SKELTON HARRIS WRIGHT 1855-1898, HARRIET A KINNEY 1862-1942, Yetter Cemetery, Hancock County Illinois

 

Page content last modified: September 30, 2008, updated 1900 census transcription.
August 18, 2008, removed extraneous text.
March 29, 2008, added tombstone photo.
September 1, 2007, minor text changes, detail on Vinnie Wright Whitten.

YETTER   CEMETERY
HANCOCK  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS

 

SKELTON HARRIS WRIGHT 1855-1898
HARRIET A. WRIGHT (nee KINNEY) 1862-1942

 

 

Author - Marcia Farina       Contributor - Larry Coleman

Carthage Republican
July 13, 1898

Skelt Wright was born in Macon Co., Tennessee, December 26, 1855; died at his home near this city July 10th, 1898, aged 42 years, 6 months and 16 days.  Was married to Hettie Kinney, February 20th, 1883 [1884].  To them were born six children, all of whom, except one little boy, Jesse, who died a few years ago, are left with the wife and mother to mourn the loss of a kind and indulgent husband and father.  Skelt had been in poor health for a year, but it was not until last April that he was confined to the house.  From that time on his malady has gradually grown worse until it ended in his death.  A post-mortem revealed that it was a tumor of the stomach and not cancer of the liver, as was pronounced by Dr. Jenkins, of Keokuk some weeks ago, which caused his death.

Skelt had many friends -- was considered one of our best citizens, and a most excellent friend and neighbor.  For many years he has followed a threshing machine, and not many families for miles around but will sadly miss him from their table at threshing time.  He was a loyal member of the M. W. A., and the high esteem in which he was held by them was shown at his funeral at 2 p.m. Monday, where at least one hundred of his brethren attended.  Rev. Rose, of Terre Haute, conducted the services, assisted by Rev. Gibson, after which the body was taken to the family burying ground, south of town, for interment.  The members of the lodge marched to the grave where they formed into a wedge shaped mass, to await the arrival of the funeral cortege, which was following.  There, impressive services were held by the lodge.  An observer claims that 172 vehicles, beside horsemen and those on foot, followed the remains to the grave.  It was certainly the largest funeral ever held in the township, many lodge men from neighboring towns attending.  The lodge deserves much credit for the thoughtfulness and kindness shown the bereaved widow and little ones. It is most gratifying to all the mourning ones to know that deceased was converted to the Lord about a week before his death.  His three brothers, John, James and Pat, and two sisters, Mrs. Joseph Hobart and Mrs. Belle Courtey were all with him, except the latter, who could not be present. Although born down by grief the hearts of the afflicted ones respond to the beautiful lines --

"The ways of our Father are right,
'Tho he sends us much sorrow and pain;
He giveth -- He taketh the dear ones back;
O, blessed he his name."

CHAT.


The Quill
July 14, 1898, Page 6, Column 2

PENNSYLVANIA.

Skelt Harrison Wright was born in Macon County, Tenn., December 26, 1856, and died July 10, 1898, aged 42 years, 6 months and 14 days.  His mother having passed away while he was in infancy he was placed in charge of his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Hubbard Wright, who came to this country while he was quite young* and he has resided here ever since until the Lord called him hence.  He was united in marriage to Miss Hattie Kinney and the result of this union was six children five of whom survive, one, little Jessie having died a few years ago.  Mr. Wright was happily converted before his death to the will of the Lord and expressed a desire to meet the little one gone before and died in full faith of the saving power of Christ.  He was a good citizen, a kind husband and a loving father and well liked by all who knew him.  He leaves to mourn his loss two sisters and three brothers.  Mrs. Belle Courtney, Mrs. Eva Hobart, John, James and Patrick Wright, also his wife and family who have the sympathy of the entire community in their bereavement.  His funeral occurred Monday at 2 p.m., by Rev. Roe, of Terre Haute.  Burial at the Yetter Cemetery by the M.W.A. of which he was a member.

*See text below the obituaries.


The LaHarper
July 15, 1898, Page 4, Column 2

Fountain Green Facts.

Died at his home, one-half mile south of Webster, July 10, 1898, Skelt Harris Wright, who was born in Macon County, Tennessee, Dec. 26, 1855.  He was buried by the M. W. of A. of which he was a consistent member.  A large number of Woodmen assisted by the members from La Harpe, Blandinsville and Tennessee laid him in his last resting place.  He leaves a wife, five children, three brothers and two sisters and a host of other relatives and friends to mourn his departure.

Carthage Republican
March 18, 1942, Page 3, Column 7

DEATH OF MRS. WRIGHT

Mrs. Harriet Kinney Wright died at her home in Fountain Green, March 17, aged 79 years.  She was born in Hancock Township and lived most of her life in Webster and Fountain Green.  Her husband, Skelt Wright, preceded her in death many years ago and she is survived by the following children: Gay of LaHarpe; Clarence and Vinnie Whitten of Fountain Green; Della Long of Colchester and Elvie MvAvoy of Macomb.

Funeral arrangements have not been completed pending word from Mrs. Wright's grandson, Pvt. Rolland Whitten who is stationed at Los Angeles.


