User Home Page Genealogy Report: Descendants of Joab Wright
Descendants of Joab Wright
1.JOAB2 WRIGHT(GABRIEL1) was born 1776 in Morristown, Morris Co, NJ, and died April 14, 1842 in Penn Twp, Cass Co, MI,.He married JENNY Abt. 1799 in Ross Co, OH.She died Unknown in PossiblyRoss or Jackson Co, OH.
Notes for JOAB WRIGHT:
Joab WRIGHT
A history compiled from various sources
Joab was the son of Gabriel WRIGHT and Deborah BALL. He was born in New Jersey, about the time the Revolutionary War began. His father and his mother's family were both prominently involved in that war, and Gabriel received a land grant from the newly formed United States for his military service.
Gabriel's family moved south after the war, leaving New Jersey to go through Pennsylvania, where it is believed Gabriel's father died and was buried. From there they followed the Green River into Hampshire County, Virginiaby around1777.They stayed in Virginia until about 1787 when they moved into northern Kentucky, and lived along the Green River near the Ohio River in Old Nelson Co (Now Bullitt Co). They followed the Ohio River northward around 1797 and settled near Chillicothe, in Ross County, Ohio. Gabriel died in Frankfort, Ross County in 1803, and Deborah died there in 1817.
Joab served his country as an Indian scoutinthe War of1812,underhis "favorite"
General William Henry Harrison, who later became President of the United States. In 1811 he served in the battle of Tippecanoe, where he contributed to the victory over the Indians.He also served in the battles around Ft. Detroit. In 1812, under General Hull's command, he was given the assignment to carry a message through Indian country on a route known as the Old Territorial Road to Captain Heald at Fort Dearborn, near Chicago. Heald's orders were to evacuate immediately, but he delayed nearly a week. When a party of 60 soldiers accompanied by women and children did leave, they were set upon by Indians and all left for dead on the sand dunes of the south shore of Lake Michigan. Joab, who was also left for dead, was found by another wounded soldier, and nursed back to health.
Returning to Ohio, he built the first building in the present town of Greenfield, Highland County. (just across the county line from Ross Co.) By trade, he was a maker of "horsehair sieves", from which he made a fair living. His favorite thing, though, was fishing. He had a special place on the Paint River, which still holds his name, "Job's Hole."
He became a traveling salesman for dry goods and notions, and around 1825-30, he moved to Cass County, Michigan near Cassopolis. He discovered a 60 acres island in Diamond Lake, and built a cabin on its north side in the only clearing on the wooded island. He raised a garden for food, and fished and hunted for his meat.He lived there for several years without laying claim to it until the area began to be more populated and he feared he might lose his domain. He went to the territorial land office at Mottville, MI and took out papers to secure his domain. He purchased the island on November 5, 1833 (BLM serial #: ES NO S/N----Accession / Serial#: MIO54O___. 125). He lived out most of the rest of his life on the island, leaving the county only once for a period of about 4 years. No record exists of where he went at this time of his life.
Known locally as "the Recluse of Diamond Island," Joab was a tall, gaunt man with long red hair and beard. According to Rev. Fred N. Wright, in his hand-written history of the Wright family, Joab was a Nazarene by faith, and would not shave or cut his hair. He knew the Bible almost by heart, and was considered locally as something of a prophet. He had two thumbs on his right hand, which he considered a sign of his gift of prophecy and his powers. Tales of the time had it that Wright had knowledge of witchcraft and could stop the flow of blood by simply learning the name and age of the person whose life was endangered and pronouncing a brief incantation, but more likely, he had limited knowledge of medicine and a strong faith, as he came from a very religious family. Wright was, without doubt, an eccentric, but nevertheless, a pioneer in the truest sense of the word.
He was most famous locally for his prediction of the early death of President William Henry Harrison. The story goes that the Whigs of Cass County assembled to honor Harrison on his inauguration day. They planned to release an eagle that had been captured a few days earlier, "emblematic of our nation's power and freedom. Joab was with the group just before the eagle was released and predicted that:"So many rods as that bird flies, so many weeks will Harrison, my beloved general, live, and no longer."
The eagle reportedly landed in a hickory tree about eight to ten rods away.
President Harrison stood in the rain for two hours during his inauguration that day and died of pneumonia one month later.
Immediately prior to his death, Job was much disturbed by the rapid settlement of the surrounding country. With his ebbing strength, he could do little but wait out his remaining time on his island domain. He died at the home of his daughter, Ann (Mrs. Cornelius) Huff, in Penn Township, Cass County MI on April 4, 1842.
A few friends and acquaintances among the settlers of the neighborhood followed the remains of the old recluse to the Cassopolis burying ground. George B. Turner joined them . There was no minister present. The preparations were all made, and the rude whitewood coffin was about to be lowered into the ground when Mr. Turner , after a moment's hesitation, stepping up on the little mound of fresh earth at the side of the grave, delivered Job Wright's funeral sermon.
He is buried in Prospect Hill Cemetery, Cassopolis, MI.
More About JOAB WRIGHT:
Burial: Unknown, Prospect Hill Cemetery, Cass Co, MI
Children of JOAB WRIGHT and JENNY are:
i. | HOSEA3 WRIGHT, b. 1800, Ross or Highland Co, OH; d. Unknown. | ||
2. | ii. | ANNA WRIGHT, b. Abt. 1805, Ross or Highland Co, OH; d. Bet. 1870 - 1880, Last found in Bates Co, MO. | |
3. | iii. | SARAH WRIGHT, b. Abt. 1809, Ross or Highland Co, OH; d. Unknown. | |
iv. | JOAB JR. WRIGHT, b. Bet. 1810 - 1816; d. Unknown. | ||
4. | v. | ANN WRIGHT, b. 1818; d. Unknown. |