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This 1888 cabinet card by Knowlton Bros. of Northampton, Mass., captures a tender Victorian-era portrait of Jane Caroline Reed and her young son, David Sanders Wright. Jane, appearing poised and maternal, wears a dark, high-collared silk dress accented with a delicate lace ruffle and a brooch, her hair styled in the tightly curled fringe popular in the late 1880s. A toddler-aged David sits beside her on a draped pedestal, dressed in a traditional white lace "shortening" gown and holding a small slate or toy to keep him still for the long exposure. The photograph is a quintessential example of late 19th-century studio portraiture, characterized by its soft sepia tones and the formal, slightly off-camera gaze of the subjects.
Jane Caroline Reed(1846-1936) (W3)
Jane Caroline Reed(1846-1936) (W3)
Birth: February 12th, 1846 in Whately, MA
Father: Benjamin Franklin Reed (1819-~1883) (W6)
Mother: Sarah Wheeler Sanders (1823-1918) (W7)
Married: David Joy Wright(1851-1908)(W2) on October 8th, 1879 in Northampton, MA.
Children:
Death: February 24th, 1936 in Northampton, MA
This mid-1850s daguerreotype captures Lucy (left) and Jane Caroline Reed (right) in a tender, sisterly pose characteristic of the era, likely taken at the studio of J.D. Wells in Northampton, Massachusetts. Lucy wears a light-colored, off-the-shoulder gown with distinct dark banding at the neckline and sleeves, while Jane Caroline sits in a darker, patterned dress with her arm draped protectively over her sister’s shoulder. The image is framed by a decorative, scalloped brass mat that bears the photographer's embossed mark at the bottom, though time has left its signature through the silver-oxide clouding and tarnishing that sweeps across the plate. Despite the atmospheric "haloing" and surface wear, the girls' direct gazes and the intimate positioning of their hands provide a hauntingly clear window into a quiet moment of American childhood from nearly 170 years ago.
This mid-to-late 1860s Victorian carte de visite captures a young woman, identified as Jane Caroline (or possibly Lucy) Reed, in a formal studio setting that epitomizes the American Civil War era. She is dressed in a dark, high-collared gown featuring delicate ruffling and a small brooch, with her hair styled in a traditional center part that was highly fashionable for the period. A particularly charming detail is the small, light-colored pet—likely a kitten—resting in her lap, while a decorative straw hat adorned with ribbons sits on the patterned carpet at her feet. Although the photograph shows significant age-related damage, including a large vertical tear and surface loss on the left side, the sitter’s steady, composed expression remains remarkably clear, providing a poignant window into her life and the photographic conventions of the 19th century.
1846-1870
1846-1870
Jane was born in Whately, MA on February 12th, 1846 to Benjamin Franklin Reed and Sarah Wheeler Sanders. She was the oldest child in the family, followed by Lucy Amy Reed (1848-1918) and Albert David Sanders (1852-1947)
The 1850 U.S. Census shows her living in Whately with her father, mother and sister (Albert had yet to be born). By 1855 they the family had moved in with Jane's Grandparents, David Sanders, Amy Wheeler Sanders, and her Aunt Lucy S. Sanders. A maid, Mary Grace, was also living in the home. She was 24 years old from Ireland. Oddly, Jane's sister does not appear to be living in the house.
In 1860, the family is still living with Jane's Grandparents and aunt. There is a different individual living with them, Sarah Barrett, age 22 from England. I assumed she was a servant save for one oddity in that she is listed as owning $200 dollars in land and $200 in personal property. Still no sign of Jane's sister Lucy.
Some time after the census was taken in 1860 and before the draft rolls were collected for the Civil War in 1861, Jane's father moved to New York. This is the last we hear from him, and he represents a family mystery.
Jane's Grandfather past away in 1864 and by 1865 the remainder of the family had moved to Northampton, MA. This included Jane's mother, grandmother, aunt and brother. The women don't appear to be employed and are listed as being ladies. The have a different servant, Ellen Sullivan, who was from Ireland and 20 years of age. Their living arrangements where similar in 1870 according to the U.S. Census. The only change was that they had a different Irish woman as a servant. Namely Maggie Shannon, age 19.
Jane copied poems into a poem book in the 1860 and 1870 which I am transcribing here.
