Wright, Charles Wellington

Birth

Charles Wellington Wright was born January 21, 1844 or January 1, 1844 in Berne to Joshua R. Wright (B. Mar 28, 1816, D. June 4, 1878) and Lucretia Haight (B. bet 1818-1820, D. June 28, 1894). He was the middle child of three boys.

Marriage & Children

Charles in 1865 married Elmira Gifford (B. Aug 21, 1845, D. Aug 27, 1906), who was the daughter of Mr. Gifford and Lucinda Crandell.
They had only one child Helen T. Wright Crocker (B. Dec 1866, D. 1912).

Occupation

Charles was a school teacher before he enlisted in the Civil War. He also worked as a farmer with his father before the war and would continue in that profession for most of his life. After his wife's death in 1906, Charles worked as a laborer in many different jobs.

Military Service

Name:	Charles Wellington Wright
Residence:	Berne
Place of Birth:	Berne, NY
Date of Birth:	1 Jan 1844
Names of Parents:	Joshua (Wright) and Lucretia Haight
Marital Status:	Single
Occupation:	Farmer
Term of Enlistment:	1 year
Enlistment Date:	25 Aug 1864 or Sept 5, 1864
Enlistment Place:	Albany, New York
Enlistment Rank:	Private
State Served:	New York
Regiment:	3rd Cavalry
Company:	Company L
Muster Out Date:	7 Jun 1865
Muster Out Place:	Norfolk, VA

Additional Remarks: Enlisted at the age of 20. "Discharged June 10, 1865 PO Address Bern Albany Co N.Y." Orderly for Provost Marshall.

Sources Used: Ancestry.com, American Civil War Soldiers; 1865 census, Berne, Albany Co., NY; Town and City Registers of Men Who Served in the Civil War

Life

Charles was born in Berne in a small family. His father Joshua R. Wright was a farmer who owned his own farm. Charles was recorded in the 1850 US Census, 1855 NY State Census and 1860 US Census living with his parents and older brother Wesley A. Wright. When the 1865 NY State Census was taken, Charles was serving in the 3rd Cavalry in the Civil War however his parents recorded him with their family which now included Wesley, a widow and his two young children.
When Charles returned from the Civil War, he immediately married Elmira Gifford and a year later they had their daughter Helen T. Wright. In 1870 Charles and his young family were living next to his parents in Berne and Charles was a farmer who owned land. By January 31, 1880, Charles had developed some health problems as he filed for an invalid Civil War pension. That year when recorded in the 1880 US Census, Charles was still a farmer and living with his wife and 13 year old daughter. He was recorded living in South Berne in the 1890 US Veterans Census and recorded no disabilities. Charles was a member of the Charles McCulloch Post 645 GAR of Berne, NY. By 1900, Charles and Elmira were still living in Berne where Charles continued to work as a farmer who owned land without a mortgage. However the couple now had help from one of Elmira's relatives Rufus Gifford (B. April 1866), a farm laborer, and his wife Margaret who lived with them.
By February 15, 1901, Charles decided to retire from farming and announced that an auction was to be held on Thursday February 28, 1901 at 1 pm to sell his livestock and farm implements. In about 1904, Charles and his wife Elmira moved to Lincoln Avenue in Altamont, Albany County, NY where their daughter Helen and her husband Melvin C. Crocker lived. At the time of their relocation, they were both in reasonable health, but a year later Elmira contracted a severe illness which she never fully recovered from. She then developed heart disease which she would battle for several months before her death on August 27, 1906. She was only 61 years of age.
After his wife's death, Charles continued to live in Altamont on Lincoln Avenue, where he can be found in the 1910 Census living with his daughter Helen T. Wright, her husband Melvin C. Crocker and their two children Minnie W. Crocker and Stanley R. Crocker. At that time, Charles recorded no occupation. On May 6, 1921, the house that Charles had owned on Lincoln avenue in Altamont was sold.

Additional Media

"Thirty Years Ago Today", Altamont Enterprise, Oct 30, 1931

On Thursday Feb. 28, 1901 at 1 pm Charles W. Wright will sell at auction from his residence, 5 miles south of Berne, 8 cows, 8 calves, 19 sheep and a lot of farming implements etc.

Obituary of Mrs. Elmira Wright, Altamont Enterprise, no date given but after Aug 27, 1906

Mrs. Elmira Wright, wife of Mr. Chas. Wright, died Monday morning Aug. 27, 1906, aged sixty-one years, after an illness of several months of heart disease. The funeral occurred from her late residence on Lincoln avenue, Wednesday at 10'oclock, Rev. A. A. Frederick pastor of St. John's Lutheran church conducting the service. Interment at South Berne. Mrs. Wright is survived by her husband, one daughter Mrs. M. C. Crocker and two grandchildren. Mrs. Wright came here with her husband from their farm near South Berne about two years ago with the intention of retiring from the activities of life to live quietly and enjoy the balance of their days together. Less than a year ago she had a very severe sickness from which she never fully recovered. Mrs. Wright was a lady possessed of a loving disposition and a beautiful Christian character. She will be greatly missed in the home and by her many relatives and friends in the community.

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