The Wright Family of Coleville, Pennsylvania

The simplest and most natural explanation of this surname is that which makes it a name of occupation, nearly agreeing in meaning with the name Smith. It is said that smith was the general term for a worker in metals, whereas a Wright was one who worked in wood and other materials. As is usually the case with surnames, the “authorities” give widely differing explanations, and anyone not satisfied with one interpretation has only to consult another dictionary. Both the simplicity of explanation and the frequent occurrence of the name give strong probability to the explanation here favored.

Characteristics of the family are truth and honor. The word of a Wright would sooner be accepted than to believe most men on their oath. Rare executive ability, strong sense of justice, firmness combined with courtesy and affability, are other traits to which may be added patriotism, military ardor and a self-sacrificing spirit. Length of years have been rewards for upright living, and the Wrights have numbered many centenaries in their ranks. It is recorded of one that when an old man—in the neighborhood of ninety—he went out one day to mow with the young men, but sat down to weep when he found that he could not keep up with the others. The Wrights from the oldest to the youngest are noted for their honesty and uprightness in all their dealings.

(I) Rensselaer Wright

Rensselaer Wright, the first member of this family about whom we have definite information, was born in Delaware county, New York, died in 1884. Removing from New York state, he settled at Eldred, McKean county, Pennsylvania, where he was engaged in farming. He was also proprietor of a hotel, and largely interested in lumbering. Emphatically a self-made man, he nevertheless deserved and held a high place among the representative men of his place and time. He was one of the first commissioners of McKean county, and in 1829 was elected sheriff of the county. In the course of his official career he went on horseback to Philadelphia, and brought back with him necessary funds for the erection of the first court house of the county. He and his wife were active members of the Methodist Episcopal church. He married Sarah Moore, who died in 1881. Children:

1. James Wright, deceased.
2. John Wright, deceased; married Editha ——.
3. George Wright, deceased.
4. Phelps Wright, died in the west; he was a farmer and local preacher.
5. Nelson Wright, died young; his death being due to drowning.
6. Junius Wright, deceased; married Elizabeth Moody.
7. Sally Wright, deceased; married Nathan Palmer.
8. Martha Wright, deceased; married Edick Wright.
9. Maria Wright, deceased; married Waterbury Miller.
10. Charles C. Wright, of whom further.
11. ——.

(II) Charles C. Wright

Charles C., son of Rensselaer and Sarah (Moore) Wright, was born at Smethport, McKean county, Pennsylvania, in June, 1829, died at Coleville, McKean county, Pennsylvania, September 20, 1909. He was brought up and educated at Eldred. When he started in life for himself he settled at Cole Creek, Keating township, McKean county. Here he erected a steam saw mill, and was one of the leading lumbermen of McKean county. In politics and the questions of the day he was actively interested, and he upheld the principles of the Republican party. Both he and his wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal church and active in its work. He married (first) Jerusha, daughter of Nathan and Tirzah (Knapp) Dennis, born in 1831, died at Moundsville, West Virginia, in 1877, (second) ——, in 1879, daughter of —— Madison.

James Dennis, father of Nathan Dennis, was a soldier in the revolution. He was captured by the Indians; in three months’ time he effected his escape, but he died soon after reaching home, in consequence of the hardships which he had endured. Nathan Dennis was a soldier in the war of 1812. In 1822 he settled in Ceres (now Eldred) township, McKean county, Pennsylvania, where he cleared and improved two farms. He was also engaged in mercantile and hotel business, and was for thirty years postmaster at Allegany Bridge (now Eldred). He married Tirzah Knapp. Children of Nathan and Tirzah (Knapp) Dennis:

1. George T. Dennis, born at Masonville, Delaware county, New York, September 22, 1819; farmer, school teacher, veteran of the civil war; since 1874 he has been engaged in the manufacture of botanical remedies at Eldred; he has been since 1886 a licensed local preacher; a Republican and a Methodist; he married (first) March 13, 1844, Mary Ann Crandall, (second) H. Eliza Barrett; children, all by first wife:
   1. Mason G. Dennis.
   2. Matthew N. Dennis.
   3. Clark W. Dennis.
   4. William B. Dennis.
   5. Joseph B. Dennis.
   6. Rosa P. Dennis, married H. J. Doolittle.
   7. Matie Dennis, married William Boone.
2. Lucinda Dennis, married M. G. Knapp.
3. Susan Dennis, married Daniel Crandall.
4. James N. Dennis.
5. Reuben Dennis, born at Eldred, August 27, 1826; farmer, lumberman, hotelkeeper at Eldred, where in 1879 he erected the Central Hotel; once commissioner of McKean county; he was a Democrat until 1856, then a Republican, but from 1884 a Prohibitionist; he married (first) Ruth Barden, (second) Helen Beardsley, (third) Emma J. Belknap; four children by first wife, two by second, two by third.
6. Lewis L. Dennis.
7. Jerusha Dennis, married Charles C. Wright.
8. Jane Dennis, married Daniel Blanchard.
9. Washington Dennis.
10. Martha Dennis, married Thaddeus Royce.
11. Virtue Dennis, died at the age of six.

