B. W. WRIGHT
B. W. WRIGHT, deputy county treasurer of Marquette County,
Michigan, is one of the best known men of Marquette County, with an acquaintance
extending generally over the Northern Peninsula, where he has lived, chiefly in Marquette,-for the past 47 years. -Since
1882 he has
served almost continuously in the county treasurer's office, either as
county treasurer
himself or as deputy.
Mr. Wright was born July 14, 1838, at Plympton, Plymouth County,
Massachusetts, and received a High School education in the Bay State.
He
came to this region from Springfield, Massachusetts, in 1855, locating
first
in Ontonagon County but removing a year later to Marquette County. His
first employment was had in the Sault Ste. Marie Canal Company's land
office, at Ontonagon, and later he worked with that company for some
years
at Marquette. He was with the Northern Iron Company for some years,
and was also engaged in mercantile business at Ishpeming, Marquette
County. In 1882 he entered the county treasurer's office as deputy, and
was
later elected as county treasurer, in which office he served over four
years.
He served as treasurer again from 1892 to 1896. During the intervening
and subsequent periods, he has acted as deputy. His services have been
very
valuable to the county on account of his long connection with the
office,
which has made him thoroughly familiar with all the details and
intricacies
of the work. He is most highly regarded as an upright and conscientious
official and as a good citizen without reproach.
Mr. Wright has been twice married. Both of his companions were
from Massachusetts. Of his seven children, five are residents of
Marquette
County. The record is as follows: W. M., who resides at Battle Creek,
Michigan, where he is engaged with a food manufacturing concern;
Herbert B., who is located in Yellowstone Park, as a member of a
government
engineering corps; Mrs. Sarah Bilkey, of Ishpeming; Edith M., who is
attending Marquette Normal School; Bertha, a graduate of the University
of Michigan at Ann Arbor, who is principal of the High School at
Republic, Michigan; Morgan H., who is attending Armour Institute at
Chicago,
and fitting himself for the profession of mining engineer; and
Katherine,
who is attending the public schools of Ishpeming, where the family
resides.
Mr. Wright is a Republican by convictions and long association with
the party. He has served in a number of offices outside of the one
where
he is now, having been township supervisor, mayor of Ishpeming and
member of the School Board, being secretary for some time of the last
named.
He is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen of Ishpeming and
is known as a faithful attendant of the Presbyterian Church.
Mr. Wright would not be a thorough-going business man of the Northern
Peninsula if he were without connection with some mining company.
The Barasa Iron Company was organized some 10 or 12 years ago, and Mr. Wright has been with this company since
its organization, as secretary and treasurer.
Source: Biographical Record, Houghton, Baraga and Marquette Counties. Chicago: Biographical Publishing
Company,
1903. |