Carthage Men in History

Curtis Wright
1844–1918

1844: Born at Canton, Illinois

1851: Moved to rural Toulon, Illinois, eventually attending the Toulon Academy

1862: Discontinued his studies and enlisted in the 112th Regiment of Illinois Volunteer Infantry, commanded by Colonel Thomas J. Henderson and became part of Company F, captained by his own father William Wilberforce Wright

1864: Father killed from wounds received at the Battle of Resaca in Georgia; Curtis left Company F and became chief clerk to Captain James D. Stover and later Captain George W. Roby of the Subsistence Department at Knoxville TN

1865: Mustered out of the army and began working for the Indianapolis, Cincinnati & Lafayette Railway Company in Cincinnati OH eventually becoming Superintendent of Telegraphy for the White Water Valley and the Fort Wayne, Muncie & Cincinnati branches of the I,C & L

1869: Married Nira Koogler of Connersville IN and established home in Connersville

c. 1874: Changes careers and becomes involved with furniture making in Connersville; associated with Cooley-Morrison Furniture and later yet Connersville Cabinet Company

1888: Moved to Carthage MO and became an investor in the Troup Mine at Prosperity MO

1892: Sold interest in Troup Mine and established Carthage Stone Company in Carthage and stayed active in its affairs until shortly before his death

1894-95: Carthage Stone Company supplied the limestone used in the construction of the Jasper County Courthouse

1900: Organized Southwestern Slate & Manufacturing Company near Mena, AR on property purchased from former Carthaginian A. W. St. John

1911: Was first person in Carthage to receive air mail postal when USPS inaugurated such service

1917: Various trees and shrubs transplanted from Wright's Sarcoxie farm planted in Central Park including hard maples set along the southside of the park

1918: Died and buried in Park Cemetery

Involved in various stone and mine ventures throughout his residency in Carthage. Was also a city councilman and active in the leadership of the First Presbyterian Church.

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