From the 1882 and 1907 Pottawattamie County Histories
This township, situated in the eastern part of the county, was organized on the 14th of October 1873, by order of the Board of Supervisors. It comprises Congressional Township No. 75, Range 38. It is drained by Walnut Creek flowing through its center and the East Nishnabotna in the southeastern part of the township.
There is no major town in Wright township, nor can it boast of a railroad connection. It is generally a rural farming area. Early township officials: C. W. Forrestall, N. Sucksdorf and Jackson Lewis, trustees; M. L. Northrup, clerk; Isaac Spiker and Cyrus Boiler, justices of the peace; H. W. Rarey, assessor.
FIRST EVENTS
- Settlers: 1855: Alexander Evans, Granville Pearson, Amos West,
Edward Dean, and Charles Fenner. 1856: William Van Ripper and Samuel Place; 1857: L. A. Burnham - Death: —— the child of a Campbell family
- Marriage: 1858, April; Henry Shank and Sophronia Dean
- Birth: 1858, May 22; Jesse Van Riper, later Mrs. Wright
- Business: Erected by Levi Mills and established as a tavern on Dec 22, this building later was kept by Mr. Whipple as a station house for the accommodation of the Western Stage Company on their route from Des Moines to Council Bluffs. To the west of Whipple station, J. B. Deloy established a small store and a post office which became known as “Whipple.”
- School: 1857: Section 2, township 74; then the “Dean” school in Subdistrict #7
- Teacher: Harriet Howard and later, Georgiana Hardenberg, who became the wife of Warren Dean
- Prominent citizens: Eli Clayton who had one of the largest farms in 1882.
- Church: 1872, August. Methodist. Organized by the Rev. Mr. Adair.