Whately, MA
Northampton, MA
This late 19th-century studio portrait captures the Wright family in a formal, triangular composition against a draped Victorian backdrop. Jane Caroline Reed sits to the left in a patterned gown featuring the era's signature "leg-o'-mutton" sleeves and a high collar, while David Joy Wright sits to the right in a dark three-piece suit accented by a visible watch chain. Their elder son, Edward Wright, stands prominently in the center-back wearing a dark jacket and bow tie, and the younger son, David Sanders Wright, is seated at the forefront wearing a suit with a wide, white Fauntleroy collar. The image is a classic example of "Cabinet Card" era photography, reflecting the family's middle-class status through their poised expressions and fashionable, high-quality attire.
1871-1900
1871-1900
Jane appears to have continued living with her mother until she got married on October 8th, 1879 to David Joy Wright at age 33. She and David moved in with David's parents and lived there until David's father died in 1883. At that point, they, including her mother-in-law, moved to 19 West Street. I believe both children where born at this house. The older son, Edward Nims, was born April 3rd, 1884 and the second, David Sanders, was born November 16th, 1887.
Sometime in 1887, the family moved to the 67 West Street address. Her mother was living next door at 59 West Street. Her mother-in-law passed away in 1894. The family remained at 67 West street for the rest of her life. In 1900, they had a live in servant, Nellie Conway from Ireland.
19 West Street
1901-1936
1901-1936
On March 2nd, 1908, her husband past away, leaving her as head of the household with two sons. Her older son, Edward had returned from college and her younger son, David was just about to graduate high school. Soon after this, her mother, aunt, and sister moved in with the family. the 1910 census had them also living with a 19 year old nurse, Viola Thayer. Viola appears to have been born in Massachusetts. Jane is listed as owning the house, but having a mortgage on it.
Later in 1910, her Aunt Lucy passed away. David went off to college and then joined the Army in World War I. Both her mother and sister passed away in 1918. By 1920, according to the 1920 Census, she and Edward were the only ones in the house. She is listed as owning the house without having a mortgage.
Latter that year, David S., his wife Florence, and their new daughter moved back to the 67 West Street house. The 1930 Census shows them all living at the house with the addition of 3 more grandchildren. Jane's last grandchild was born that year. Jane is not listed as owning the house, but her son David is shown head of the household as renting the property. My superstition is that they only asked the head of the household the ownership questions and therefore did not ask Jane. It is likely that David was paying rent to his mother.
Jane died on February 24th, 1936 at age 80. I have not gotten a hold of here death certificate yet so don't know what the cause of death was. See is buried along side her husband and son Edward in Bridge Street Cemetery.
The image shows a small, weathered newspaper clipping with a sepia-toned, aged appearance and some staining at the top. The headline reads, "ADVISORY COUNCIL OF EXTENSION SERVICE MEETS," followed by a subheadline about the Homemakers' Department electing officers at Smith's School. The body text details a meeting of the Hampshire County Extension Service, mentioning attendees and new members like Mrs. David Wright and Mrs. Philip Parsons. The paper's rough, torn edges and faded typography suggest it is a historical artifact or a preserved family memento from the early-to-mid 20th century.
ADVISORY COUNCIL OF EXTENSION SERVICE MEETS
Homemakers' Department Has Session at Smith School
The First quarterly meeting of the coming season of the work done by the advisory council of the Hampshire County Extension service, homemakers' department, was held Thursday afternoon at the Smith's Agricultural school cottage, with Miss Hazel, member of the council, as hostess. Six of the eight members of the board were present and at this time two members were elected, one to fill a resignation, and one new addition. These two are: Mrs. David Wright of West street, this city, elected as new member, and Mrs. Philip Parsons of Southampton, elected to fill the resignation of another member, Mrs. Charles Kisiel, of Ware.
Officers of the board were elected as follows: Mrs. Clifton John-
nan; Mrs. Herbert Mascho of Westhampton, vice-chairman, and Mrs. Joseph Cook of Hadley, secretary.
The purpose of the advisory council is to supervise and and advise a specified district of the county. The county is divided into eight districts, M[ILLEGIBLE]ss Roos, because of other duties, not having this year special district. The other eight members of the board, with their districts, are: Mrs. Percy Tuller of Grandby, representing South Hadley, Grandby and Greenwich; Mrs. Joseph Cook of Hadley, representing Amherst, Hadley and Pelham; Mrs. Clifton Johnson of Hadley, representing Ware, Belchertown and Enfield; Mrs. Herbert Mascho of Westhampton, representing Westhampton and Huntington; Mrs. H.D. Stanton of Chesterfield representing Chesterfield, Middlefield and Worthington; Mrs. C.J. Thayer of Cummington, representing Cummington, Goshen and Plainfield, and the newly elected members, Mrs. Philip Parsons of Southampton, representing Southampton, Easthampton and Williamsburg and Mrs. David Wright
I am not sure when this article was written or if the Mrs. David Wright referenced was my Grandmother Florence Edna Smith Wright or my great grandmother Jane Caroline Reed Wright. Given the apparent age of the paper and the reference to Smith's Agricultural school, which was founded in 1909, I suspect it was Great Grandmother Jane. The clipping does not include the full article. I suspect Mrs. David Wright was representing Northampton but the article is cut off. Here is the full scanned document.
