Edward Wright was born in Rome, Oneida county, New York, in 1811 and came to Illinois in 1833, remaining awhile at Plainfield, Kendall County. In January, 1835, he same to Prophetstown in Company with William Perkins. At that time there were no houses on the South side of Rock river from Dixon down, until the grove just above Prophetstown was reached, where there were two cabins, one occupied by Mr. McClure and the other by Mr. Beatwick, an Englishman. Messrs. Wright and Perkins made a claim adjoining Asa Crook’s, and which took in the land on which the village of Prophetstown now stands, and also enough of the bend of the river below to make what they considered two good-sized farms. Perkins soon after returned to Kendall county, while Mr. Wright remained to hold possession, and make improvements, and eventually purchased the interest of Perkins. Mr. Wright then took R. Ammidon as a partner, and the claim was divided.
In 1836 he sold his share, with the exception of twenty acres which had been previously conveyed, to Jabez Warner, who had then just come up the river with a flat boat loaded with flour and provisions. He then went a few miles further up the river, made another claim and commenced improvements, but having had the chills and fever for the most of the time for two years, reluctantly left Whiteside county in the fall of 1839 and settled near Lisbon, Kendall county.
Mr. Wright married Miss Clark, daughter of W. L. Clark, of Lyndon Precinct, in October, 1840. Children have been: Julia. Emily, Clara, and Lottie, all of whom are now living, and married; they have also had three others, who are now dead
Bent & Wilson History of Whiteside County
