Volume 7 , Issue 37

1920 - A Good Father Called Home...

[Taken from Renfrew's Record, dated January 2, 1920, frontpage.] -- "Dr. J. M. Wright, one of our most highly respected citizens, died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Louis Miller, 827 Seventh Street, Monday evening, December 29, 1919, at 11:30 o'clock.

He had been in failing health for several years, but it was only the weakness incident to his advanced age. he was weaker than usual the past two weeks and as the end came he quietly folded his hands across his breast and fell asleep.

Dr. Jesse Martin Wright, son of Rev. William and Amelia Hull Wright, was born on a farm near Lewiston, in Fulton County, Illinois, April 7, 1836, and was 83 years, 8 months and 22 days old at the time of his death. He grew to manhood in his native county.

On the breaking out of the Civil War Dr. Wright responded to President Lincoln's first-call for 75,000 men for a term of three months. When mustered out he immediately enlisted in the 15th Iowa Inft., and served as assistant surgeon of that regiment. He was engaged in the great battle of Shiloh, April 6-7, 1862, but his work was chiefly in field of base hospitals.

Dr. Wright and Miss Mahala A. Wilson were married at Canton, Illinois, January 29, 1863.

At the close of the war Dr. Wright moved to Iowa and located at Osceo, Ia. In 1877 he moved to Cowday county, Kansas, and practiced his profession at Arkansas City, Burden and Tisdale, until the death of his beloved wife, April 23, 1902. The last 18 years of his life was spent in the home of his son-in-law and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Louis Miller of this city. The Doctor was the son of a Methodist preacher and from early childhood he was a loyal and devoted member of that church. He was regular in attendance at church and liberal in contributing to the church finances. He was also a regular attendant of the Sunday school and was one of the charter members of the Commercial Class. he was unanimously chosen president of the class at its annual elections for many years and held that position at the time of his death. He was also a member of the Masonic order.

The Doctor belonged to a family of four boys and four girls, three of the boys being physicians. One of the brothers, Dr. W. T. Wright, of Cedarvale, Kansas, and two sisters, Mrs. P. H. Snively, of Lewiston, Illnois, and Miss Hattie L. Wright, of Newton, Kansas, survive the Doctor.

Doctor and Mrs. Wright were the parents of four children, two of whom, Geo. E. Wright of Blackwell, and Mrs. Blanche Miller of this city, survive their father.

Funeral services were held in the M.E.Church Wednesday afternoon at 3:00 o'clock, conducted by the pastor, Rev. E. C. Anderson. The Commercial Class of the M. E. Synday School attended the services in a body and six-pall bearers were selected from that class. The floral offerings were profuse and beautiful. The church was crowded with members of all churches and other friends who came to pay their respects to the memory of one of Alva's most honored citizens.

The remains were shipped over the Santa Fe the following morning to Tisdale, near Winfield, Kansas, to be laid beside those of the beloved wife in the quiet cemetery there.

The sympathies of hosts of friends are with the bereaved family in the loss of a kind and loving father."   |  View or Add Comments (0 Comments)   |   Receive updates ( subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

---