Wright, James G.

Born: 1823-06-06 Liverpool, United Kingdom

Died: 1905-01-07 Chicago, Illinois

James G. Wright was a farmer, banker, Republican, and public servant. His family moved to New York City when he was still a boy, and he completed some of his early schooling there. He moved to Du Page County, Illinois in 1843 and purchased some public land. He farmed this land for some years, until it became profitable. In 1845, he married Almira Van Osdel in Chicago. They had at least seven children together. As Naperville, Illinois grew and expanded, he established Producers Bank in partnership with George Martin and H. L. Peaslee. Their firm was known as Martin, Wright & Company. He was active in the Republican Party, serving as a delegate to the 1858 Illinois Republican Convention on behalf of Du Page County. In 1860, he served as a town supervisor for Naperville. In April 1861, President Abraham Lincoln appointed him postmaster for Naperville, making Wright that city's first Republican postmaster. He was particularly active in the Episcopal Church starting in 1864. Wright's wealth increased significantly over time. In 1850, he was farming and owned $6,000 in real estate; by 1860, working as a banker, he owned $24,000 in real and personal property.

Newton Bateman and Paul Selby, eds., Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and History of Du Page County (Chicago, IL: Munsell, 1913), 2:1083-84; History of Du Page County, Illinois (Aurora, IL: Knickerbocker and Hodder, 1877), 48, 51, 195; Illinois Public Domain Land Tract Sales, Du Page County, 685:194, Illinois State Archives, Springfield, IL; Daily Illinois State Journal (Springfield), 17 June 1858, 2:3; Record of Appointment of Postmasters, 1832-1971, NARA Microfilm Publication, M841, 145 rolls, Records of the Post Office Department, RG 28, 1865-1878, 32:104, National Archives Building, Washington, DC; U.S. Census Office, Seventh Census of the United States (1850), Naperville, Du Page County, IL, 19; U.S. Census Office, Eighth Census of the United States (1860), Naperville, Du Page County, IL, 22.