in Dodge County.
Mary and William moved to New London c. 1865 and then to Willmar, MN. where they ran a hotel - "The Willmar House". They were living on a farm in Arvilla, North Dakota when William died in 1887. Many of the Wright's migrated to Northwestern Minnesota and Eastern North Dakota in the late 1800's. In addition to East Grand Forks and Arvilla ND, they lived in Crookston, Detroit Lakes, Bagley and Fosston MN.
Mary died in Detroit Lakes, MN. In the obituary in the Detroit Record (Detroit Lakes, MN newspaper, June 18, 1897 "Mrs. Mary Wright died at the home of Mrs. P.O. Stephens. Her daughters were Mrs. Stephans and Mrs. Maggie Wright. Her remains were taken to Willmar for burial in the family plot." (see appended notes) Etta notes that there were three living children when she died. (There probably were four - William T., Keturah, Margaret and Mary Elizabeth Lizzie - Mrs. P.O.) In one of Etta's diaries there is a reference to Uncle Peter Stephens of Detroit Lakes. This is the husband of Elizabeth (Lizzie) Wright, who would be Etta's aunt. It appears Mary went to live with Peter and Lizzie Stephens in Detroit Lakes after William died. The Stephens likely moved to the State of Washington following Mary's death. (Helen McGovern's notes mention visits from Lizzie Stevens(sp?) as well as "Maggie" Adams (Wright, Pease, etc.) Recently (July, 2001) Mary's obituary was found in the Willmar Tribune. It states Mary and William first lived on a farm outside of New London and then in the "village in a little cottage situated on the Sonstegard place", afterwards erecting the building which is standing there still. (Also see notes under William). At the time of death her son William's whereabouts were unknown, although he later appears in Bonners Ferry, Idaho.
(An account of the summer Etta spent in Arvilla N.D with her grandmother is appended.)
Parents:Father: Tilden, William T.
Mother: Smith, Margaret
Wright, Eli
Birth : 1852 in Miami County, Indiana
Death : 20 January 1854 in Miami County, Indiana
Burial : 1854 in Tilden Cemetary, Miami County, Indiana
[joan'sfam.FTW]
The cemetery where Eli is buried is known as the "Tilden Cemetery". It is located on the west side of a road listed as 50E between 1100 and 1200 N in Perry Township, Miami County, Indiana, in a woods that in 1977 was owned by a Verle and Sandy Sloan. The cemetery is in bad condition, overgrown with bushes and trees. The markers are in poor condition. Other buried in this cemetery include Rhodes, Tildens, Weaver, Fisher, Deeds, and Arnest. (see appended notes).
Wright, Keturah Alice
Wright, Margaret Maggie Tega
Wright, William Tilden
Wright, Mary Elizabeth
Wright, Eddie
Birth : 25 April 1867 in New London (Kandiyohi Co.) Minnesota
Death : 7 September 1877 in Willmar (Kandiyohi Co), Minnesota
Burial : Fairview Cemetery, Willmar, Minnesota
[joan'sfam.FTW]
In Mary Tilden's obituary it is noted that Eddie was shot while playing during their stay in Willmar. It also says he was 'shot to death' on his tombstone.
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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