Samuel and Mary Wright

We have little information about them, but we have two good photos that are worth saving, and a little bit of information from my grandmother.

In a letter written to me in 1978, my grandmother told me some of her history. Most of what she told me is about her parents and her life growing up, but below is a transcription that contains a little bit of information about her grandparents.

“Both my grandfathers were Southern Methodist preachers. My father was one of 12 children, 7 boys and 5 girls. The oldest girl had 2 children the same age as her mother’s last two, when her husband was killed and she came home to live. Her mother had one child after that, so there were 14 children in the house. My father was the only boy without a college degree as he stayed home to work the 200-acre farm so the other boys could go to college. Four were ministers, one a Superior State Judge and the other a college professor. Dad’s father was a circuit rider and was gone from home for weeks at a time, earning $750 a year.”

Samuel and Mary Wright were grandparents to my grandmother, Mary Martin. Their daughter was also named Mary (Mary Judith Wright), so it seems that “Mary” was a traditional name in this family.

Samuel was born in 1839, and lived until 1911, so it’s possible that my grandmother knew him. We don’t have dates for Mary Wright.

Their formal portrait, at the top of this page, is of excellent quality and typical of portraits taken in the early 20th century.

The photo of Samuel and Mary Wright at left is quite unusual for its age, as most photos at the time were formally posed portraits. The couple are sitting in their living room in front of a roaring fire in the fireplace. Samuel appears to be reading his Bible, and Mary appears to be praying (or sleeping). It’s a beautiful and peaceful picture.

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