New Madrid County, Missouri Trails
Biographies
EDWARD A. WRIGHT, editor and publisher of the Weekly Record, of New Madrid, Mo., was born in St. Louis, on December 2, 1856. His father, Erie Wright, was a native of Massachusetts, and was an architect, contractor and builder in St. Louis, for a number of years. He was married in that city to Louisa Cruchon, a native of France, who was reared and educated in St. Louis. Erie Wright continued his business in St. Louis till his death at Camp Jackson during the war. After the death of her husband Mrs. Wright removed to Jackson, Cape Girardeau County, where she has since resided. Edward A. Wright grew to manhood at Jackson and Cape Girardeau. When a lad of sixteen years he commenced learning the printer's trade in the office of the Cash Book, at Jackson. He continued there until he became a practical printer, and afterward worked at his trade in other offices of that county until he became a skillful job printer. In 1881 he came to New Madrid and took charge of the Weekly Record, as editor and publisher. The paper at that time was a small sheet, a five-column patent outside with a very limited circulation. Mr. Wright has succeeded in making it a six-column quarto, which has a good patronage in its advertising columns, and a large circulation. The paper is now a credit to its editor and to New Madrid County. Mr. Wright was married in this city in October 1884 to Miss Cora Grover, who was born, reared and educated in Adams County, Ill. She is a daughter of Benjamin F. Grover of that county. One son has blessed this union: Grover. Mr. and Mrs. Wright are zealous members of the Presbyterian Church. He is a member of the A. O. U. W. and is recorder of his lodge, and is, also, clerk of the city council.
Source: Goodspeed's History of Southeast Missouri, c1888, p 914; contributed by A. Newell. -2009
Don Juan LaVallee ( Jean Bouchard dit LaVallee ) succeeded Peyroux as commandant of New Madrid and held that position until the country was transferred to the U S. During his administration the expedition of DeLassus to punish the run away Indians then residing in the county west of New Madrid, took place.. LaVallee was a very competent man, a man of education and intelligence. He was a native of France (actually, Quebec CA ) and for a number of years a leading merchant and trader. DeLassus says of him, that "he was a zealous and skillful officer recommended for captain" and that " every time I employed him, he gave me great satisfaction in the manner in which he acquitted himself. He speaks and writes Spanish, French and English, and is a firm and brave and prudent man.". The commandant resided at Fort Celeste which was situated on the Mississippi River and erected in 1789 under the supervision of Don Pedro Foucher. A Spanish garrison was always maintained here and the names of some of the Spanish soldiers have been preserved in the New Madrid archives, principally as witness. Fort Celeste was originally constructed near the river bank, altogether unmindful of the fact that the river at this point washed away the land. Gradually the intervening land between the river and the fort disappeared and in 1796 when Gen Collot visited New Madrid a part of the structure had tumbled into the river. The old fort had been evacuated and a new fort constructed away from the river.History of S. E. Mo, Houck
[Submitted by: Sue src.#2 - 2008]
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