Notes
Wright, James C.
[joan'sfam.FTW]
James Wright, (age 21) is listed in the Minnesota Territorial Census
of 1857 living with William and Mary (Tilden) Wright in Dodge County. He was also in the Indiana 1850 census. Update: February 2002. (from Anne
O'Leary-Birdie's granddaughter) Excerpts from the obituary in the "Colorado Mining Gazette" . . . "James C. Wright, who passed from
earthly life at his home . . . was the oldest settler in this section and had a wide circle of acquaintances and friends. . . Mr. Wright was
born in Miami County, Indiana . . . .he leaves a wife and a son and daughter to mourn his loss, two children having proceeded him in the
voyage across the dark river. Although born of good QUAKER PARENTS, Mr. Wright early in life embraced the spiritualist belief and was a firm and
honest believer in that doctrine up to the hour of his passing . . . at the age of 19 . . he emigrated to Dodge County, MN where he followed
farming for three years . . . in 1859 he started west . . he met many discouraged fortune seekers. . .after the winter of 1859 at Plattsmouth
(Nebraska) he continued west to Colorado. Eventually he located at Idaho Spring where he first engaged in placer mining, but afterwards lode
mining. The remains were laid to rest in Idaho Spring cemetery beside his two children.
Joyce Swanson called City Hall in Idaho Springs and got the
following information from the cemetery book (lot 294). James C. Wright d.10/12/98, Bell D. Wright d. 7/3/85, James d.1/5/93. Bell and James
must be the ones' who preceeded him in the voyage across the dark river. There is also an A. E. Wright d. 5/29/1935 (Jame's wife?) and Baby
Roberts d. 7/27/1918. Joyce is trying to make contact with some Wright's in Idaho Springs.
Added from work by Anne E. O'Leary (Johnson)
WRIGHT
OBITUARY: From The Colorado Mining Gazette
Saturday, October 22, 1898
R. D. Blair, Publisher
James C. Wright, who passed from earthly life at his home on Sunday
evening, October 9, 1898, was the oldest settler in this section and had a wide circle of acquaintances and friends both in this and Gilpin
County. Mr. Wright was born in Miami County, Indiana, April 11, 1837, and was at the time of his sudden death 61 years, 5 months and 28 days.
He leaves a wife and a son and daughter to mourn his loss, two children having preceded him in the voyage across the dark river.
Although born of
g ood old Quaker parents, Mr. Wright early in life embraced the spiritualist belief and was a firm and honest believer in
that doctrine up to the hour of his passing. At the age of 19, Mr. Wright emigrated to Dodge County, Minnesota, where
he followed farming about three years. In 1859, hearing of the discovery of gold at Pikes Peak he started for the far west and came as far as
Plattsmouth, Nebraska, where he met many discouraged fortune seekers; returning who had not found the gold fields as rich as they expected.
But this did not discourage him. After the winter of 1859 at Plattsmouth, he started across the plains in the spring of 1860 and came
to Colorado. After spending the summer here, lie returned to the Missouri river, thinking it impossible to winter in Colorado, but he
returned in the spring of 1862 and located at Idaho Springs where he first engaged in placer mining, but, afterwards went into lode mining
with varying success.
He was married October 17, 1858, to Asenath Reid of Union County, Ohio.
Mr. Wright was highly esteemed by all who knew him and he was a good citizen The remains were laid to rest in Idaho Springs cemetery beside
his two children. The funeral was attended by a large number of friends. Services were conducted by Rev. H. N. Wilson, Judge Waltman
also making some eloquent and appropriate remarks. Verses followed.
James C. Wright was probably a cousin of Eber Abrah am Wright
.
The obituary given above was copied from a typewritten paper that Bartha
Ramsett Johnson sent to Lela Ingraham Fiers.
[James Wright Des Tree.FTW]
James Wright, (age 21) is listed in the Minnesota Territorial Census
of 1857 living with William and Mary (Tilden) Wright in Dodge County. He was also in the Indiana 1850 census. In February 2002, Anne
O'Leary-Birdie's granddaughter sent an obituary (copied) from the "Colorado Mining Gazette" . . . "James C. Wright, who passed from
earthly life at his home . . . was the oldest settler in this section and had a wide circle of acquaintances and friends. . . Mr. Wright was
born in Miami County, Indiana . . . .he leaves a wife and a son and daughter to mourn his loss, two children having preceded him in the
voyage across the dark river. Although born of good QUAKER PARENTS, Mr. Wright early in life embraced the spiritualist belief and was a firm and
honest believer in that doctrine up to the hour of his passing . . . at the age of 19 . . he emigrated to Dodge County, MN where he followed
farming for three years . . . in 1859 he started west . . he met many discouraged fortune seekers. . .after the winter of 1859 at Plattsmouth
(Nebraska) he continued west to Colorado. Eventually he located at Idaho Spring where he first engaged in placer mining, but afterwards lode
mining. The remains were laid to rest in Idaho Spring cemetery beside his two children.
Joyce Swanson called City Hall in Idaho Springs and got the
following information from the cemetery book (lot 294). James C. Wright d.10/12/1898 (although he purchased the lots in 1886). Dell D. Wright d.
7/3/1885, James d.1/5/93. Dell and James must be the ones who preceded him in the 'voyage across the dark river'. There is also an A.E. Wright
d. 5/29/1935 (Asenath ?) and Baby Robert d. 7/27/1918 (possibly a grandchild of one of the daughter 'left to mourn his loss'. Joyce has
tried to make contact with some Wright's in Idaho Springs, but they have
been unresponsive to telephone calls.
Checking the Colorado Territorial census, 1870 (Colorado became a
state in 1876): James Wright, b. IN, County - Clear Creek, Idaho Springs, age 35 (i.e. b. 1835 or 36) confirms the information that Birdie Ramsett
Johnson had although it was transcribed that James was a cousin to Eber (he was definitely a brother (Joan)).
Directions to Cemetary: From Idaho Springs, S. on hy 133 (Road to
Mt. Evans) . . a few blocks to cemetary, left @ sign and go to the gazebo and park. J.C Wright is in old cemetary #294, other Wright graves in new
cemetary -- see map in Joan's file.