Wright 1836

Solomon Wright, Jr. was born in 1780 in Carmel, Putnam County, New York, into a family long shaped by Quaker beliefs and purposeful migration. His Wright ancestors had been early settlers of Oyster Bay on Long Island, where they became deeply rooted in the Society of Friends. By Solomon’s generation, the family had already moved north into upstate New York, continuing a pattern of steady relocation in search of land and stability.

In 1801 Solomon married Zilpha Baldwin, and together they spent more than three decades in New York, raising eight children and establishing a stable farm household. Zilpha’s death in 1836 marked a turning point. After becoming widowed at 56, Solomon moved to Kane County, Illinois with two of his sons as part of the westward migration.

In Burlington, he claimed federal land and once again built a productive farm. His move west continued a generational pattern—Long Island to upstate New York, and from New York to Illinois—each migration shaped by faith, resilience, and the pursuit of lasting security for future generations.