aka, "Will"
MO DC#28738
h/o Sarah Jane [Perkins] Wright
s/o Claibourne & Rebecca [Vestal] Wright
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Macon, Mo., Feb. 9 -- William C. Wright, Macon county's oldest citizen, celebrated his 100th birthday here Thursday, at the home of his son in law and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. O. L. Cross.

He has been a resident of the Callao vicinity, Macon county, all his life. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Claiborne Wright, whose names are listed in the band of 101 pioneers who came from Wayne county, Kentucky, about 1829 and settled near Callao.

During the Civil War, he served in the home guards of the county, under Captain Jeff Banta.

On March 12, 1868, he married Sarah Jane Perkins. They lived on a farm south of Callao, where he engaged in farming and stock raising. Five children were born, three of whom are living: Mrs. Ciella Lyda, Oakland, California; Mrs. O. L. Cross, Macon; and Joe N. Wright, Callao.

- The Quincy Herald Whig, Sunday, February 9, 1941; page 2.
Contributor: Tree Leaf (47481781)
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Obituary - 8-9-1943

William Wright Was Of Pioneer Family
Aged Citizen Lived Through Terms of 18 Presidents

William C. Wright, 102, who was at the time of his death, Monday, one of Macon County's oldest citizens, had lived through the administrations of 18 different presidents, starting with Harrison. He cast his first presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln in 1864.
A son of Mr. and Mrs. Clayburn Wright, he was born on a farm a few miles south of what is now Callao, on Feb. 6, 1841
His parents were members of a band of 101 pioneers who moved to this county from Wayne County, Kentucky in the spring of 1829. Included in this same group, which was the largest number of settlers that ever came into the county at one time, were the Terrell and Vickery families.
Mr. Wright, who was of a family of 12 children, was reared on the home place south of Callao. At the outbreak of the Civil War he joined the Home Guard of the county under Captain Jeff Banta.
On March 12, 1868, he was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Jane Perkins and they settled south of Callao, where he was extensively engaged in farming and stock raising for many years.
To this union five children were born, two of whom survive. They are Mrs. O. L. Cross with whom he has made his home for the past several years and Joe N. Wright, also of Macon. Two sons, Arthur C. and Willie A. preceeded him in death several years ago. One daughter, Mrs. Clella Lyda of Oakland, Calif., preceeded him in death in October, 1942.
Besides the two living children, he leaves 20 other descendents, namely, nine grandchildren, 10 great grandchildren and one great, great grandchild.
Mr. Wright professed faith in Christ at an early age under the preaching of Harve Lawson at Antioch and throughout his life he remained a faithful Christian. The pastor and his friends were always welcome visitors in his home.
Funeral services were held Wednesday.
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From the book "Macon County, Sesquicentennial 1837 - 1987"
Page 101 under Vignettes

6 Febuary, 1940
Mr. William C. Wright, 99, of Macon cast his first vote for Abraham Lincoln in the fall of 1864, and followed the Republican party's beliefs until 1915 when he became a Democrat. (In 1986 when his granddaughter, Mrs. Nadine Smith, was asked what happened to change his political views, she had no idea.)
Born in a 2-room log cabin on February 6, 1841 south of Callao, Mr. Wright has seen Macon County "grow up from a Pup". He also saw the first train to enter the county on the Hannibal-St. Joseph Railroad. During the Civil War he joined "Home Guards". a military unit of the Union forces, under Capt. Jep Banta. When the war ended, Capt. Banta rode away having never discharged his unit. Mr. Wright joked that he was "still a member of the Home Guards."