A native of Morgan County, Illinois, born January 19, 1837, son of George Wright, a native of Tennessee, who came to Iowa in 1855. He was reared a farmer remaining at home until his majority, and from 1858 until 1866 was a contractor in the United States mail service carrying it between Princeton, Missouri and Chariton, Iowa. He has been a member of the County Board of Supervisors, representing both Jefferson and Grand River townships. From 1874 until 1876 he was sheriff of the county, and in the fall of 1883 was elected a representative in the Twentieth General Assembly of Iowa, on the fusion Greenback and Democratic ticket. From the spring of 1877 until 1881 he published the Allerton News disposing of it in the latter year. He is now devoting his attention to agriculture having a good farm where he resides of 107 acres. He was married March 19, 1857 to Rachel J. Summerville.