Hancock County Journal
March 26, 1942, Page 8, Column 3

Wright Funeral Held On Saturday at Fountain Green

Harriet (Kinney) Wright was the daughter of John and Emeline (Yetter) Kinney.  Mrs. Wright was born near Webster, Illinois, on October 28, 1862.  She passed away at her home in Fountain Green, Illinois, March 18, 1942 at the age of seventy-nine years, one of three daughters. One daughter, Mrs. Carrie Huckins, passed away in 1895.  The other sister, Mrs. Belle Kleckner, lives near Webster, Illinois.

In 1884 she was united in marriage to Skelt Wright, who was one of the most prominent young men of the community.  To this union six children were born.  One of these children died in 1892, at the age of three.  Mr. Wright passed away in 1898 and Mrs. Wright and her eldest son Clarence carried on at the farm until they moved to a home in Webster.  The five children that are left to mourn the passing of Mrs. Wright are Clarence of Fountain Green, Mrs. Della Long of Colchester, Gay Wright of near La Harpe, Mrs. Vinnie Whitten of Fountain Green and Mrs. Elvie McAvoy of Macomb.  There are also 16 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.  Mrs. Wright dearly loved all of these children and was especially saddened when Rolland who had always been a great comfort to her, was inducted into military service and stationed in far-off California.  Also, during Mrs. Wright's long illness she often expressed her gratitude for the tender care and thoughtfulness from her grandchildren, Russell and Alleyne Whitten who lived with her and helped make a home for her.

Mrs. Wright was converted to the Christian faith by the popular colored evangelist, Mrs. Emma Brewington, at a meeting in Webster more than forty years ago.  Many of the older folks recall seeing Mrs. Wright in the Webster church with all of her five children.

Mrs. Wright is known to her neighbors as a kind, sympathetic person who was always ready and willing to lend a helping hand in a time of need.  She was a hard worker and a real enemy of dirt and uncleanliness.  For several years she was janitor of the high school building at Fountain Green and was often praised by the teachers and school officials for her splendid work there.

Mrs. Wright's philosophy of life can be pretty well summed up in the following verse which was found yellow with age in her old family Bible:

"When I am dead, forget me, dear,
For I shall never know,
Though o'er my cold and lifeless hands
Your burning tears should flow,
I'll cancel with my loving voice
The debt you'll owe the dead--
Give me the love you'd show me then,
But give it now instead."

Funeral services were held Saturday afternoon at the Fountain Green church, the Rev. Wayne Newcum officiating.  Mrs Adda Latherow and Mrs. Gladys McConnell sang "Good Night and Good Morning" and "In the Garden," accompanied by Miss Martha Walker.  Interment was in Yetter Cemetery, the following acting as pall bearers: Brice Latherow, Russell Meyers, Ted Paben, Guy Ebert, Orville Jackson and Melvin Latherow.

Skelt Wright was the son of Lafayette Wright and Octavia Sanders.  Hub and Massie (Ford) Wright were already living in Hancock County in 1850.  The obituary for John Wright, Skelt's slightly older brother, said that John came with his parents (Lafayette and Octavia) to Hancock County.

See also: John Wright (brother), Patrick Wright (half-brother), Eva E. Wright (half-sister)

 
Harriet A. "Hettie" Kinney was the daughter of John Kinney & Emeline M. Yetter.  Just as Skelt lost his mother, Hettie's father died when she was only three years old.

The Wright farm was located in Fountain Green Township, south of the village of Webster.  While obituaries for several of the Wright children indicated they were born in Webster, it's more likely they were born at the family home.

i. Clarence "Goody" Wright, born December 25, 1885, died August 19, 1952, in Hancock County east of Carthage.  He is buried at Majorville Cemetery in Hancock Township.
 
ii. Jesse Earl Wright, born in 1889, died in 1892, buried at Yetter Cemetery.
 
iii. Della Wright, born about 1888. She was a second cousin, once removed, to her husband, Harvey C. Long, through the Callihan line.
 
iv. Gay Wright, born January 27, 1892, died November 14, 1962.  He was buried at LaHarpe Township Cemetery, Hancock County.  Gay married Lorena M. Thompson.
 
v. Vinnie Wright, born February 26, 1894, died December 30, 1960.  Burial at LaHarpe Township Cemetery.
 
vi. Elvie Wright, born about 1895.
 

1860 Illinois Census, Hancock County, Fountain Green Township, page 747
enumerated about July 26, 1860

Hubbard Wright, 65, male, farmer, value of real estate 400, value of personal estate 100,
born KY
[continued on next page]
Massey Wright, 57, female, born TN
Franklin, 21, male, doctor medicine, born TN
Harris, 4, male, born TN

 

1870 Illinois Census, Hancock County, Fountain Green Township, page 122A
enumerated June 2, 1870, dwelling #48

Wrigh, Hobert [sic], 73, male, white, farmer, value of real estate 200, value of personal estate 500, born TN, could not read or write
Massa, 68, female, white, keeping house, born TN
Harris, 15, male, white, born IL, attended school within the year

