Two Wrights Showing Assumptions are Wrong
Growing up on the corner of corner of Center and Maple in Paxton we were always aware that we lived in a historic neighborhood. The house directly north of ours was in the Wylie/Burton/Condit family for many decades until it was sold in the 1970's to a new family in town, the Kaye's. The Italianate house was built by a man named George Wright. He was an important part of the early history of Paxton. George Wright came to Paxton early in the 1860's starting a store on the northwest corner of Pells and Market streets. Here he built the first brick building in the town. He was also a large land owner in and around Paxton. Besides owning property in Paxton, he owned a large farm west of town consisting of 1,400 acres and other land as well. He operated a private bank also. This bank was to become the First National Bank of Paxton and later the Frederick Bank. Ironically it occupies the building that was George Wright's store. Besides the many positi...