Martha Duggan Gibbs was the oldest of seven children born to George Duggan Gibbs and Ellen Phillips Gibbs. She was born on 15 December 1844 at Haverfordwest, Pembroke, Wales. Her mother was the first convert to the church in her family. She had her window open and heard some missionaries preaching on the street. As she listened to their message, she was convinced that what they said was true. She immediately told the members of her family. The gospel had such an affect upon her; it seemed to even change her outward appearance. Her husband's brother, John Duggan Gibbs, said that it was a testimony to him of its truthfulness. The whole family turned their eyes toward Utah and every effort was made to immigrate. Martha was the first of her mother's family to have that privilege. When she was eighteen years old she crossed the ocean in the ship Cynosure in company with her uncle John Duggan Gibbs and family. Upon landing in New York they proceeded immediately to Florence, Nebraska, where they assembled for the trip across the plains. They were assigned to the Thomas E. Rick's company and arrived in Salt Lake City 4 October 1865.
Martha came directly to Paradise as she had made arrangements to help her friend from the Old Country, Mrs. William Thomas, who was expecting a new baby. She stayed with her until 23 February 1864, when she was married to John Fish Wright. She lived with her husband's family a short time before they built a house of their own. Her first child was born before her parents were able to immigrate. They were living up in Old Paradise and her husband was called to be an interpreter and minute-man in protecting the early settlers from the Indians. He was called out at night a great deal and Martha was very nervous.
When she was called to be president of the Relief Society she was living across the street from the church square. They had moved down to the present site of Paradise with the other settlers for better protection from the Indians. Later she and her husband acquired a large farm north of town. It was here she raised her ten children. Through her frugality and industry she helped her husband become one of the influential farmers of the valley. In 1891 she moved to Hyrum, her husband having been called to be Bishop there. She was a great help to him in this and other responsible positions he held there, serving the first two years herself as president of the Relief Society and helping with the arduous tasks of dispensing of perishable tithing merchandise.
She had a testimony of the Gospel and was blessed with the gift of faith. During her long life she had many manifestations shown to her of its power. She lived near to her Heavenly Father. At her last sickness she said she did not see why He did not take her home, as she had told Him she was ready.
Martha G. Wright was an ideal wife and companion, an excellent homemaker, trained in all the arts to assist her to achieve success. She could even make coats and suits for her family. She was always tidy and neat about her personal self'; she was just and hospitable. Her home was always an attraction to her grandchildren and she always had some good thing for them to eat. They sought her companionship and homely nourishing food. How well we all remember her raisin buns with caraway seeds in them. She always gave us one. In her later life, at the death of her daughter-in-law, she took four of her children into her home to raise with the aid of her unmarried daughter Dora.
She possessed unusual talents, especially the gift of discernment. Her large family looked to her for her judgment in all matters, in spite of her retiring nature and small stature. She had a keen sense of humor which effectively balanced her otherwise practical nature. She always wore a fresh white apron and some soft ruffle at her neck.
She died 5 May 1928 at the age of eighty-four in Logan, Utah, surrounded with her family which she had lived to see grow to maturity, and to grow in an appreciation of the Gospel she had left her native land to embrace.