The Wright Family of Smethport, Pennsylvania

This name, which is probably a name of occupation, is common in various parts of the United States.

(I) Andrew Hamilton Wright

Andrew Hamilton Wright, the first member of this family about whom we have definite information, was born in New York state, about 1803, died in Peoria, Illinois, about 1868. As his parents were buried at Groveland, Livingston county, New York, that was probably the place of his birth. He was a farmer at Lima, Livingston county, New York. He married Louisa Ogden, born probably in New York state (the family was a New York state family), in 1809, died at Lima, in 1861. Children, all born near Madison, Madison county, New York:

1. Joseph Wright. Died at Lexington, Kentucky; married and had a family.
2. Harriet Wright. Died in Illinois; married Jacob Deitz, deceased.
3. Amelia Wright. Died at Lima; married, at Madison, William Excell; he was a farmer; only one child reached adult years:
   1. Millie Excell. Died in the Klondike.
4. Benjamin Franklin Wright. Of whom further.
5. Lavinia Wright. Died at Smethport; married, in Colorado, Schultz, deceased; no children.
6. George Wright. Died in Peoria, unmarried.
7. Frederick Wright. Enlisted from New York state in the civil war, died in camp near Washington, in 1861.
8. William Wright. Resides at Renovo, Pennsylvania; engineer on the Pennsylvania railroad; married Belle Hyde, of Emporium; children:
   1. Alice Wright. Married McCloskey, resides in Pittsburgh.
   2. Lina Wright. Married John Robbins, resides in Renovo.
   3. Louise Wright. Married a Mr. Wright, resides in Washington, D. C.
   4. William Wright. An insurance agent in Pittsburgh.
   5. Donald Wright. Resides at Renovo.

(II) Benjamin Franklin Wright

Benjamin Franklin, son of Andrew Hamilton and Louisa (Ogden) Wright, was born at Madison, November 2, 1835, died at Smethport, December 18, 1909. His education was completed in the seminary at Lima. After finishing his schooling, he worked on his father’s farm until marriage, and after his marriage he opened a grocery store at Smethport, but he returned to his father’s farm before the civil war. In September, 1861, he enlisted in the Forty-Second Pennsylvania Infantry, or First Pennsylvania Reserve Volunteer Corps, the famous “Bucktail” Regiment, and he served in this until the end of the war, thus having part in several important engagements. From private he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant. A wound received at South Mountain incapacitated him for several months. He was also a prisoner, being confined in Libby, afterward in Salisbury, exchanged after about six months’ confinement. At Spottsylvania Court House, in 1864, he was wounded a second time. He was mustered out July 3, 1865, and returned to Smethport. Shortly after this he removed to Lafayette, having accepted a position with the Lafayette Coal Company. In the fall of 1866 he was elected sheriff of McKean county, in which office he served one term of three years. In 1875 he built the Wright Hotel at Smethport, and while he conducted it it was the best known hotel at this place, and it enjoys to the present day an excellent reputation. After thirty years he retired from this business. He was a member of McKean Lodge, No. 388, Free and Accepted Masons, Smethport; the commandery at Bradford; and Ismailia Shrine, in Buffalo, New York; also of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, Lodge No. 183, and of the Grand Army of the Republic. He was also a member of the Central Club, Smethport.

He married, in 1859, Catharine L., born at Smethport, March 15, 1838, daughter of Oshea R. and Lucy Green (Warner) Bennett (see Bennett III). Children:

1. Franklin O. Wright. Born at Smethport, October 20, 1858; a veterinary surgeon, residing at White Plains, Westchester county, New York; married May Parker, of New York City; no children.
2. Alban L. Wright. Born at Smethport, October 21, 1860, died in Rochester, New York, July 17, 1880.
3. Hamilton Wright. Born at Lafayette, September 13, 1866, died at Smethport, February 12, 1867.
4. Ella Wright. Born at Smethport, April 28, 1868; married Clinton Foster, of Bradford, Pennsylvania; they reside at Independence, Kansas, where he is a mill worker; no children.
5. Lena H. Wright. Born at Smethport, November 2, 1870; unmarried; she has a variety store in Erie, Pennsylvania.
6. Lucy B. Wright. Born at Smethport, September 22, 1877; married F. M. D. Watkins, of Wellsburg, New York; their home is in Binghamton, and he travels for the Shawmut Coal Company; children:
   1. Francis Watkins. Born at St. Mary’s, Pennsylvania, March 6, 1906.
   2. Hamilton W. Watkins. Born at St. Mary’s, August 5, 1908.
   3. Catharine Watkins. Born in Binghamton, March 12, 1911.
7. Elida Taylor Wright. Twin of Lucy B., born at Smethport, September 22, 1877; married Samuel Powell, of Bradford; he has a moving picture show in Seattle, Washington; children:
   1. John F. Powell. Born at Smethport, August 20, 1900.
   2. Frank Wright Powell. Born March 22, 1907, at Ridgeway, Pennsylvania.

