Wright, Richard J. (1847-1914)

WRIGHT, WALKER, BURT

Posted By: C. Tucker (email)
Date: 7/9/2016 at 18:09:59

Evening Times Republican
Marshalltown, IA [Saturday 5-2-1914] p. 7

"DICK" WRIGHT DEAD
Early Colored Barber of City Succumbs to Long Illness

After being a helpless invalid for over seven years, Richard J. Wright, one of the early colored barbers of the city, and a resident of Marshalltown since about 1865, died at the county hospital at 5:45 Friday evening of complications arising from a paralytic condition. Mr. Wright was stricken with paralysis seven years ago Feb. 10. Five weeks ago a second stroke was suffered, and two weeks ago Friday Mr. Wright was taken to the county hospital for treatment. Like many other colored men born in the days of slavery, Mr. Wright had no very complete record of his birth. He was born in 1847, in Richmond, Va., and his mother, a young slave, died when her son was a baby. Mr. Wright's father was a white man, the master of his mother. In 1862 Wright, in Company with two other colored lads, was brought to Cedar Rapids as union refugees. John H. Stibbs, who enlisted in Company K, First Infantry, and who was later made captain of Company D, Twelfth infantry, and still later became a major and colonel of the Twelfth, was the man who brought Wright north. He was taken into the family of James Bever, a pioneer banker of Cedar Rapids, and was employed by Mr. Bever as a coachman and general all-around man. About 1865 Wright, then a lad of about 17, came to this city and learned the barber business under "Uncle Joe" Walker, who was destined to become Wright's father-in-law. Wright worked for Walker seven or eight years, and then went into business for himself under the City Bank, now the First National. After several years in that shop Wright moved to under the Western Union Telegraph Company's office, now the site of the Iowa Savings Bank, First avenue and Main, where he was in business for twenty years, or until he was stricken with paralysis. Mr. Wright is survived by his widow and three of his eight children. Mrs. Wright was formerly Sarah Walker and became the wife of Mr. Wright May 4, 1869. The living children are Herbert Wright, for five years past United States consul at Puerto Cabello, Venezuela, and four years consul at Utila, Honduras; Miss Myrtle Wright, who is a patient at the county hospital; and Fred Wright, of Davenport. The eldest son, Clarence, and the first, second and youngest daughters, Stella, Blanche, and Ruth, died in infancy. Flossie, the fourth daughter, became Mrs. S. L. Burt, and died in Clinton Jan. 27, 1908. Funeral services will be held from the Methodist church Sunday afternoon at 2:30, in charge of Rev. R. F. Hurlbut. Burial will be in Riverside.