Fountain Green
Jan. 24. -- Mrs. Sebern Wright returned last week from Kansas, where she went last fall for the benefit of her health.  She has not improved much by the trip.

Mrs. Seaborn A. Wright, of Hancock Township, died on Sunday last, after a lingering illness of some months.  She was buried on Monday.  Her husband and two children have the sympathies of a large circle of friends.

DIED.-----At her residence near Majorville church, south of Fountain Green, on the 16th inst., after many years of sickness and suffering, Mrs. Susan A. Wright, wife of Seaburn Wright, Esq.

We had the pleasure of many years of an intimate acquaintance with Mrs. Wright, and can say that as a warm-hearted woman, a good neighbor, a true friend, a gentle mother, and a loving wife, she had no superior.  In their bereavement her husband, children and friends have our warmest sympathies.

From the Gregg History of Hancock County, Illinois, 1880, page 685

S. A. Wright, the son of Hickerson and Cynthia Wright, is another of the many very old settlers of Hancock county, and was born Oct. 9, 1825, in Tenn.  He is of Scotch and Irish descent; came to Illinois in 1833 and settled in Fountain Green tp., where he lived until 9 years ago, when he settled in Hancock tp.  He was first married in 1849 to Susan Bond, who lived until about 4 years ago; was married the second time in 1877, to Elizabeth Murray.  He is the father of 4 children, of whom only 2, Minnie S. and Mintie L., are now living.  Mr. Wright owns 52 2/3 acres of land where he lives, on sec. 3; has in another place 60 acres of timber; also 100 acres of good land in Fountain Green tp.  The average estimate of his land per acre is about $40; all the farming land is well improved and he has a fine, substantial house on the home place.  Politically he is a Democrat and is an upright, well-to-do farmer.

The wooden wedding of Mr. and Mrs. Seborn Wright, on Wednesday 26th, K. W. Leach, Justice of the Peace, assisted by Dr. C. L. Ferris, of Fountain Green, officiating.  It having been hinted that Wednesday 26th, would close the 5th year of married life of Mr. and Mrs. Wright, a few of the friends resolved to give them on that day a complete surprise in the way of a good dinner, and other presents suited to the occasion.  And the result was that by 12 o'clock p.m., something near 200 persons had put in an appearance, which made the party and dinner a grand success, as the writer hereof can testify.  The party was a highly enjoyable one alike to the host and hostess and their delighted guests.  In the evening the young folks whiled away a few hours in a social hop.

Mrs. Seborn Wright is quite poorly this week with neuralgia of the heart.

Seborn Wright is indisposed.  His left hand and foot pain him very badly at times.

Seborn Wright suffered with a severe cold last week.

The funeral of Ceburn Wright took place at Majorville church Sunday afternoon at 1 o'clock.  His death was due to pneumonia.  Rev. Shawgo preached the sermon.  Burial at Majorville cemetery. Deceased was 88 years of age and was one of seven brothers and four sisters, all of whom preceded him to the great beyond, excepting Charles Wright of this village, and Mrs. Cynthia Wiley of East Carthage.  He came from Tennessee, with his father and family, to this county in 1832, and excepting the years spent in California, where he went when the gold fever spread over the land in 1849, has been a resident near this village.  Those from a distance attending his funeral were his daughter, Mrs. Frank Mull and family of Blandinsville, and Mr. and Mrs. George Renshaw, of Quincy.

Mrs. Ceburn Wright is ill with lung fever.  Better the last report.

Died at his home near Fountain Green, Friday, March 1, 1912, at 11:30 a.m., Seborn A. Wright, aged 87 years, 4 months, and 22 days, after a brief illness of pneumonia.

Seborn A Wright was born October 9, 1824, in Smith County, Tennessee.  He was the second child born to Hickerson and Cynthia Wright, and one of a family of twelve children, eight boys and four girls.  Those who survive him are: Charles G. Wright of Fountain Green and Mrs. Cynthia Willey of Carthage Township.  The members of the family who have preceded the deceased are: the father, Hickerson Wright, died January 24, 1877; the mother, Cynthia Donahue, May 30, 1846; the brothers and sisters are: Mrs. Arzilla Ward, January 29, 1908; Seneca M. Wright, November 4, 1904; Mrs. Martha Yetter Stahl, January 17, 1904; Patrick W. Wright, February 23, 1905; James Bazzil Wright, November 6, 1850; Henry D. Wright, December 11, 1909; Thomas G. Wright, July 1, 1896; Mrs. Jane Tull, January 25, 1909; and an infant, May 1, 1842.  All of these died in Hancock County, Illinois, except Henry D., who died at Fort Jones, Siskiyou County, California and Mrs. Jane Tull at San Francisco, California.