Obituary
Obituary
MRS. JANE C. WRIGHT
Mrs. Jane C. (Reed) Wright, 90, mother of Councilman Edward N. Wright and Coach David S. Wright of Northampton high school, died in her home, 67 West street, this noon, after a long illness. She was born Feb. 12, 1846 and, at the age of 18 came to Northampton, where she made home since that time. She married David J. Wright, who died in 1908. She leaves besides her sons, one brother, A.D. Sanders, of Easthampton, and five grandchildren. The funeral will be held at the home, 67 West street at 2:30 o'clock Wednesday afternoon. Rev Albert J. Penner, pastor of the Edwards Congregational church, of which Mrs. Wright had been an active member, will officiate. Burial will be in Bridge street cemetery, this city.
This 1873 map of Northampton, Massachusetts, meticulously identifies the interconnected professional and domestic lives of the Asa Wright family within the town's evolving 19th-century landscape. The highlighted markers reveal a clear geographical triangle between the family's residence and their labor: Asa Wright’s House is situated in the lower-left residential block, just south of the farm where he worked, which was part of the expansive Northampton Lunatic Hospital property. Meanwhile, the family’s commercial presence is noted at David Joy Wright's Store on Main Street in the upper-right corner, a bustling area near the early Smith Female College grounds and the industrial curves of the Mill River. These locations, along with the specific addresses identified at 17, 59, and 67 West Street, are framed by the era's critical infrastructure, including the New Haven and Northampton Railroad tracks that cut diagonally across the terrain, illustrating a community poised between its agrarian roots and its growth as a major institutional and educational hub.
experimental personality profile
experimental personality profile
Jane Caroline Reed was likely a principled, scholarly, and observant individual. She was less interested in the ephemeral and more focused on "eternal truths" (as evidenced by the commonplace book). In a modern context, she would be described as an introverted intellectual—someone who found strength in private reflection and derived great meaning from her role as a keeper of family history and values.
Jane Caroline Reed was likely a principled, scholarly, and observant individual. She was less interested in the ephemeral and more focused on "eternal truths" (as evidenced by the commonplace book). In a modern context, she would be described as an introverted intellectual—someone who found strength in private reflection and derived great meaning from her role as a keeper of family history and values.
Intellectual Curiosity and Refinement
Intellectual Curiosity and Refinement
Jane’s "Commonplace Book" is a central piece of her legacy, suggesting she was a woman of literary and philosophical interests. Commonplace books were typically used to curate meaningful quotes, poems, and observations, indicating that she was:
Reflective and Thoughtful: She didn’t just consume information; she curated it, choosing ideas that resonated with her values.
Literate and Educated: For her era, maintaining such a record reflects a high level of literacy and a desire for continuous self-improvement and intellectual engagement.
2. Resilience and Longevity
2. Resilience and Longevity
Jane lived to be 90 years old, spanning a period of immense historical change (from the mid-19th century to the mid-1930s).
Stability: Her long life suggests a resilient nature, both physically and mentally.
Adaptability: Living through the Civil War, the Industrial Revolution, and the start of the Great Depression required a person to be adaptable and grounded.
3. Family-Centric and Nurturing
3. Family-Centric and Nurturing
Her role as a mother (to David Sanders Wright and Edward Nims Wright) and her place within the complex family tree of the Wright and Reed families highlight her as a "connective" figure.
Legacy-Minded: By keeping records and being part of a family that meticulously documented its history, she shows a deep respect for ancestry and the preservation of identity across generations.
Devotion: The survival of her personal writings through her descendants suggests she was a respected and perhaps beloved matriarch whose personal thoughts were deemed valuable enough to be preserved for over a century.
4. Disciplined and Organized
4. Disciplined and Organized
The act of maintaining a commonplace book and the structured nature of the genealogical records surrounding her life suggest a personality that valued:
Order and Routine: She likely appreciated structure in her daily life.
Prudence: Her choices reflect a steady, conservative approach to life—focusing on family, education, and the documentation of the "worthwhile."
