James H. Wright, one of the oldest grain buyers in the County, residing at Arthur, was born near the town of Poland, Trumbull (now Mahoning) County, Ohio, February 6,1827 ,and is a son of James and Mary (Kidd) Wright, who were born near Poland, Trumbull (now Mahoning) County, Ohio, of Scotch-Irish origin.
Rev. James Wright (father) received his education for the Presbyterian ministry at the Canonsburg College, and spent most of his life in preaching the gospel, first at Poland, and later at Westfield, Pennsylvania. He died in 1843 at the age of fifty-nine years. His father was Alexander Wright, who was an early settler from the north of Ireland, to Washing-ton County. He married a Scotch girl by the name of Esther Silcox. Robert Kidd (grand-father) was also a native of Ireland, was an early settler in Trumbull County, Ohio, and in religious affairs he was known as a Seceder in that day, now known as a United Presbyterian.
James H. Wright was reared in his native County, acid in Pennsylvania, receiving the advantages of an ordinary education. In 1857 he came west and located at Arcola, which at that time contained but three houses, and was for several years engaged in farming in that vicinity. In 1873 he commenced buying grain at Hindsboro, where he continued successfully in business until 1886, when he removed to Arthur, where he has since resided, engaged in buying grain for the firm of Bartlett, Kuhn & Co.
In 1848 Mr. Wright was united in marriage to Miss Sarah E. Rogers, who was a daughter of Samuel and Sarah Waugh Rogers. She was born in New Bedford, Pennsylvania. They have seven children : William, who resides in Cairo ; Sadie ; Frank E., who lives in Arthur, engaged in the lumber business; Samuel R., a farmer in South Dakota; John M., engineer of his father’s grain elevator; Nettie, wife of G. H. Damron, of Arcola; and A. K. resides in Springfield, Illinois. Mr. Wright has been an Odd Fellow since 1852, and has served as president of the town board of Arthur. James H. Wright has passed the allotted three-score and ten years of man, but, owing to his abstemious habits and good constitution, he still enjoys good health, and it is hoped that he will live for many years to continue the good which has been characteristic of his life.