On October 26, 1848, Mr. Wright was married to Miss Susan Bond of Webster, who died April 16, 1876.  To this union were born four children, of whom only one survives, namely Mrs. Minnie Mull, of Blandinsville, Ill.  Mary Ellen died January 4, 1868; Mrs. Minta Renshaw, October 15, 1907; and one, a son died in infancy.  Mr. Wright was again married October 28, 1876 to Miss Elizabeth Murray of near Webster, who survives him.

One would have to write the pioneer history of this county and of the west to write an adequate history of this man's life, for he was a component part of all that went to make the history of those days.  He was a typical pioneer of the west, a giant in build and strength, as hearty and hardy as any forest king, with sinews like iron, courage like steel and judgement as quick and sure as a hair-trigger rifle.  And what was more typical still, down beneath the rugged outward appearance, the contempt for conventionality and the radical partisanship, was a heart as tender as a woman's and of undying loyalty to those he loved and approved.  To this devoted family circle his passing away is like the felling of a giant oak, which leaves as it falls, "a great lonesome place against the sky."  Love of adventure led him to cross the plains in 1850 to join the gold hunters in California.  He was accompanied by his brother, Seneca.  He returned to his home and went again in 1853, accompanied by Seneca and Henry, and returning, went again in 1865 accompanied by Seneca, returning in 1868.  The home coming trips from California were made by ship, via San Francisco, Cape Horn and New York, the trip consuming from four to six months, with the exception of the last which was made by rail.

Mr. Wright was a useful citizen and a good neighbor.  He was profoundly impressed with a sense of duty in all he did and his aim was to be ever in the right.  No one ever asked "Uncle Sebe," as he was familiarly called by all, for a favor but what he received it and his word was as good as a bond and when he made an assertion it was not necessary to investigate it.  He was the soul of hospitality and his house was always open to friends.  Mr. Wright was a member of La Harpe Lodge No. 195, A.F. and A.M.

The funeral was conducted Sunday at 2 o'clock at Majorville Church by Rev. Mr. Shawgo. Interment in the Majorville cemetery, the Masons having charge of the commitment.  The family have the sympathy of their friends in their bereavement.

Mrs. Seburn Wright and the Wright heirs, Mrs. Minnie Mull of Blandinsville, and Lyle Renshaw, have made a final settlement of the estate, and Mrs. Wright will go to Texas.  She receives a sum of money agreed upon besides an annuity.  Mrs. Mull gets the home place and Renshaw the land on north side of the township road.

Photo at right: Elizabeth Murray Wright, 1910.  The contrast has faded in areas of the original photo, a large group portrait taken on the occasion of the 45th wedding anniversary celebration of John and Agnes (Mort) Campbell. Mrs. Wright's spectacles, barely visible in the original, don't show up in this image.

Based on the 1912 news item, we presume Elizabeth died somewhere in Texas.  We do not know when she died or where she was buried.

Census listings for Susan indicated the following birth states: Tennessee, Alabama and Illinois.  The listings for Minnie, the Wright daughter who survived the longest, included the following birth states for her mother: 1880 Illinois; 1900 Connecticut; 1910 Tennessee; 1920 Tennessee; 1930 Illinois. A biography of Minnie's husband, Frank Mull, stated that Susan was a native of Knoxville, Illinois.

Seborn and Susan's children were:

i.	Mary Ellen Wright, born about September 12, 1849 (calculated from tombstone inscription), died February 4, 1868, burial at Majorville Cemetery.
ii.	Son, born between June 1, 1850, and July 1855, said to have died in infancy, burial location undetermined.
iii.	Minnie E. Wright, born April 28, 1862, died May 1, 1951, burial at Majorville Cemetery.
iv.	Minta Luella Wright, born January 12, 1867.  She died October 15, 1907, at Carthage, Hancock County, and was buried at Majorville Cemetery.

