1901 personal census, Colchester South Twp, Essex Co., ON, D4-10:
Wright Thomas, M, Married, 25 March 1848, 53, born Ont, origin: English, Can, Meth, Farmer;
Louisa, F, wife, Married, 5 Sept 1852, 48, born Ont, origin: English, Can, Meth;
Fred T., M, son, Single, 23 July 1879, 21, born Ont, origin: English, Can, Meth, Farmer's son;
Mable D., F, daughter, Single, 27 June 1882, 19, born Ont, origin: English, Can, Meth.
Commemorative Biographical Record of the County of Essex, J. H. Beers & Co., Toronto, p. 593-594:
Thomas L. Wright, one of the prominent representative farmers of Colchester South, County Essex, belongs to one of the old pioneer families, the founder of which was Henry Wright.
Henry Wright was born and reared in England and in young manhood emigrated to America with a brother, locating at Rutland, Pennsylvania, where the brother remained permanently. Henry married in that State Mary Klingensmith, and when troubles arose between the Colonies and the Mother Country he decided to remove to English soil. With his family he located first on Grosse Ile, but later removed to Malden, when he learned the former land did not belong to Great Britain, and still later he moved to the lake shore, where he took up land in Lots 80 and 76. He and his wife were buried on this farm. They were the parents of the following children: William married Betsey Lipps; Philip married (first) Miss Dowler, and (second) Delilah Malott; Henry married (first) Miss Hitchcock, by whom he had one daughter, Deborah, who married Matthew McCormick, and he married (second) Hannah Lipps; Thomas married (first) Jennie Little, (second) Mary Leighton, and (third) Abbie Larabie; Betsy married John Brush; Mary married Asa Wilcox; Mattie married Samuel Watson; Katie married Henry Lipps.
Philip Wright, the grandfather of Thomas L. Wright, was born Jan. 5, 1775, at Rutland, Pennsylvania, and came with his parents to Grosse Ile, later to Malden, where he married a Miss Dowler, who died leaving one daughter, Anna, born March 30, 1796, who became the wife of Capt. John McCormick. Philip Wright married (second) Delilah Malott, born June 30, 1786, on Grosse Ile, and to them came these children: Lucy, born Nov. 28, 1802, became the wife of Isaac Ferris; Catherine was born Nov. 18, 1804; Peter, born Sept. 30, 1806, married Betty Snider; William, born Nov. 14. 1808, was twice married, first to Miss Buchanan, and died in the States; Sarah, born Nov. 12, 1811, is the widow of Charles Larabee and still survives at the age of ninety-three with faculties unimpaired; Philip S., father of our subject, is mentioned below; Theodore, born Nov. 10, 1816, a local Methodist minister, married Arabella Leighton, and they live at Ludington, Michigan; Ebenezer, born Sept. 20, 1818, married Eliza Stockwell; Mary Christine, born Oct. 16, 1820, married Thomas Leighton and died at Wyandotte, Michigan; Susannah, born Dec. 9, 1824, died in the States.
Philip Wright, being of age when he came to this township, received a 200-acre grant of land adjoining that of his father. When he married he took the rear half of Lots 75 and 76, and upon Lot 75 chose the site of his home. This spot is now marked by a pear tree, and a few rods south of it is a remarkable ever-flowing spring which is shaded by a hoary elm, said to have been set out by Lucy Wright when it was but a branch and she a child. This spring is known to the whole countryside. It is stoned to the depth of twelve feet and flows sixty-five barrels of pure, refreshing water every twenty-four hours.
Philip S. Wright, father of Thomas L. Wright, was born Dec. 4, 1813, on the old home near the elm tree and the spring, and attended the log school in the vicinity, one of his first teachers being a Robert Thompson. Here he married Mary Quick, who was born May 21, 1811, daughter of Cornelius Quick, originally from Pennsylvania, and died at the age of eighty-one years, her husband dying at the age of seventy-nine. After his marriage Philip S. Wright began farming on the present Daniel Wright place, which he bought and occupied for some years, and later, by a trade, secured a part of the old home land, some eighty acres, which he cleared. He built a home on the north part of the lot and at a later date replaced his first house with the one now occupied by his son Gordon. Prior to his death he acquired eighty additional acres. Although he began life with no implements but an axe and a hoe, he possessed an unusual amount of sound, common sense and unlimited industry, and he became one of the leading and wealthy farmers of the township. Mr. Wright was a man of intelligence and a great reader until an affection of the eyes prevented their use. He was a fluent speaker, and on many occasions publicly advocated the cause of temperance, of which he was an exponent. Under different circumstances and more favorable conditions Philip S. Wright would doubtless have become a brilliant professional man, possessing as he did all the necessary attributes. Politically he was a Reformer and took a great interest in all public movements.
The children born to Philip S. Wright and his wife were as follows:
Ebenezer, born Feb. 7, 1836, is a farmer on Concession 4, and married Harriet Halstead; Cornelius, born Feb. 12, 1838, married Lorinda Patton and lives north of Harrow; William G., born Sept. 22, 1840, married (first) Rebecca Wright, and (second) Mary Walters, and lives in Harrow; Delilah Ann, born Dec. 13, 1842, married Judson S. Patton, of Amherstburg; Joseph, born Nov. 13, 1844, married Marian Lockhart and lives north of Harrow; Thomas L. was born March 25, 1847; Angus E., born Jan. 10, 1850, lives in Harrow; Gordon P., born Dec. 7, 1854, has the home place.
Thomas L. Wright was born on the old home farm and began his education in the log school house near his home, which was then presided over by Robert Thompson, who had been the instructor of his father. Until his majority he remained at home, and first engaged in farming for himself on Lot 63, where he remained some five or six years. He then bought his present farm of 150 acres in Lots 50 and 51, of the late David Howie and Robert Heaton. Here he has resided for the past twenty years, during which time he has been continually engaged in making improvements. The place was all cleared of the native brush, but little improving had been attempted, and the present fine condition of the land and the substantial and commodious buildings show the practical character of Mr. Wright's methods. It is well known that this is one of the very best farms in the township. In times past he has raised here some remarkable specimens of fruit, a water melon being recalled which weighted sixty pounds. Mr. Wright is an enthusiastic farmer and loves nothing better than the thorough cultivation of his fertile acres, except it be a hunting trip, which he allows himself once a year. This recreation he has enjoyed since boyhood, and he is credited with a large amount of skill, coming back to the routine work of the farm refreshed and renewed through other and outside interests.
On April 27, 1870, Mr. Wright married Louise F., daughter of the late Jeremiah Lockhart, and to this union have been born children as follows: Carrie Mary is the wife of Ernest E. Brown, of Kingsville, and they have three children, Hazel, Beatrice and Erma; Ada Marion married Mart. Malott, of Kingsville, and they have two children, Brook and Ethel; Fred T., assists his father in operating the farm; Mabel Delilah is at home.
Mr. Wright is a strong Reformer and in years past has taken an active part in party politics in this section of the county. Fraternally he is a charter member of the Order of Workmen at Harrow. With his wife and family he belongs to the Methodist Church. He is one of the well known and representative citizens of Colchester South.
Thomas L.
Wright
Carrie Mary Wright 1874-
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