Alpheus WRIGHT was born in Indiana (likely Henry County) on February 19, 1826. He died on March 24, 1900 in Checotah, Oklahoma and is buried in the Indian Territory Checotah Cemetery. Alpheus WRIGHT and his 3rd wife, Amanda HENDERSON SONGER WRIGHT left Indiana in March of 1880 for Paola, Kansas. In February of 1881 they moved from Paola to Decatur, Texas where they had a contract to raise mules for the U.S. Army. In 1892 they moved to Checotah, Oklahoma where Alpheus had a contract to supply ties to the Katy Railroad. In 1893 Alpheus built and operated the WRIGHT HOTEL in the 200 block of East Gentry Avenue.

Alpheus WRIGHT married (first) Huldah RATLIFF on December 9, 1849. They had two sons, George P. W. WRIGHT born Decemeber 7, 1848, and Cyreneus Judge WRIGHT born January 5, 1852. When Cyreneus Judge was 15 days old Huldah died of "childbed fever". Alpheus married (second) Huldah's sister, Sarah RATLIFF on February 19, 1858 in Miami County, Kansas. To Alpheus and Sarah were born Hannah A. and Cassius WRIGHT. When Cassius was almost 5 years old his mother, Sarah, died on August 24, 1865. Alpheus married (third) Amanda HENDERSON SONGER WRIGHT on October 2, 1866. To them were born 7 more children -- Minnie, Clarence, Ernest, Cora, Bessie, Jessie and Garvie.

Amanda HENDERSON, 3rd wife of Alpheus WRIGHT, was born October 15, 1840. She married (first) Perry SONGER on March 24, 1858. To them were born two sons, Milem on July 19, 1859 and Harley on November 3, 1861. On September 13, 1863 Amanda's first husband, Perry SONGER, died at age 37. Two weeks later Amanda's 2 year old son, Harley, died (September 30, 1863). Two days later Amanda's son, Milem died (October 1, 1863). Just 3 months after Amanda lost her husband and two sons to death she gave birth to her last child from her first husband Perry SONGER, a baby girl named Delilah (Januray 2, 1864). (It is thought that all 3 died as a result of a yellow fever or small pox epidemic that swept the midwest in the 1860's.) A year and a half later Alpheus WRIGHT, after loosing his first two wives by death, married Amanda HENDERSON SONGER WRIGHT on October 2, 1866. "Cassius WRIGHT loved his step-sister, Delilah but she married another man, Joseph OUTLER. Cassius never married. He worked as a cook in the WRIGHT Hotel for many years. ---Source: Pane P. HOSEY WRIGHT in a letter post marked January 30, 1967 in Checotah, Oklahoma.

Time Line for Alpheus WRIGHT

1826 FEB 19 --Birth in Indiana (most likely, Henry County)

1829 DEC 25 --Birth of 1st wife, Huldah RATLIFF in Henry County, Indiana (Quaker)

1832 OCT 10 --Birth of wife of 2nd wife, Sarah RATLIFF in Henry County, Indiana (Quaker)

1848 APR 19 --Spiceland Monthly Friends Meeting - Henry County, Indiana - Alpheus WRIGHT�s 1st wife, Huldah RATLIFF, condemned for marrying contrary to discipline. Disowned.

1848 DEC 07 --Birth of son George P. W. WRIGHT in Miami County, Indiana

1860 --U.S. Federal Census "Alpheus WRIGHT" - Age 34 Miami County, Jackson Township, Indiana

1866 OCT 02 --Marriage to Amanda HENDERSON SONGER in Marshelfield, Warren County, Indiana

1867 OCT 09 --Birth of daughter Minnie F. WRIGHT in Indiana

1880 MAR --Family moves from Warren County, Indiana to Paola, Miami County, Kansas (Source: Jane P. HOSEY WRIGHT)

1880 --U.S. Federal Census "Alphus WRIGHT & Amanda WRIGHT, Somerset, Miami
County, Kansas Occupation: Carpenter" Alpheus lists his parents as born in Virginia.

1881 FEB --Family moves from Paola, Miami County, Kansas to Decatur, Texas.

1882 AUG 28 --Birth of son Jessie J. WRIGHT in Texas

1883 SEP 14 --Death of son Jessie J. WRIGHT in Decatur, Wise County, Texas

1893 --Alpheus builds the WRIGHT Hotel in Checotah, McIntosh County, Oklahoma

Source: McIntosh County Democrat