See also: Wright - Murray marriage license Hickerson Wright (Seborn's father) Cynthia Wright (Seborn's mother)   Also buried at Majorville Cemetery: Thomas G. Wright (Seborn's brother) Martha Wright Yetter Stahl (Seborn's sister)

Seborn Wright
Improved Acres: 25 Unimproved Acres: None Total Cash Value: $250

Seburn Wright, 26, male, farmer, born TN
Susannah, 20, female, born TN
Mary E, 1, female, born IL

Household of Wright, Alexander
Under 10 Years of Age: 1 Free White Male, 2 Free White Females
20 to 30 Years of Age: 1 Free White Male, 1 Free White Female
Eligible for militia service: 1
Value of Live Stock: $606

[We cannot account for the second female child under 10 years of age.]

Seneca A Wright, 36, male, farmer, value of personal estate 1000, born TN
Susan, 29, female, born Alabama, attended school within the year [sic]
Mary, 12, female, born IL

Wright, Sebern Alexander, Scott Valley

Wright, Seborn A, 45, male, white, farmer, born TN, male citizen of the U.S. aged 21 or more
Susan, 38, female, white, keeping house, born IL
Minnie, 8, female, white, born IL, attended school within the year
Mintie, 5, female, white, born IL

Wright, Seborn A, white, male, 54, married, farmer, born TN, father born NC, mother born TN
Elisabeth, white, female, 36, wife, married, keeping house, attended school within the year [sic], born PA, both parents born Ireland
Minnie E, white, female, 18, daughter, single, keeping house, attended school within the year, born IL, father born TN, mother born IL
Mintie L, white, female, 15, daughter, single, keeping house, attended school within the year, born IL, father born TN, mother born IL

Family #87
Wright, Seborn A, head, white, male, Oct 1825, 74, married for 24 years, born TN, both parents born VA, farmer, months not employed - 0, could read, write and speak English, owned his farm home free of mortgage, farm schedule 79

Lizzie, wife, white, female, Sept 1844, 55, married for 24 years, mother of 0 children, born PA, both parents born Ireland, could read, write and speak English

Family #88
Zenter, Tobias, head, white, male, Sept 1839, 60, married for 22 years, born Germany, both parents born Germany, year of immigration to the U.S. - 1876, number of years in the U.S. - 24, naturalized, farmer, months not employed - 0, could not read or write, spoke English, rented his farm home, farm schedule 80

Ana C, wife, white, female, Sept 1834, 65, married for 22 years, mother of 0 children, born PA, both parents born PA, could read, write and speak English

Right, Seaborn, head, male, white, 84, married (2nd) for 33 years, born TN, both parents born TN, spoke English, farmer, general farm, employer, months not employed - 0, could read and write, owned his farm home free of mortgage, farm schedule 32

Elizabeth, wife, female, white, 66, married (1st) for 33 years, born PA, father born Ireland - Ir, mother born NY, spoke English, could read and write

Household of Daniel Murray
Males 0 thru 4 - 1
Males 20 thru 29 - 1
Females 20 thru 29 - 1
Total - 3
[no entry for field of employment]

Next listing, household of Nancy Murray
Males 20 thru 29 - 3
Males 60 thru 69 - 2
Females 15 thru 19 - 1
Females 20 thru 29 - 2
Females 30 thru 39 - 1
Females 80 thru 89 - 1
Total - 10
[no entries for fields of employment]

Daniel Murray, 40, male, born Ireland
Ellen, 40, female, born Ireland
Edward, 11, male, born PA, attended school within the year
Barkley, 7, male, born PA, attended school within the year
Eliza, 9, female, born PA, attended school within the year
Mary, 5, female, born PA

Daniel Murry, 52, male, farmer, value of real estate 2000, value of personal estate 800, born Ireland, could not read or write
Ellen, 54, female, born Ireland, could not read or write
Edward, 19, male, farm laborer, born PA, attended school within the year
Elizabeth, 17, female, servant, born PA, attended school within the year
Betholomay, 15, male, farm laborer, born PA, attended school within the year
Mary, 13, female, born PA, attended school within the year
Alice, 9, female, born OH, attended school within the year

Murray, Daniel, 58, male, white, farmer, value of real estate 5000, born Ireland, both parents foreign born, male citizen of the U.S. aged 21 or more
Ellen, 59, female, white, keeping house, born Ireland, both parents foreign born
Edward, 25, male, white, born PA, both parents foreign born
Elisabeth, 23, female, white, born PA, both parents foreign born
Mary, 21, female, white, born PA, both parents foreign born
Alice, 16, female, white, born OH, both parents foreign born, attended school within the year

Murry, Daniel, white, male, 65, widower, farmer, born Ireland, both parents born Ireland
Edward, white, male, 38, son, single, help on farm, born PA, both parents born Ireland