Tulare County Biographies

GEORGE L. WRIGHT

Transcribed by Kathy Sedler

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

 
        Conspicuous among the successful agriculturists and stockmen of Tulare 
county is George L. Wright, who through the years has made his influence felt 
for good in this community, with the history of which his life has been closely 
interwoven for many years. He was born on the 7th day of April, 1858, in 
Columbus, Indiana, the son of James Rufus and Rebecca (Tuttle) Wright, both of 
whom were natives of Virginia. James R. Wright served in the Union army during 
the Civil war, but in 1864 contracted measles and was sent to his home in 
Illinois, where he died.
        George L. Wright acquired the rudiments of an education in the common 
schools, but at the early age of thirteen years he was compelled to shift for 
himself. He worked at anything he could find to do until 1876, when he came to 
Tipton, Tulare county, to join his brother, James R. Wright. For a time he was 
employed in this vicinity, working by the month as buccaroo and on ranches, but 
at length he homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres of land near where he now 
lives. He was successful from the start, for he was energetic and used sound 
judgment in his operations, so that as he was prospered he was able to buy more 
land. Eventually he became one of the large ranchers of this county, working 
many hundreds of acres and producing big crops of wheat. However, as advancing 
years have compelled him to relinquish in part his former activity he has sold 
off most of the land and recently sold the forty acres comprising the home 
place, and moved to Martinez, California, where he has a home. He has gained a 
comfortable competence and is now quietly enjoying the rest to which his former 
years of labor entitle him.
        Mr. Wright was married to Miss Katherine Laney, who was born in 
Missouri, the daughter of George Washington Laney, who formerly owned a woolen 
factory in Missouri, but became a successful pioneer farmer after coming to 
Tulare county, his home being near Tipton. To Mr. and Mrs. Wright were born 
three children, namely : Edna, who became the wife of E. B. Gaunt, of Long 
Beach, California; James Roy of Martinez, California ; and Ada, the wife of Ivan 
Thomas.     Mr. Wright has been deeply interested in the welfare of his fellow 
agriculturists and was one of the organizers of the Farm Bureau in Tipton. He 
was also a supporter of the Farmers Alliance when it was in popular favor. He is 
generally recognized as one of Tulare's representative citizens. Coming here 
without money or influence, he set to work to overcome the difficulties before 
him and by earnest perseverance, careful management and a willingness to work, 
he at length saw his efforts crowned with material success and, what is of more 
importance, the respect and goodwill of his fellowmen.
 
Source:  History of Tulare County and Kings County, California � Kathleen 
Edwards Small & J. Larry Smith, Vol. II, Chicago, The S. J. Clarke Publishing 
Company, 1926., p. 186