Eli Dexter Wight (1821 - 1895)

Born 10 Jun 1821 in Dublin, Cheshire, New Hampshire, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Octavia (Ames) Wight — married 22 Dec 1847 in Denmark, Oxford, Maine, United States

Died 11 Dec 1895 at age 74 in Lynn, Essex, Massachusetts, United States

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Biography

Eli Dexter Wight was born on June 10, 1821, in Dublin, New Hampshire, the son of Eli Wight and Fanny Chaplin.^[1]

He married Octavia Ames on December 22, 1847 in Denmark, Maine. They had the following children (born in Bridgton, Maine):^[1]

1. Jennie Berry, b. 12 Jul 1851
2. Fannie Chaplin, b. 22 Nov 1856

He died on December 11, 1895, in Lynn, Massachusetts.^[2] His obituary, published in a Bridgton, Maine newspaper:^[3]

It is with sad surprise that this community read the announcement in the columns last week of the death of a former and well-known townsman, Mr. Eli D. Wight which was at his Lynn home Wednesday, 11th inst. His last visit in town was at the time of the funeral his brother, Capt. George G. Wight, nearly three years ago.

He was then in excellent health, and bid fair to live many years. He was sick, however, some three months up to the time of his death; a fact of which few, if any, of our people here were aware.

Eli Dexter Wight was born in Dublin, N. H., June 10, 1821; and was therefore 74 years and 6 mos. old at the time of his decease. When he was a young child, his parents moved from New Ipswich, N. H., to New York, where he stayed till 15 years old, and where his father died. He then worked on a farm in Gilead, Me., several years; then, at the instance of his brother George, who had located in this village, he came here and entered the employ of Richard Gage, Sr., the noted old-time landholder and hotel man. In 1843 Mr. Wight moved to Haverhill, Mass., and entered the service of Tappan Chase, the great boot and shoe manufacturer; he remained there only a year or two, and returned to this village, where he dwelt nearly thirty years. For twenty-five years he took work from Haverhill—peg-work on ladies' shoes—and then for several years worked in the same line for his brother George who carried on a somewhat extensive local business at shoe manufacturing.

Mr. Wight served in the late war, in 1864-5, a member of Company C, Ninth Maine Vols., and had some severe experiences. After Lee's surrender, he returned to this village and resumed his life vocation. But in '67 he removed to Lynn, where he resided until his death, he still industriously following his trade of shoemaker.

He was a member of Cumberland Lodge of Odd Fellows, which he joined forty-three years ago, and held nearly every office in the Lodge, including that of Noble Grand. He was also a member of Mt. Pleasant Encampment, I. O. O. F.

In politics, Mr. Wight was originally a Whig, but was a Republican from the organization of the party till the end of life, and was ever a staunch and loyal member. In denominational affairs he was of Universalist affiliations. In business matters and in his daily walk, he was a man of honor and integrity. He was socially much liked, and he leaves a wide circle of friends to lament his departure and to honor his memory.

Mr. Wight in early life married Miss Octavia Ames, daughter of the late Joshua Ames of Denmark who survives him, as do their two children, Misses Jennie and Fannie Wight, of Lynn. Of her [sic] parents' family, he was the last survivor of six children—three sons and three daughters.

Says a Lynn paper: "The funeral of Eli D. Wight took place from his late residence, 24 Ash street, Friday afternoon, at 1.30 o'clock. There was a large number of relatives and friends present, including some from Danvers, Salem, Cliftondale, and Somerville, and a delegation from West Lynn Lodge, 65, I. O. O. F. Rev. Augustine N. Foster, pastor of the Second Universalist Church, conducted the service, and at the close the burial service of the Odd Fellows was performed by members of West Lynn Lodge. There were several beautiful floral designs. The interment was in Pine Grove Cemetery."

Research Notes

No probate records for Eli Dexter Wight were found in Essex County. McCann-752 19:06, 7 January 2024 (UTC)

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} Wight: Page 204
2. ↑ "Massachusetts State Vital Records, 1841-1925", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NWHV-Q48 : 17 November 2022), Eli D. Wight, 1895.
3. ↑ Bridgton News (Bridgton, Me.), 20 Dec 1895, Page 2

• Wight, William Ward. The Wights: A Record of Thomas Wight of Dedham and Medfield (Swain & Tate, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 1890) Page 204
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/88570426/eli-d-wight: accessed 07 January 2024), memorial page for Pvt Eli D. Wight (1821–1896), Find a Grave Memorial ID 88570426, citing Pine Grove Cemetery, Lynn, Essex County, Massachusetts, USA; Maintained by Ace (contributor 49862805).