Since 1887, when General Wright retired from active business, he resided at Columbus, enjoying the companionship of his children, grandchildren and innumerable friends. In 1846 General Wright married Miss Netta A. Taylor of Newark, a most attractive and accomplished young lady. From this most happy union four children survive: Mrs. Colonel James Kilbourne, Mrs. Frank C. Eaton, of Columbus; Miss Helen Wright, in charge of the Art department of the Congressional Library at Washington, D. C.; and Mr. James Wright, who is engaged in the railroad business at Macon, Georgia. The wife of general Wright died many years ago. The above are the bare facts in the chief events of General Wright's industrious and conspicuous career. They suggest in themselves the unceasing activity of his life, the loyalty and devotion to his country and state, the honor and character of the man, and the unusual esteem and confidence of those who occupied the highest positions in the nation and state. His ambition was of the purest and most unselfish kind. He employed his great opportunities not for his own preferment or renown but singly with the view of serving his fellow men, and faithfully discharging every responsibility that was placed upon him. Not even was he tempted during that period when temptation was great and too often made available by the avaricious and unscrupulous, to acquire riches. With all his golden opportunities he lived and died comparatively a poor man. During his laborious and responsible employment by the state, he received but a modest salary, and as evidence of the recognition of his faithful services in that critical period, the seventy-fourth general assembly endeavored to make partial recompense for his inadequate pay by appropriating (April 16, 1900), a sum in further compensation. General Wright was possessed of a remarkably cheerful disposition and hopeful temperament. His chief delight was in intellectual enjoyments, the history and literature of the past, as well as the live topics of the day and the association of congenial and high-minded friends. He was a great reader, and had, by close acquaintance with the choicest spirits of other times and peoples, stored his mind with a wealth of poetic and literary lore. With remarkable facility and tenacity of memory even to his last days he could repeat lengthy poems and passages from the masterpieces of English and classical literature. He was a man of the most optimistic and uplifting philosophy, and held fast to the firmest faith in the pervading rule of an all-wise Providence, and the final rightful outcome of all human affairs. He had the urbanity and dignity but gentle and gracious manner of a gentleman of the old school, always kindly and sympathetic, ever thoughtful and considerate of the feelings and comfort of others: and he was a thrice welcome guest equally in the circles of the old and the young. He was, at the time of his death, the oldest living member of his college fraternity, the Beta Theta Pi, and was frequently the most hon ored guest at their gatherings and re-unions. He was a member of the military order of the Loyal Legion of the Grand Army of the Republic, and of the Sons of the American Revolution, being president of the Benjamin Franklin Chapter, (Columbus, Ohio), at the time of his death. General Wright for many years past had taken an active part in the work of The Ohio Archæological and Historical Society. He was a life member. February 25, 1897, Governor Asa Bushnell appointed General Wright trustee of the Society to fill out the term made vacant by the decease of Judge William J. Gilmore. March 30, 1898, Governor Bushnell appointed Mr. Wright trustee for the full term of three years and at its expiration, April 5, 1901, Governor George K. Nash appointed the general for another full term which would have continued until February 18, 1904. Upon the death, June 5, 1899, of Rev. William E. Moore, first vice president of the Society, General Wright was elected to that office and was continued therein to the time of his death. As member, trustee and vice-president, General Wright ever took the keenest and liveliest interest in the work of the Society and the details of its affairs. No one was more faithful in attendance upon the public gatherings or the meetings of the trustees. His decease is a decided loss to the Society as well as to the community in which he lived. The writer of these lines was especially indebted to General Wright for a long and most loyal friendship. It was a pleasure and a profit to be in his presence and many a delightful hour was passed in his companionship. His kindly deeds and sunny disposition will not fade from our memory. Though he had been spared nearly two decades beyond the allotted span of man, three score years and ten, yet seemed he to have drank at the font of perennial youth for his days of the "sere and yellow leaf" were serene and bright: his was "An age that melts in unperceived decay, LIST OF LIFE MEMBERS OF THE OHIO STATE ARCHEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL SOCIETY WHO HAVE BEEN ELECTED AND WHO HAVE QUALIFIED SINCE JULY 1, 1901. Gen. Thomas M. Anderson, Sandusky. Hon. Martin B. Bushnell, Mansfield. Mr. Clarence Brown, Toledo. Mr. A. J. Baughman, Mansfield. Mr. David S. Gray, Columbus. Mr. George A. Katzenberger, Greenville. Mr. William N. King, Columbus. Rev. N. B. C. Love, Deshler. Hon D. M. Massie, Chillicothe. Prof. J. P. McLean, Franklin. Hon William T. McClintick, Chillicothe. Prof. Frank B. Pearson, Columbus. Mr. Emil Schlup, Lovell. Col. Edward L. Taylor, Columbus. Adams, John Q., Jeremy Bentham's works presented to Ohio by.. 365 Sends Bouquet to relieve Ft. Pitt. Society of, in Scioto Valley.. Allen, William, Scotch-Irish ancestry of..... "American Indians," Leonard's lecture before Society on. Americanists, Ft. Ancient visited by... Amherst, Sir Jeffrey, Gen. Gage succeeds. "Ancient works at Marietta," MacLean Anti-Federalists, Position of, on Ohio's admission. 370 305 215 .97, 190 434 433 37 19 "Are the Hopewell copper objects Prehistoric?" Moorehead. 317 Armstrong, Col. Wm., "The greatest living man," by... 105 Arnold, Benedict, Army of, in Cornwallis' Surrender. 232 Tory leadership of...... 231 Atwater, Caleb, Marietta earthworks surveyed by. 44 328 Banks, Taxing system of in 1815.. Baptists, first in Ohio... B 360 243 |