Central California Biographies

A memorial and biographical history of the coast counties of Central California : illustrated : containing 
a history of this important section of the Pacific coast from the earliest period of its discovery to the 
present time, together with glimpses of its auspicious future, illustrations and full-page portraits of 
some of its eminent men, and biographical mention of many of its pioneers, and prominent citizens of 
to-day (1893)

Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Publishing Company
Author: Barrows, Henry D; Ingersoll, Luther A

Transcribed by Peggy Hooper

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm

 


CAPT. E. F. WRIGHT is one of the oldest pioneers of San Benito county. He came to 
California, in 1849, from Wilcox county, Ala., but is a native of South Carolina, being 
born in Sumter district, September 3, 1816. Soon after his birth his father removed to 
Alabama, and there died live months after. 

The captain was reared in Conecuh county, Alabama, until eighteen years of age, 
when he engaged in raising cotton and corn until 1835, when he went to Texas, joined 
the revolution and aided in gaining the independence of the Lone Star State. He served 
there as a private during 1836, and then located in Concordia parish, Louisiana, near 
Natchez, Mississippi, as a farmer. In 1844 he returned to Alabama, but in 1849 came to 
California, being one of a party who chartered a schooner and sailed for Brazos- Santiago, 
Texas; crossed the Rio Grande river, and with teams, wagons and pack mules made 
their way to Mazatlan, Mexico. From this point they sailed to San Francisco, taking 
thirty-one days to the trip. Upon arrival in California. Captain Wright spent about three 
years in the mines and then returned to Alabama. In 1852 he again made the trip, 
and embarked in farming at Gilroy. While living there he was several times elected 
Justice of the Peace, which office he filled with credit. Later, he came to San Benito 
county and located his present home at the confluence of the Tres Pinos and San Benito 
creeks, in the most fertile and cultivated portion of central California. 

He was married in Alabama in 1844:, to Miss Margaret L. Hank, a native of Alabama, 
who is still living. Mr. and Mrs. Wright have eight children, seven of whom are 
daughters, and of these seven six have occupied responsible positions as teachers in 
the public schools. Mrs. Wright is a lady of intelligence, and is a devoted wife and 
mother. 

Although born and reared in the heart of secession, Capt. Wright has always been a 
strong Union man and a Gerrit Smith abolitionist. He served in his early days in 
the Alabama militia, with rank as Captain, which title has clung to him, and he is known 
and liked as Captain Wright by a large circle of acquaintances and friends. He is a 
man of wide observation, general information and pronounced opinions, and is liberal 
to a fault.