Branch
Branch
Generation 2 (Great Grandparents): David Joy Wright and Jane Caroline Reed
Generation 1 (Grandparents): David Sanders Wright and Florence Edna Smith
Generation 0: Robert Ervin Putnam and (Florence) Caroline Wright
Descendants
Descendants
Descendants
Descendants
Generation 2: David Joy Wright(1851-1908)(W2) married Jane Caroline Reed(1846-1936)(W3)
Generation 1: Edward Nims Wright(1884-1947)
Generation 1: David Sanders Wright(1887-1967)(W1) married Florence Edna Smith(1892-1937)(S1)
Generation 0: William Leonard Grandia(1912-2005) married Catherine Sanders Wright(1920-2017)
Generation 0: David Joy Wright(1922-1991) married Rita Mary McFarland(Unkn-2015)
Generation 0: Charles Merrick Wright(1924-2008) married Charlotte Ruth Davis(1931-2023)
Generation 0: George Edward Wright(1927-2019) married Hope Gilson(1929-2012)
Generation 0: Robert Ervin Putnam(1927-2011)(P0) married Florence Caroline Wright(1930-2016)(W0)
Sources
Sources
1850 United States Federal Census, Database online. Year: 1850; Census Place: Whately, Franklin, Massachusetts; Roll: M432_316; Page: 68A; Image: .
Massachusetts, State Census, 1855, Household Number 220, Reel Number 10, Volume Number 14
1860 United States Federal Census, Database online. Year: 1860; Census Place: Whately, Franklin, Massachusetts; Roll: ; Page: 226; Image: 230.
Massachusetts, State Census, 1865, Household Number 1064, Reel Number 14, Volume Number 17
1870 United States Federal Census, Year: 1870; Census Place: Northampton, Hampshire, Massachusetts; Roll: M593_621; Page: 398B; Image: 341; Family History Library Film: 552120
Massachusetts, Marriage Records, 1840-1915
1880 United States Federal Census, Database online. Year: 1880; Census Place: Northampton, Hampshire, Massachusetts; Roll: 538; Family History Film: 1254538; Page: 447C; Enumeration District: 347; Image: 0105.
1900 United States Federal Census, Database online. Year: 1900; Census Place: Northampton Ward 2, Hampshire, Massachusetts; Roll: T623_31077_4113839; Page: 16B; Enumeration District: 0631; FHL microfilm: 1240654.
1910 United States Federal Census, Database online. Year: 1910; Census Place: Northampton Ward 2, Hampshire, Massachusetts; Roll: T624_593; Page: 2B; Enumeration District: 0698; Image: ; FHL microfilm: 1374606.
1920 United States Federal Census, Year: 1920; Census Place: Northampton Ward 2, Hampshire, Massachusetts; Roll: T625_705; Page: 10A; Enumeration District: 165; Image: 645
1930 United States Federal Census, Database online. Year: 1930; Census Place: Northampton, Hampshire, Massachusetts; Roll: 912; Page: 14B; Enumeration District: 27; Image: 638.0; FHL microfilm: 2340647.
Massachusetts, Death Index, 1901-1980,Volume Number 69, Page number 86, Index Volume Number 99, Reference Number F63.M363 v.9919 36 - Northampton - 69 86
Web: Massachusetts, Find A Grave Index, 1620-2013, Find a Grave
Captured in May 1921, this sepia-toned photograph portrays a multi-generational group of seven individuals gathered in a sun-dappled garden, creating a warm and intimate domestic scene. The composition is centered on a young woman cradling an infant in a bright white gown, surrounded by family members including Jane Reed Wright, David Wright, Florence Smith Wright, and Catherine Wright. The subjects are dressed in quintessential early 1920s attire—the women in long skirts with soft, wide collars and the man in a formal white shirt and dark tie—while the natural backdrop of lush foliage and a distant house suggests a relaxed afternoon gathering. Despite the characteristic silvering, fine scratches, and grain of a century-old amateur print, the image beautifully preserves a fleeting moment of family pride, with the small child providing the only direct, curious gaze toward the camera lens.
This sepia-toned photograph from 1921 captures a poignant family moment, showing an elderly woman identified as Grandma Wright holding a young child named Catherine in an outdoor setting. The woman, with her silver hair styled in a neat bun and wearing a dark dress with a white collar, gazes toward the camera with a gentle, weathered expression while securely cradling the toddler. Catherine is dressed in a bright white, ruffled coat or dress that stands out against the darker tones of the background and her grandmother’s clothing. The pair is positioned in front of a dense, leafy backdrop of trees and bushes, with soft light filtering through the foliage, creating a nostalgic and slightly grainy atmosphere characteristic of early 20th-century amateur photography
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