WILLIS WRIGHT 

Willis Wright, a pioneer and successful farmer of Dry Creek Township, was born in Rutland County, Vermont, February 2, 1823. His father, Elihu Wright, was also a native of that State; and his grandfather, also named Elihu, was born in Connecticut and emigrated to Vermont when about twenty-one years old. His only son, the father of Willis, married Minerva McArthur, a native also of the Green Mountain State. Her father, Charles McArthur, was from the Highlands of Scotland, and married a Vermont lady after coming to this country. In 1836 Elihu Wright Jr., and family emigrated to Illinois when the tide of immigration was to the Western States, and he located thirty miles west of Chicago, on the line between Cook and Kane counties; but that part of the country was afterward taken from these counties and organized into Du Page County. Mr. Wright made his home there until his death, about 1851; his wife died in the spring of 1850. Of their three sons the subject of this sketch was the youngest. He remained at home with his parents until he was twenty-four years of age, by which time he had land of his own. He then went upon his land and worked it, at the same time assisting the family, which then consisted of four members. In 1853 he came overland to California, arriving at Hangtown October 12, being six months on the road; and six weeks later he went down into Dry Creek Township with a band of cattle which he had brought across the plains; with this stock he went into the cattle business and general farming, which he continued up to 1862, in “Russell Pocket.” During this time he kept a team on the road hauling hay and lumber to and from the mountains. In 1862 he took some of the stock into the mountains and during the summer months for eighteen years ran a dairy and raised cattle. He has been a resident of Galt for about seven years, living a more retired life and enjoying what he has worked so hard to attain for so many years. His marriage occurred December 22, 1846, when he wedded Marietta Angeline Van Emburgh, who was born in Rutland County, Vermont, November 6, 1824. She became the mother of seven children: Frederick, born September 25, 1847; Albert W., born April 25, 1849; James C., May 20, 1852; Eva, born October 2, 1854, and died October 12, 1884, the wife of Edward Humphreys, of Sacramento; Frank M., April 12, 1857, and died June 13, 1862; Edward E., born May 26, 1859; and Hattie M., August 1, 1867. Mr. Wright was again married December 24, 1882, to Mrs. Eliza A. Summers, nee Arnold, also a native of Rutland County, Vermont. Her marriage to Daniel B. Summers took place October 14, 1845; and they came to California by way of Panama, landing in San Francisco, and then at Sacramento May 22, 1852. Mr. Summers died July 13, 1878, an old resident of this county. By this marriage there were eight children, of whom five are now living, four daughters and one son, all married