The Bennett Family

There is a family of this name, long established in Columbia county, New York, which is said to be of Scotch ancestry, but its genealogical history is not clearly known. From this family the present family is probably derived.

(I) Elijah Bennett

Elijah Bennett, the first member of this family about whom we have definite information, was born in March, 1776, died at Smethport, January 2, 1850. The place of his birth is supposed to have been Canaan, Columbia county, New York. His life was passed at Canaan and at Lima, Livingston county, and he was a farmer. He was a Whig. He married Persis. Children:

1. William Bennett.
2. Phoebe Bennett.
3. Electra Bennett.
4. Anna Bennett.
5. Salva Bennett.
6. Oshea R. Bennett. Of whom further.
7. David R. Bennett.

(II) Oshea R. Bennett

Oshea R., son of Elijah Bennett, was born in New York state, probably at Canaan, April 29, 1806, died at Smethport, April 19, 1858. He was educated in the public school at Canaan, but continued his studies by his own efforts after leaving school, and became a well educated man, cultured beyond most of his time and place. He was a lumberman and hotel keeper, and also owned several farms in the vicinity of Smethport, and a sawmill. In politics he was actively interested and was a Republican. He attended the Baptist church, and his wife was a member. He married Lucy Green, born at Lima, July 5, 1808, died at Smethport, daughter of Daniel and Sarah (Green) Warner. Her father was probably a native of Canaan and born about 1783; he died at Lima, about 1858. His wife also died at Lima, about five years later, and her age was then about seventy-five.

Children of Daniel and Sarah (Green) Warner, all born at Lima:

1. Edwin Warner. Was a farmer, died at Lima; married Helen Dennison; children:
   1. Arthur Warner. Deceased.
   2. A daughter Warner. Deceased.
2. Hiram Warner. Lived and died in the west, a farmer; married and had a family.
3. Lucy Green Warner. Married Oshea R. Bennett.
4. Harriet Warner. Died in Wisconsin; married, at Lima, Ezra Richmond; he was a farmer; children:
   1. Caroline Richmond. Deceased.
   2. Edwin Richmond. Deceased.
   3. Ezra Richmond.
5. Burchard Warner. Died in Dakota; farmer; married; child:
   1. One son Warner.

There were perhaps other children of Daniel and Sarah (Green) Warner, beside these five.

Children of Oshea R. and Lucy Green (Warner) Bennett, all born at Smethport:

1. Darius Bennett. Died at Smethport, aged three.
2. Sarah Bennett. Born October 26, 1834; resides at Smethport; married Judson Eaton, who was born at Springville, Erie county, New York, August 19, 1823, died at Smethport, May 11, 1888; he was a hardware merchant; children:
   1. Nina L. Eaton. Born November 7, 1857, married Frank Rumsey, deceased; she resides at Smethport.
   2. Lucy Eaton. Married Sheridan Gorton.
   3. Guinevere Eaton. Born January 21, 1869, married Daniel Brasted, a merchant at Smethport.
3. William Henry Harrison Bennett. Died young.
4. Catharine L. Bennett. Of whom further.
5. Julia Bennett. Born April 18, 1839; resides at Smethport; married Edwin Richmond, who died at Smethport, in October, 1911; he was a farmer; children:
   1. Harry Richmond. Resides at Colorado Springs, Colorado.
   2. Rena Richmond. Married Charles Balsley, lives in New York City.
6. Edwin Bennett. Died at Smethport, in infancy.
7. Oshea Bennett. Died at Smethport, in infancy.
8. Eveline Bennett. Died at Smethport, in infancy.
9. Charles Bennett. Died in Dakota, unmarried.
10. Rosina Bennett. Died in Wisconsin; married Manford Conies, of Smethport; he now resides in Minneapolis, Minnesota; children:
    1. Nettie Conies. Resides in Minneapolis.
    2. Ethel Conies. Resides in Minneapolis.
    3. Oshea Conies. Deceased.
11. Two other Bennett children. Both were sons and died in infancy.

(III) Catharine L. Bennett

Catharine L., daughter of Oshea R. and Lucy Green (Warner) Bennett, was born at Smethport, March 15, 1838. There she attended public school, and this schooling was supplemented at Lima Institute, Lima. For two terms she taught school in McKean county, Pennsylvania. She married, in 1859, Benjamin Franklin Wright (see Wright II). Mrs. Wright now makes her home at Smethport, and is a member of the Travelers’ Club.

See: Genealogy of the Allegheny Valley Pennsylvania

Source

Jordan, J. W. 1840-1921. (1913). Genealogical and personal history of the Allegheny Valley, Pennsylvania. New York: Lewis Historical Pub. Co.

This genealogy is based upon the source cited above. Only the structure and formatting have been changed for clearer presentation; the genealogical and biographical content