His wife was Miss Martha Ellen Travelstead a daughter of Peter Travelstead of Kentucky, to whom he was united May 11, 1873. Five children had been born of this union. They were; Armel P. Wright, Esco W. Wright, Celestine Wright Tanner, Bessie Wright Hudgens and John P. Wright.
In the 1880 federal census, Francis and Martha were both 27 years of age. They had three children, Armel P. aged 6, Esther (Celestine) aged 3 and Thomas (Esco) aged 1. They were located in Saline Precinct of Williamson County farming. Saline Precinct was located in the southeastern corner of the county that contained Stone Fort.
By the 1900 census, the family was surveyed in the Creal Springs Precinct which was likely the same location as the 1880 census and only reflected a name change for the precinct. The couple is now at the age of 47 and farming on a rented farm. Two of the previous children, Armel and Esther have married and moved on. Since the last census they have had two more children, John P. Wright, 15, who was born in 1885 and now present in the home with his brother Esco, 21. One daughter named Celestine who was born shortly after the 1880 census has also married and left home.
Francis came to Marion in the fall of 1900 and in 1903 bought a half interest in the Marion Steam and Marble Works of J. J. Simpson. He sold his interest after two years to Charles A. Gent, and went on the road for him for three years, when Gent sold back to him and Francis ran it himself.
Around 1903, Francis and Martha built their family home located at 508 N. Washington Street which would remain the family home even after their deaths.
He was elected to the City Council in April 1904 representing Ward 4, in which he lived, on the Democratic ticket and served one term until 1905. He then belonged to the Missionary Baptist church.
On October 1, 1909, Elisha Thurmond purchased the Marion Marble Works and Francis started another monument business with his son called Wright & Sons with his son Armel P. Wright. According to his obituary, he was located for years on E. Main Street in the current location of the U. S. Post Office.
By the 1910 federal census, Francis and Martha were both 57 years old and had their son Esco living with them in their home on N. Washington. Francis listed himself as the owner of a monument works.
In 1916, Elisha Thurmond and his son Ralph purchased the entire stock of marble and granite, also the equipment of Francis Wright from Wright & Son Monument Company, who then retired from business.
That, however, wasn’t the end of the Wright family in the monument business. Francis’s son Armel then went into the monument business for himself under the name of A.P. Wright Monument and was located at 105 E. Jackson Street until its closing in 1929.
The 1920 census found the couple now in their 67th year retired in their family home with no children present for the first time.
By the 1930 census, during the depression, the retired couple then housed their son Armel, 56, and his wife Nora, 52. After Armel’s monument business had closed in 1929 he had moved in with his parents and was having to work as a laborer.
W.F. Wright one of Marion’s oldest citizens, and a Williamson County business man for 50 years, passed away Sunday, March 26, 1939, at 10:30 A.M. at his home at 508 N. Washington Street. He was 86 years, 7 months and 28 days of age and was the last or a family of eight children.
He was a member of the Masonic Lodge of Creal Springs. Professing faith in Christ at the age of 16, Mr. Wright had been a member of the Baptist Church nearly 71 years.
He was survived by his wife Martha Ellen and one son, Armel P. Wright and two daughters, Mrs. James (Celestine) Tanner and Mrs. E.T. (Bessie) Hudgens, all of Marion. Two sons, Esco Wright of Marion and John P. Wright of Carbondale preceded their father in death.
His obituary stated, “Revered by his family and respected by his friends and acquaintances he was a man whose passing brought sorrow to many.”
Funeral services were held Tuesday at 2 P.M. at the First Baptist Church, Rev. Troy V. Wheeler, in charge, assisted by Dr. George L. Johnson of Carbondale. The body remained at the Hudgens Funeral Home where friends called until the hour of his funeral.
Francis’s wife Martha lived in the family home and passed away in 1944. After her death the house was occupied by their son Armel P. Wright till his death in 1948.
Sam’s Notes:
Armal P. Wright, former monument business man who in recent years has been a monument salesman, died in the Herrin Hospital Tuesday at 6:00 A.M. He lived at 508 N. Washington Street and had been in failing health for some time.
He was born March 8, 1873, the son of Francis and Ellen Wright. He was married first to Nora Simpson who died in 1941. Later he was married to Mamie Grobe who died in 1945.
Surviving is a son Ralph Wright of Los Angeles, California, one grandson, one great-granddaughter, a daughter-in-law, Mrs. Hilda Wright of Marion and two sisters, Mrs. Egbert T. Hudgens of Peoria and Mrs. Jim Tanner of Marion.
Funeral services will be held Thursday at 2 P.M. in the First Methodist Church, Rev. W.L. Hanbaum officiating. Interment will follow in New Rose Hill Cemetery. The bodly will lie in state at the Mitchell Funeral Home.—- MDR obit March 23, 1948
Armel was a charter member of the Marion Lion’s Club when it formed in April 1923.
Celestine Esther Wright Phelps Tanner, born August 29, 1876. She married Artie Phelps on July 21, 1893 at age 16. They had three children; Eula Phelps (1896-xxxx), Val Din Phelps (1899-1929) and Esco Thomas Phelps (1904-1951). Divorced around 1904 and remarried James Tanner of Marion. Died in Creal Springs on July 12, 1966 at age 89.
Bessie Wright Hudgens, born ca 1881, married Egbert Hudgens on September 30, 1899. Egbert was a partner with Gottlieb Frick in the Frick and Hudgens Funeral Home business. They had a daughter named Muriel Hudgens born in 1901. Bessie passed away September 15, 1967.
Thomas Esco Wright, born ca 1879 and died before 1939.
John P. Wright, born ca 1885 and died before 1939.
(Data extracted from the Illinois Regional Archives Depository; 1905 Souvenir History; Williamson County in the World War, 1919; Federal Census Records; Marion Daily Republican Obits from March of 1939 and 1948; compiled by Sam Lattuca on 08/28/2013)