Now I want to turn to the Wright side of the family. I didn't get to meet either of my grandparents on this side, so this is really a voyage of discovery for me. As with all my posts, I would appreciate hearing if I was wrong about something or other stories so please comment! First we will start with the basic information and then move into more detail.
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| David Sanders Wright |
David Sanders Wright (1887-1967) (W1)
Birth: April 16th, 1887 in Northampton, MA
Father: David Joy Wright (1851-1908) (W2)
Mother: Jane Caroline Reed (1846-1936) (W3)
Married: Florence Edna Smith (1892-1937) (S1) on August 16th, 1919 in Great Barrington, MA.
Children:
Living Daughter
David Joy Wright (1922-1991)
Charles Merrick Wright (1924-2008)
Living Son
Living Daughter
1887-1910
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| 67 West Street |
David Sanders Wright (W1) was born on April 16th, 1887 to David Joy Wright (W2) and Jane Caroline Reed (W3). The family was living at 67 West Street, Northampton, MA including David’s older brother Edward N. Wright. Though Edward isn’t a direct ancestor, I plan to dedicate a post to him. David Joy Wright is listed as a merchant.
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| Jane Caroline Reed, David Joy Wright, Edward N Wright and David Sanders Wright |
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| David Sanders Wright |
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| David Sanders Wright's class in 1894 |
Because the 1890 census information was destroyed, the first census we have for David is in 1900. He is shown as living (age13) at 67 West Street with his father (age 49), mother (age 54) and older brother (age 16). They had a servant named Nellie Conway (age 20) from Ireland. She seems to have emigrated in 1890, could read and write and speak English.
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| David Sander Wright (top) and Edward N. Wright (bottom) |
We know that David spent time working for his father as he was growing up. My mother past along the following story which I think gives a little more color to his early life. David Joy Wright owned a livery stable, as well as a general store, farm, and was an auctioneer. Calvin Coolidge would hire a horse and sleigh to make his political calls and David Sanders Wright would put the sleigh bells on and pick him up at the Coolidge’s house. Coolidge, always to be remembered as Silent Cal, would make David S. take the sleigh bells off and leave them on the porch. After the calls were made, David S. would eat dinner with the Coolidge family in the kitchen, then put the sleigh bells back on and go home. However David S., even in high school, was an anomaly in New England, a Democrat Yankee, and said he went and swept the Democratic headquarters for penance. The Coolidge family attended my mother's church and were well liked by our family. My mother says that Mrs. Coolidge was a lovely, outgoing woman who took part in all church events and, later, saw groups of young men off at the train station as they left for World War II.
David Joy Wright died on March 2nd, 1908 leaving the family at 67 West St. At this point, Jane Caroline Reed’s Mother, Sister and Aunt move in to help out. David starts to show up in the city directories in 1908 and 1909 where he is listed as a student at Amherst College in Amherst MA. In 1910, he has graduated and moved back to 67 West St. According to my mother, he had planned to go to law school but the family couldn’t afford it at the time so he took up teaching. This turned in be the profession he loved.
The 1910 Census has David (Age 22) living at the 67 West St house with his mother (age 64), brother (age 26), grandmother Sarah W. Reed (age 87), Great Aunt Lucy Sanderson (age 88) and Aunt Lucy A. Lawrence (age 62). Edward is the only one that is listed as being employed. The have a live in Nurse named Viola Thayer (age 16)
Sources:
- Massachusetts, Birth Records, 1840-1915: Northampton 1887
- Massachusetts, Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988: Northampton pg 93
- U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989, Northampton, MA-1908, 1909, 1910
- 1900 United States Federal Census: Database online. Year: 1900; Census Place: Northampton Ward 2, Hampshire, Massachusetts; Roll: T623_31077_4113839; Page: 16B; Enumeration District: 0631; FHL microfilm: 1240654.
- 1910 United States Federal Census: Year: 1910; Census Place: Northampton Ward 2, Hampshire, Massachusetts; Roll: T624_593; Page: 2B; Enumeration District: 0698; FHL microfilm: 1374606
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