John Wesley Wright

Although John Wesley Wright and his wife, Sarah Elizabeth Crozier Wright, left no lineal descendants, their lives touched those of so many others that some record should be left in the history of Henry County.

John Wesley was typical of the young men attracted to Texas in the canal days. He was born in Perry, Wyoming County, New York, December 5, 1838. That same year, his parents moved to Bath Township, Summit County, and in 1853 to Fulton County. He had three brothers: Thomas, Charles, Robert, and one sister, Mrs. R. B. McClarren.

Uncaptioned photo of log cabin

In 1862 "Wes" began working for Roach and Wilson, who were conducting a general store on the canal. The ambitious young man was kept on when the store was acquired by Mr. Gehring. When Mr. Gehring died, Wes bought the stock, and the store became the J. W. Wright Store. The convenience of shipping on the canal made Texas a prosperous grain center for purchase and sale, and a reputation for fair dealing made the Wright enterprise a successful one. On October 17, 1866, he married Sarah Elizabeth Crozier.

He was a charter member of the IOOF lodge of Texas. "No deserving man ever went from his door hungry, and many were saved from hunger and cold by the credit he so freely extended. Honesty, honor, truth, and loyalty, to do as he would be done by - that was his religion, and he lived it to the letter," a friend wrote in tribute. In December, 1908, he retired and moved to Liberty Center to the large new home which still stands at the corner of Damascus and Maple.

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