GED4WEB version 4.41 Wright James Alexander [Male] b. 28 JAN 1861 Near Roanoke, VA - d. 30 SEP 1944 Enid, Garfield, Oklahoma, USA
[wwspiers-erickson.GED]
James Alexander and Sarah (Crenshaw) Wright
James A. Wright was born January 28, 1861, near Roanoke, Virginia. His parents were James Matthew and Mary Theresa (Marshall) Wright. of Bedford Co, Virginia. He came to Hamilton County, Kansas after the Civil War and homesteaded 160 acres near what is now Syracuse. The local post office, Hattan, KS, was located in a store he had on his land.
Although Sarah, the daughter of Rev. William T. and Helen (McGill) Crenshaw, was born in Kentucky on February 28, 1864, she grew up in Cass Co, MO, where her father was a Campbelite minister and farmer. She taught school near her home after she graduated. Her parents later moved to Sumner Co, KS.
Sara and her older sister, Martha (or Mattie) were also in western Kansas by 1887. They each homesteaded 160 acres. The land was adjoining and they built their house across the dividing line. Since it was required that they build a house on the land and live in it for a specified time, this was a way to do it and not have to live alone. Even so there were many hardships. Sarah spent some time working in Lamar, Co to earn some money. Their address was listed as Irene, KS, which was in Stanton Co.
James began his homestead on May 10, 1887. Sarah began hers four months later, on September 20, 1887. Sarah proved up her claim on April 1, 1891. A year later on March 31, 1892, James' claim was approved. About a week later, on april 6, 1892, in Hamilton Co, KS they were married. They lived on his homestead at Hattan, where James raised cattle.
James and Sarah had three boys and two girls, Nona, Ivan, Glenn, Chester and Rose, all born on the homestead. About 1909, they decided to move to MO so the boys could go to a better school. James sold his land and house to Mr. Amerine and moved to Iantha, MO, where James farmed. (Sarah's land remained in the family until sometime after 1982, when it was sold.) James farmed. Later they moved to Lamar, MO.
On February 7, 1920, just 21 days before her 56th birthday, Sarah died at Lamar from pneumonia, a complication of the flu during an epidemic. Glenn and Rose also had the flu. Glenn was married, but Rose was sixteen and living at home. Nona, the oldest child, was living and working in Washington, D.C. She was called home to care for her father, Rose and Chester.
About two years later, James moved to Enid, Ok with his two daughters. Chester, a downs syndrom child, was left in the care of a family at Lamar. Glenn and his young family stayed in MO. Ivan, 27 years old, had gone to western Kansas to claim his own homestead in 1921.
At Enid, Rose attended Philips University, from which she graduated. Then she attended art school in Indianapolis, IN. She worked for the Methodist church regarding missions. Eventually she started the Wright Studio, where she employed student artists to design and produce items for the missionary field.
Nona worked as a housemother at the Haymaker Inn, near Philips University for many years. She attended the university and graduated at about the same time as Rose. Then she went to work for the University, running the cafeteria. She also worked with the children at the Indian Reservation. When she retired from Philips, she moved to Indianapolis, near Rose. She went to work as secretary for the Wright Studio. Later "retiring" again.
When Rose retired she sold the studio and she and Nona moved to a retirement village in Greenwood, In. Although they never married, they had many friends from many lands. They had traveled around the world and housed many foreign students when they lived in Indianapolis. They lived active lives, with many visitors. They lived in the villagee some twenty years until their deaths. Nona's ashes were scattered on the village grounds.
Ivan married in Olatha, KS and moved to Los Angeles, CA, where he worked in the Credit Union for the U.S. Post Office. He and Mayme had no children. He died in 1982 in Los Angeles and is buried there. Mayme died a few years later.
Chester stayed in MO until the family he was with could no longer keep for him. James brought him to Enid and kept him at home. He had problems with his kidneys, possibly due to the downs snydrom. When he was 33 years old he died due of kidney failure.
James worked for Nona at the Haymaker Inn, washing dishes and cooking. The boys who stayed at the inn and everyone who ate there called him Capt. He loved to fish. After Nona went to work for the university, he retired. He rented rooms out, with part of the condition being that the woman would cook and help care for Chester. Sepetmber 30, 1944, 83 year old James died of pneumonia at Enid. He is buried at Lamar, Mo beside his wife and Chester.
----1994, Paulette Coombes Forrester
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