Amos Russell Wright and Conover Wright papers, 1883-1995

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Wright, Amos Russell, 1840-1915
Title
Amos Russell Wright and Conover Wright papers
Dates
1883-1995 (inclusive)
Quantity
7 linear feet, (10 boxes: 9 half letter and 1 oversized box (2.5 ln ft) )
Collection Number
UUS_COLL MSS 464
Summary
The Amos and Conover Wright Papers document the activities of Amos Russell Wright, a founder of Bennington, Idaho, and his son, Conover Wright, who worked at the Teton Phosphate Company. Conover was the son of Amos R. Wright and father of author David L. Wright.
Repository
Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library, Special Collections and Archives Division
Special Collections & Archives
Merrill-Cazier Library
Utah State University
Logan, UT
84322-3000
Telephone: 4357978248
Fax: 4357972880
scweb@usu.edu
Access Restrictions

No restrictions on use, except: not available through interlibrary loan.

Languages
English

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The Amos and Conover Wright Papers document the activities of Amos Russell Wright, a founder of Bennington, Idaho, and his son, Conover Wright, who worked at the Teton Phosphate Company. A majority of this collection contains genealogical research performed by Conover Wright, Charolotte Wright, other Wright family members, and interview of various Bennington, Idaho residents collected by Charolotte Wright.

The collection is divided into 4 series:

Series I.: Amos Wright Papers contains manuscript material written about Amos by family members that document his life and his community in Bennington, Idaho, including a speech by Amos Wright, research notes in Idaho census and midwife records, Bennington meeting minutes and LDS records.

Series II.: Conover Wright Papers documents Conover Wright's personal life, and his work as a Bennington Idaho's Justice of the Peace through correspondence, financial papers, and work papers.

Series III.: Teton Phosphate Company Papers documents Conover Wright's work for the Teton Phosphate Company from 1940 to 1965. During this period Wright served as both the company manager and was later the Vice President of the company. His papers mainly consist of correspondence, though additional materials include financial papers, contracts, legal papers, and invoices.

Series IV.: Other Wright Family Papers contains other documents created by other members of the Wright family including research notes created by Charlotte Wright, genealogical records, and correspondence.

Historical NoteReturn to Top

According to family-written records contained in this collection, Amos was born on January 11, 1840 in Illinois to Johnathan C. Wright and Rebecca Wheeler, and traveled to what is now known as Utah in approximately 1850. Amos was a part of group of men who established the mission Fort Limhi in approximately 1855-1858. He was also a mail carrier on the Pony Express in 1858. Around 1865, Amos and his family was a part of the founding of Bennington, Idaho, where Amos would later become a religious and community leader. Amos was elected to the territorial legislature during the 1880's when the Idaho Test Law was passed. Amos practiced polygamy and was married to Catherine Roberts in 1861 and Martha Loella Weaver in 1885. He died in 1915.

Conover Wright was born 1896 to Amos Russell Wright and Martha Loella Weaver. Conover Wright was a long-time employee and Vice President of the Teton Phosphate Company and served as the Justice of Peace in Bennington, Idaho. Conover was the son of Amos R. Wright and father of author David L. Wright.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary copyright clearances.

Permission to publish material from the Amos Russel Wright and Conover Wright Papers must be obtained from the Manuscript Currator and/or the Special Collections Department Head.

Preferred Citation

Initial Citation: Amos Russel Wright and Conover Wright Papers USU_COLL_MSS_464. Special Collections and Archives. Utah State University Merrill-Cazier Library. Logan, Utah.

Following Citations:USU_COLL_MSS_464, USUSCA.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

This collection is arranged into 4 series: I. Amos Wright Papers, II. Conover Wright Papers, III. Teton Phosphate Company Papers, and IV. Other Wright Family Papers. They are described at the folder level across 10 letter boxes and one oversized box.

Acquisition Information

Materials were donated by Charlotte Wright between 2004 and 2022.

