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WRIGHT, John Steven manufacturer, born at Sheffield, Massachusetts, 16 July, 1815; died in Chicago, Illinois, 26 September, 1874.

On 29 October, 1832, he arrived in Chicago with his father, and they at once established a store. In 1837 he built at his own expense, for $507.93, the first public-school building in Chicago. In 1840 he established the "Prairie Farmer," which is still in existence. In 1845 he wrote for the New York "Commercial Advertiser" numerous articles setting forth the advantages and prospective greatness of Chicago and the northwest. In 1852 he began the manufacture of Atkins's self-raking reaper and mower.

He was one of the active promoters of the Illinois Central railroad, and sent thousands of circulars at his own expense from Chicago to the Gulf, calling attention of the people to the prospective benefits of such a road through the state. He published a valuable statistical work entitled " Chicago : Past, Present, and Fu-Lure" (Chicago, 1870)