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.