Iowa
Old Press
Des Moines Register
Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa
December 6, 1895
DEATH OF GEN. ED WRIGHT
After Four Months of Suffering the Grand Old Man Passed Away at
2:25 This Morning.
A Blow to Des Moines and the State in Which He Was Loved and
Honored by All Who Knew Him.
Soldier and Statesman-His Life Given to the Public-A Long Life of
Good Deeds Brought to a Sad End.
After an illness of over four months General Ed Wright, for many
years a prominent citizen of Des Moines and of the state of Iowa,
died this morning at 2:25. He has suffered a great deal but bore
it all with the fortitude that was only one of the many strong
traits in his extraordinary make up. About a month ago he
recovered sufficiently to be able to be out of doors in his
carriage, but a short time later he lost what little he had
gained and from then on until death relieved him this morning he
was confined to his home. He has been on the point of death for
some time past and his children, relatives and friends have
feared each day that it would be his last. Last evening he had a
sinking spell shortly after sundown and from then on he gradually
lost his strength until finally all that was mortal of the grand
old man gave up the fight against the greatest of unrelenting
enemies and succumbed to death.
Gen. Ed Wright was born near Salem, Ohio, June 27, 1827. His
ancestors were English Quakers, who settled in the Shenandoah
Valley before the Revolution, and in 1820 removed to Ohio. He was
educated in the common schools and in the academy at Atwater,
Portage County, Ohio. On the 23rd of March, 1848, he was married
to Miss Martha Thompson of Ohio. In 1852 he removed to Cedar
County, Iowa. He helped to organize the Republican Party, and in
1856 was elected to the General Assembly and twice re-elected. He
entered the war as a major of the Twenty-fourth Iowa Infantry,
received his commission September 18, 1862. He served in the
Mississippi Valley at Vicksburg and the Red River Expedition. He
was mustered out at Savannah, July, 1865. He was twice wounded at
Champion Hills and at Cedar Creek. On the 13th day of March he
was brevetted brigadier general in recognition of his valiant
services. After the war he returned to his farm, but was elected
to the legislature and made speaker of the Eleventh General
Assembly. In 1866 he was elected Secretary of State, serving in
all six years, or three terms, in that capacity. In 1873, when
the new state house was commenced, he was elected Secretary of
the Capitol Commission and also Assistant Superintendent of
Construction. He served throughout the era of construction with
fidelity and ability and much of the credit for that structure is
due to him. When the Capitol Commission was abolished he was made
custodian of public buildings and property of the state, which he
held until Horace Boies was elected governor, who appointed a
democrat in his stead. His services have been appreciated and he
has had the good will of all classes of people. Two years ago he
was made a member of the Des Moines city board of public works,
an office he held until his sickness. Before that he had
superintended the improvement of the State House grounds, having
practical charge of the expenditure of $125,000. He was a charter
member of the Kinsman Post, Grand Army of the Republic, in East
Des Moines.
General Wright leaves two daughters, Miss Flora, who has been
with him all her life, and Mrs. Cleveland, who has been with him
the past year, a brother in Ohio, two brothers in Colorado, and a
sister in Colorado. His good wife died many years ago. The
funeral will be held Sunday afternoon.
[transcribed by K.W., August 2009]