1870 Illinois Census, Hancock County, Fountain Green Township, page 124B
enumerated June 4, 1870, dwelling #85

Kinney, Thomas, 79, male, white, retired farmer, value of real estate 1600, value of personal estate 500, born PA, male citizen of the U.S. aged 21 or more
Anna, 76, female, white, born PA
Emeline, 33, female, white, keeping house, born IL
Caroline, 10, female, white, born IL, attended school within the year
Hatter, 8, female, white, born IL, attended school within the year
Isabella, 4, female, white, born IL

1880 Illinois Census, Hancock County, Fountain Green Township, page 119C
enumerated June 24-25, 1880, dwelling #217

Wright, John, white, male, 25, married, farmer, born TN, both parents born TN
Capitola, white, female, 19, wife, female, married, keeping house, born IL, both parents born NY
Harris, white, male, 23, brother, single, farmer, born TN, both parents born TN
Eva, white, female, 17, sister, single, at home, born IL, father born TN, mother born IL

1880 Illinois Census, Hancock County, Fountain Green Township, Webster, page 120B
enumerated June 25, 1880, dwelling #240

Kinney, Emeline, white, female, 43, widow, keeping house, born IL, both parents born PA
Harriet A, white, female, 18, daughter, single, at home, attended school within the year, born IL, both parents born PA
Isabella, white, female, 16, daughter, single, at home, attended school within the year, born IL, both parents born PA

1900 Illinois Census, Hancock County, Fountain Green Township, page 114A
enumerated June 12, 1900, dwelling #150

Wright, Hattie, head, white, female, Oct 1862, 37, widow; mother of 6 children, 5 living; born IL, father born PA, mother born IL, [occupation hard to read, perhaps "manag of farm"], months not employed - 0, could read, write and speak English, owned her farm home free of mortgage, farm schedule 110

Clarence, son, white, male, Dec 1885, 14, single, born IL, both parents born IL, at school for 6 months, could read, write and speak English

Della, daughter, white, female, Dec 1898, 11, single, born IL, both parents born IL, at school for 8 months, could read, write and speak English

[continued on next page]

Gay, son, white, male, Jan 1892, 9, single, born IL, both parents born IL

Vinnie, daughter, white, female, Feb 1894, 5, single, born IL, born parents born IL

Elvia, daughter, white, female, Dec 1895, 4, single, born IL, born parents born IL

Keney, Emiley, mother, white, female, Mar 1841, 60, widow; mother of 3 children, 2 living; born IL, both parents born PA, wash woman, months not employed - 4, could read, write and speak English, owned her home free of mortgage

 

1910 Illinois Census, Hancock County, Fountain Green Township, page 76A
enumerated April 15, 1910, dwelling #11

Wright, Hettie, head, female, white, 46, widow; mother of 6 children, 5 living; born IL, both parents born IL, spoke English, farmer, truck farm, working on own account, could read and write, owned her farm home free of mortgage, farm schedule 7

Gay, son, male, white, 18, single, born IL, both parents born IL, spoke English, laborer, odd jobs, employee, whether out of work on April 15, 1910 - [no entry], number of weeks out of work during 1909 - [no entry], could read and write, did not attend school after Sept. 1, 1909

Vinnie, daughter, female, white, 16, single, born IL, both parents born IL, spoke English, could read and write, attended school after Sept. 1, 1909

Elvie, daughter, female, white, 14, single, born IL, both parents born IL, spoke English, could read and write, attended school after Sept. 1, 1909

 

1920 Illinois Census, Hancock County, Fountain Green Township, page 103A
enumerated January 5, 1920, dwelling #31, farm

Wright, Hettie, head, owner, free of mortgage, female, white, 54, widow, could read and write, born IL, father born IL, mother born NY, spoke English, working on own account, farm
schedule 15

The News of Fountain Green
October 29, 1924

Mrs. Hetty Wright Has Surprise

Mrs. Hetty Wright was greatly surprised on her birthday, Oct. 29th, by a large number of friends and relatives gathering at her home in the east part of town.  Everyone helped with the refreshments of fruit and cake.

The evening was spent in a social way, the old folks partaking in card games and the young folks joy riding.

Those present were Mr. and Mrs. Gay Wright and children, Mr. and Mrs. Harve Long and children, Mr. and Mrs. Jim Whitten and children, Mr. and Mrs. Bouseman and family, Mr. and Mrs. Wm. White, Mr. and Mrs. Will Kleckner, son Bill and daughter Lola, Harlan Lenix, Mrs. Wm Pierce and daughter Bertha, Mr. and Mrs. John Sibert and children, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Booz and family, Mrs. Mollie Yetter and Roland Kimbrough, Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Wright and daughter Genevieve and Leo Miller.

All departed at a late hour wishing her many more happy birthdays ni [sic] the future.

1930 Illinois Census, Hancock County, Fountain Green Township, page 104A
enumerated April 16-17, 1930, dwelling #118

Wright, Hattie, head, owner, home value 1500, did own a radio, did not live on a farm, female, white, 65, widow, age at first marriage - 18, could read and write, born IL, both parents born IL, spoke English

 

Yetter Cemetery
Virtual Tour
Copyright
Information
Census
Transcriptions