JAMES G. WRIGHT
Past Master 1862
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James Gregson Wright was born June 6, 1823 in Liverpool, Merseyside, England the son of Joseph Wright and Sarah Parkinson. He came to New York City in 1841 to complete his studies begun in England and in 1843 he settled on a 160 acre farm in Naperville. He married Almira Van Osdel in January, 1845 in Chicago, and from this union seven children were born, William Parkinson, Sarah E., Margaret Ella, Mary Ellen (Nellie), Catherine Almira, James George and John Joseph.

He founded the first lumberyard in Aurora in 1849. He established a bank with George Martin under the name Producers Bank of Martin, Wright and Co. He co-founded the DuPage County Agricultural and Mechanical Society, an organization dedicated to the promotion of farming and industry in the county. He had the distinction of being appointed the first Republican Post Master of Naperville by President Abraham Lincoln on April 8, 1861 and served until April 16, 1869. He served in the Illinois Legislature as a Representative from Dupage County from 1876 to 1882. He was then appointed as the United States Indian Agent for the Rosebud Sioux Reservation in South Dakota and served in that capacity for four years. He then retired and moved to Chicago. He also served as Naperville Township Supervisor in 1860 and 1875.

He was raised a Master Mason March 10, 1857 in Euclid Lodge and served as Master in 1862.

He died January 7, 1905 in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois and was buried in the Naperville Cemetery.