Children of Charles C. and Jerusha (Dennis) Wright:

1. Victor C. Wright, born in 1854, died at Sawyer City, Pennsylvania, in 1881; oil producer; married Estella Crandall; she now resides at Olean, New York; no children.
2. James Burdette Wright, of whom further.
3. William A. Wright, born in 1858, died at Olean, in 1893; a setter in saw mills; married Celia Parrish, deceased; one son:
   1. A son, died at two years old.
4. Delano W. Wright, born in 1862; resides at Rew City, McKean county, Pennsylvania; oil producer; married Ida Weiner; child,
   1. Maude Wright, born in 1884, married William Ward, they also reside at Rew City, where Mr. Ward is an oil well worker.
5. Lillian J. Wright, born in 1868; married Lewis Maynard; they reside at Sumner, Illinois, and he is an oil well worker; children:
   1. Lewis Maynard.
   2. Clyde Maynard.
   3. Carl Maynard.
   4. Mary Maynard.
6. Milton W. Wright, born in 1874; resides at Coleville, Pennsylvania; oil producer; married Anna Wright (not related); children:
   1. Carl Wright.
   2. Leslie Wright.

(III) James Burdette Wright

James Burdette, son of Charles C. and Jerusha (Dennis) Wright, was born at Coleville, September 4, 1856. There he received a public school education. As soon as he was of sufficient age, he began working for his father in the lumber business, and he worked with him until he was twenty-one. In 1877 he bought sixty acres of timber land at Coleville; from this he cut the timber, had the logs sawed at his father’s mill, and sold the lumber in the oil country. Two years later he bought from Henry Hamlin another piece of timber at McCord Hollow, and again he sold his manufactured products in the oil region. After this he bought a much larger tract at Farmer’s Valley and another, later, at Rexford. He manufactured the lumber until 1898, when he formed a partnership with D. H. Miller, under the firm name of Wright & Miller. They went to Nansen, Elk county, Pennsylvania, which was named by Mr. Wright in honor of the intrepid Arctic explorer, and here they conducted their business until 1910. The business having greatly increased, they built the Elk and Highland railroad. A large mill which they built was destroyed by fire, but they rebuilt. They cleared several thousand acres of timber, manufactured the lumber, and in two years shipped over twenty-five million feet of hemlock. Meanwhile, they had erected another mill at Springer, McKean county, which manufactured fifty thousand feet of hemlock per day. There they built about three miles of standard gauge railroad. Their next purchase was of nine thousand five hundred acres of timber in Cattaraugus county, New York, and there they built about seven miles of standard gauge railroad. This road was incorporated under the name of the Tunasassa and Bradford Railroad Company; Mr. Wright is a stockholder and vice-president, and he holds the same office, with that of treasurer, in the Elk and Highland Railroad Company. Since 1896 he has had his home at Kane, McKean county, and in the present year (1912) he has begun a wholesale lumber business at this place. For thirty-three years consecutively he has now been engaged in the manufacture of lumber. He is a stockholder and president of the Nansen Supply Company, stockholder and director in the Quaker Supply Company and in the Wright and Miller Company. He is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, at Bradford, and of the Independent Order of Puritans, in Pittsburgh. He is a Republican and a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.

He married, January 9, 1877, Kate Helen, daughter of Alfred and Sythere (Snyder) Matteson, who was born at Bradford, Pennsylvania, July 17, 1857. There she attended public school, and graduated in 1874 from the high school. Her father was a native of Pennsylvania, a farmer at Bradford. In 1861 he enlisted in the Union army, and he was drowned in the James river in 1864. His widow was born at Sardinia, New York, May 27, 1829, and now resides at Coleville. Mrs. Wright is their only child. She is a member of the Lady Maccabees, at Kane. Her church is the Methodist Episcopal. Child of James Burdette and Kate Helen (Matteson) Wright:

1. Isabelle Wright, born at Coleville, October 18, 1879; married Henry Curtis; they reside in Pittsburgh, and he is superintendent of a telephone company; they have one son,
   1. Lester Curtis, born at Kane, June 4, 1900.

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 has been preserved.