Related Materials

David Lane and Nancy Wright Johnson Family Papers, COLL_MSS_566

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Amos Wright PapersReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
1 01
Amos Wright History Written by Conover Wright
1937
1 02
A Short Sketch of the Life of Amos R. Wright by Connover Wright
includes correspodence between Conover Wright and David Lane Wright
1937-1955
1 03
My Grandfather Said...A Story of the Life of Amos R. Wright by Winfred Andersen
1956
1 04
Amos Wright's Excommunication
1901-1956
1 05
Speech by Amos Wright
1909
1 06
News article about Amos Wright
1990
1 07
Wind River Mission by Geneva Wright
From Ensign
1982
1 08
History of Amos Wright by Catherine Wright Innes
1969
1 09
History of Bennington Idaho by Julia Wright
1964
1 10
Autobiographical Sketch of Amos Wright by Nettie W. Humphreys
includes correspondence between Nettie Humphreys and David Lane Wright
1883-1995
1 11
Interview of Margaret Vanorman Lee and Levaun Zollinger
1984
1 12
History of Catherine Roberts Wright by Gwen Dunn Anderson
1883-1995
1 13
Notes and meeting minutes from Bennington, Idaho
1883-1930
1 14
Correspondence between Charlotte Wright and Julia Wright concerning Amos Wright
1983
1 15
Correspondence between Charlotte Wright and Geneva Ensign Wright concerning Amos Wright
1982-1985
1 16
History of Bennington, Idaho by Andrew Jensen
1890-1900
1 17
Account of Bennington, Idaho by Louisa Stephens
1883-1995
1 18
Montpelier, Idaho Cemetery Records
1835-1966
1 19
Bennington, Idaho Cemetery Records
1863-1970
1 20
Midwife Record of Hannan Graham
1878-1900
1 21
Research of County Records
1892-1901
1 22
Research of Bennington, Idaho and Amos Wright
1983-1984
1 23
Research of other families from Bennington, Idaho
1858-1984
1 24
Research into Amos Wright
1880-1928
1 25
Research Notes of Bennington, Idaho
1884
1 26
Research Notes of Bennington, Idaho and Elmo rich
1882
1 27
Reserach Notes of Bennington, Idaho and surrounding area
1896-1909
1 28
Drafts of Paper about Bennington Idaho by Charlotte Wright
1883-1995
1 29
Publication of Mourits's family and Bennington, Idaho
1883-1995
2 01
Reserach Notes of Bennington, Idaho and Amos Wright
1877-1982
2 02
What I Remember Best About Bennington, Idaho written by Lloyd L. Burdick
1915-1975
2 03
Bennington Idaho: A Brief Profile and Historical Sketch by Marvin Sparks
includes correspondece between Charlotte Wrigtht and Marvin Sparks
1984
2 04
Census Research of Bennington, Idaho
1800
2 05
Census Research of Bennington, Idaho
1870
2 06
Census Research of Bennington, Idaho
1880
2 07
Census Research of Bennington, Idaho
1900
2 08
Census Research of Bennington, Idaho
1910
2 09
Bennington, Idaho Ward Records
1877-1902
2 10
Bennington, Idaho Township Record
1883-1995
2 11
Bennington, Idaho Township Record
1883-1995
2 12
Map of Northern Utah and Southern Idaho
1880
2 13
Bennington, Idaho School District Records
1897-1907
2 14
Widwife Record from mantua
1886-1899
2 15
History of Oneida county
1973
2 16
Idaho Deliquency List
1890-1902
2 17
A Study of Family and Community Relations in Bennington, Idaho - 1886-1915 by Charlotte Wright
1845

Conover Wright PapersReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
3 01
Correspondence
1920-1930
3 02
Correspondence
1943-1947
3 03
Correspondence
1954-1956
3 04
Correspondence
1952-1962
3 05
Photocopies of Deeds, Mortgages, Bale Contracts and, Sales of Real Estate,
1929-1945
3 06
Release of Real Estate Mortgage
includes correspondece between Charlotte Wright and Conover and Loella Wright
1938
3 07
Matter of Estate of Martha Loella Weaver
1947
3 08
Financial Records
1944-1957
3 09
Justice of the Peace/County Superintendent Records
1943-1950
3 10
Research Notes
1982
3 11
Legal Documetsn
includes Will of Matha Loella Weaver and legal document related to the estate of Frank M. Wright
1947

Teton Phosphate Company DocumentsReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box
4
Teton Phosphate Company Documents
1937-1963
5
Teton Phosphate Company Documents
1944-1957
6
Teton Phosphate Company Documents
1943-1957
7
Teton Phosphate Company Documents
1943-1961
8
Teton Phosphate Company Documents
1932-1956

Other Family PapersReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
9 01
News article about David Wright's Death
This is not to be confused with David Lane Wright
1894
9 02
Wright Family Correspodence
1944-1956
9 03
Wright Family Genealogy
1935-1988
9 04
Wright Family Genealogy
1870-1900
9 05
The Wright Way: Stories of the Wright Family by Charlotte Wright
1982
9 06
Correspondence
9 07
David Lane Wright and Hattie Wright
1951-1995
10
Oversized Materials
1883-1995

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Frontier and pioneer life--Idaho--Bennington
  • Mormon pioneers

Personal Names

  • Wright, Catherine Roberts, 1843-1917
  • Wright, Conover
  • Wright, Martha Loella Weaver, 1868-1944

Corporate Names

  • Teton Phosphate Company

Geographical Names

  • Bennington (Idaho)--History--19th Century
  • Idaho--History--19th Century