Evening star., 1897-04-14

Mr.. John b. Wight was born in this CITY
March 2. 1853, and has resided here all his
life. His father, o. c. Wight, was for
| many years one of the leading educators
in Washington. and many of its most prom
inent and successful citizens received the
foundations of their education at his acad-
emy. Mr.. o. c. Wight was a representa-
tive OF an old and highly respected Massa-
cEusetts family, which had been identified
with its history from the earliest colonial
days. He married Miss Buchanan of Bal
timore, member of one of the old families
of Maryland, and consequently the new
Commissioner combines In himself the
stock OF both the Puritans and the cava-
liers He was educated at his fathers
academy, and in 1867 entered business with
Leo. c. Campbell, hardware merchant,
whose establishment was on the south side
OF Pennsylvania avenue near 9th street.
He remained with Mr.. Campbell nine years,
leaving his employ at the request of DR.
Gallaudet to take charge of the business
affairs of the deaf and dumb institution at
Kendall Green.
In this capacity he developed the qualIf-
cations which had been already shown in
his former duties and under his manage
ment the affairs of the institution steadily
improved. He occupied this position until
February, 1850, having been with the in
stitution for thirteen years and resigned to
enter business for himself as q real estate
and insurance agent. Success attended him
in bota these lines. and he is at present the
agent of the Aetna and Hartford Fire In
surance Companies Hartford Conn.,, and
of the Franklin of Philadelphia.
Despite the demands of his private busi-
ness Mr.. Wight has devoted himself with
much energy to various public institutions
He was one of the original members of the
Washington board of trade. and in Decem-
Der, 1893, was made its first secretary. He
has been reelected to the position each
car since, and still holds that responsible
place. When the board was organized and
he became secretary there were Isl MEM
hers, which number has been increased to
over 800 at present couple of years ago
Mr.. Wight compiled for the organization a
handbook of Washington, of which 10000
copies were printed and distributed to visi-
tors from all parts of the country. The lit
tie volume was particularly valuable in
that it set forth concisely the relations
which exist between the general govern
ment and the government of the District of
Columbia. In addition to being secretary
of the board of trade he is the secretary
and a member of the board of directors Of
the Columbia Hospital, the secretary and a
member Of the board of directors of the
deaf and dumb institution at Kendall
Green. the treasurer of the Newsboys and
Chfldrens Aid Society, and is a member of
the board Of managers of the Sons of the
American Revolution, and also of the board
OF managers of the National Geographic
Society.
Mr.. Wight was married in October, 1888,
to Miss Anna Kumler of Cincinnati, a
daughter of the Rev. DIR. j. p. E. Kumler a.
well-known western minister President
Harrison was for four years an elder in Dr.
kumler's church, when he was stationed
In Indianapolis. Mr.. Wight represents to
superlative degree the spirit OF enterprise
and progress that has aided so much In the
advancement of the national capital. He
is careful and conservative and thoroughly
acquainted with all the interests in the
District. He is broad in his ideas and has
wide reputation for the answering 10y
atty with which he devotes his best en-
ergies to any duty that may be confided to
I0h f1,--f x~~lrz
admirable man to be appointed District
commissioner about a year ago. and men,
ton was exclusively made in The Evening
Star at the time of the favorable manner
in which he was being spoken of in that
connection. The impression had prevailed
in well-informed circles for the past eight
or ten days that Mr.. Wight would be Sc
lected, and the wider this impression grew
the more complimentary We're the opinions
expressed upon his qualifications for the
place. Today these opinions took definite
shape and are given below in interviews
secured by the reporters of The Evening
Star: