The Portland daily press., 1869-07-07
Chri.sopher wriakt.

Chrissorher wriskf.
Three weeks ago might be seen in our
streets the tall and erect figure of this vener
able citizen, whose firm step, unsupported by
q cane, gave token of much longer protract-
ed life. But that erect form will no longer
move along the pathways of time; it is lying
low and motionless on his bier. He diel on
the morning of July 6, in the 88th year of his
age. Mr.. Wright was born in Marshfeld,
Mass, April T. 1882; he came to Portland in
1903 and worked at his trade as tailor with
his uncle, Charles Rogers, father of our fell
low-citizen of that name. On arriving at ma
turity he commenced business for himself and
opened the first clothing store for the sale of
ready made clothing which was established in
Portland; his shop was on Fore street, near
the passageway on to Central wharf. There
Joseph Mariner and our fellow-citizen
Charles Baker worked with him as appren-
tices. His store was very different from the
clothing stores of the present day, which is
branch of business of quite recent origin and
great con 7enience, supplying to all classes
wearing apparel of every description at
cheaper rate than what is called custom made.
Mr.. Wright's principal trade was that of fur
nishing seamen with the ready made articles
used in their employment, from tarpaulin
and canvass trowsers to pea jacket and bea-
yer hat He had q great run of business, and
by unwearied industry, good judgement and
rigid economy, notwithstanding embargoes and
wars which interrupted all kinds of business,
he accumulated competency and retired from
field then becoming crowded with COMPETE
tors in this useful and profitable occupation,
which has made the fortunes of many who
have pursued ii. But though retired from ac-
tive business, he was ever busy; industry and
work were ingrained in him, and he could no,
more be idle than the craft upon the ever
moving sea; and when no more useful labor
offered to him, his well cultivated garden with
its fine vegetables and beautiful flowers was
an ever recurring source of pleasure And he
never omitted his long walk, which up to the
period of his confinement, he was accustomed
to take Ave or six miles day.
Mr.. Wright was very reserved and retiring
| man; he never engaged in public or official
life he had no taste for 1t; the comfort and re-
| pose of his own home, with his excellent wife
| and children, filled up the measure of his am
| bition more full and trimming than any of
fetal station could give. He was for many
| years faithful Director in the old Bank of
Portland, and was almost the last of the sur
viving Directors of that ancient corporation,
which had at its head successively Capt. Ar
thur Mcclellan, Barrett Potter and William
Swan, all deceased. He was one Of the Trus-
tees to close its concerns. He was also an
original member of the charitable Mechanic
Association, incorporated in 1915.
In 1905 Mr.. Wright married Abigail, q
daughter of Josiah Baker, caulker by trade,
and town born; by her who died in 1856 at the
age of Is, he had large family, Of whom three
sons, franklin, Andrew of Lynn, and our
Alderman George A., and four daughters
Mrs. F. o. Libby, Susan, widow of the late
David Towle, Mrs. Elizabeth PARCEL, and
Mrs. Frances B. wife of Joshua Barrell,
alone survive. t3s@ss &cst Ssft44
1t was sad blow to Mr.. Wright when his
comfortable house on Pearl street, the birth
place of his children, his beautiful garden il
which he had spent many happy hours, the
old furnishing OF his homestead, all precious tt
him from the associations of long years was
swept away in the great fire of 1856. He fel,
now ct the age Of 81 that his condition was in
deed desolate, and he gazed with melancholy
interest upon the dismal ruins before
him. The house too in which his wife was borr
on India street, built on the site of her father
ancient house, destroyed by Mowatt in thu
bombardmeut of 1775 and owned by him wal
also victim to the fire of 1866, so that littl,
remained of the material vestiges of his youth
full DAYS or his later manhood to solace his las
declining years with their endearing associa
lions. Still he bore. all with o brave AM
calm fortitude, which only at last yielded 4
an insidious disease, which no courage soul'
battle nor skin disarm. Mr. Wright was
strictly upright and honest man; he came from
! an honest stock of Pilgrim ancestry, and wa
reared in their sterling principles which year
did not and conld not efface. ~ ~
His grandfather on his mothers side, FAC
cheus Rogers was one of six brothers and fou
sisters, whose united age was 1888 years, an av
erage of SO and two fifth years; seven of then
lived to be over 100; one 107, another 100, |
third 1O4; his grandfather died at the age Q
81. He was also the grandfather of Charlie
| Rogers now living in Portland. These age
| persens- of the Rogers family all lived ant
died in Marshfeld, Massachusetts,.
Cicero relates that when Georgias, the Leon
tine, was asked, at the age of 107, why he like
to be SO long in life, he replied, II have n
cause for blaming old age" Our decease
friend might justly have adopted this Ian
guage and added. with Lord Palmerston, tina
"dying was the last thing he should do"
Il W w.
Another correspondent furnishes the follow
ing:
We are again called upon to announce tina
another of our aged citizens has passed away
CHRISTOPHER WRIGHT, Esq, died yesterda.
evening at the residence of his daughter in thi
city, at the advanced age of 81 years. Man,
, years since Mr.. Wright retired from ACTIVE
business and has lived in retirement upon
| competency secured by Industry and persever
ance in early life. OF quiet and unassuminl
| manners, he was comparatively unknown t,
most of the younger portion of our community
, His sterling integrity led him to discharge tn
various duties Of life, whether as parent o
citizen, with fidelity; and he passes away de
servedly respected by the community. III
! was for over fifty-four years member of til,
| Maine Charitable Mechanic Association, O
which he was one of the founders, his death
only sundering his long connection with it,
He leaves family OF six children, two SON
| and four daughters, highly respected, amon(
| whom is our fellow citizen Alderman Wright