Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1902-03-10
CALLED
Away In Prime Of
Life.
Mr.. J. B. Wright Died
Saturday Afternoon.
Third President First National
Bank Dying Within 10 Years.

with pleuro pneumonia, Mr.. John B.
Wright, president of the First Nation
al Bank, died Saturday afternoon, at
his home, 562 w. Market st. The news
of his death came as shock to the en-
tire city, as Mr.. Wright was well
known, and sorrow is universal.
Public funeral services will be con.
Quoted at the house Tuesday morning
at 10 o'clock by Rev. J.L. Davies, pas
tor of the West Congregational church.
Services at the grave, however, will
be private. Interment will be maze
in Glendale cemetery.
Pail bearers will be Prof. G. r.
Wright, S. H. Pitkin, c. N. Belden,
+. w. Butler f. H Adams and Henry
b. Sperry.
All the local banks will be closed
Tuesday until IL noon. At $50 the
bankers will meet at the City National
and go in a body from there to at
tend the funeral.
The illness which resulted in Mr..
Wright's death began Tuesday morn
ing, when he was attacked with pleu-
risy. Later neuralgia set in and pueu-
monia developed on Friday. Medical
skill could not avail, and it was known
at noon Saturday that he could not
live. At best, Mr.. Wright was not a
rugged man, but his health during the
past year was apparently better than
usual.
Mr.. Wright leaves a wife and five
children. The children are Margaret
aged 12, Harriet, II; Chas., Z; Helen,
8. His father, Horton Wright, of 141
Ash st. and brother, Prof. Chas.
Wright, Of Middleburg College, also
survive him. Prof. Wright arrived in
Akron Sunday evening.
Mr.. John Baker Wright was born
April 20, 1858, at Cleveland, the son of
Horton and Susan Baker Wright. He
lived in Akron nearly all his life, and
received his education at the public
schools Of this city. At the age of 16
he began working in the First National
bank, and continued there until his
death. In 1892 Mr.. Wright was pro.
NOTED to the position of cashier of the
bank, and in January, 1895. was pro-
NOTED to the presidency. During his
presidency, the business of the bank
advanced steadily, the last official
statement showing the largest business
record in the history of the bank. The
growth of the business was such that
1t became necessary to have larger
quarters, which will be supplied by the
new banking house now being erected
on South Main st,
Only week ago. Mr.. Wright sue
ceeded his uncle, John w. Baker, in
the presidency of the Baker-NIcNIillen
Co. For long time he had been secre-
tary and treasurer of the company. Mr.
Wright also had business interests in
Cleveland, Toledo and Pittsburg, and
during his career held the positions of
president of the Enterprise Manufac.
turing Co., president ana treasurer OF
the Akron Glass and Machinery Co..
president Of the First National bank, of
Wadsworth, secretary of the Barber.
ton Belt Line Railway Co., treasurer
of the National Sewer Pipe Co., OF
Barberton, and vice president of the
Diamond Brick Co., of Barberton.
Mr.. Wright was a member of the
West Congregational church, and for
number of years was member of
the Board of Trustees. He was men,
ber of the Western Reserve Chapter OF
the Sons Of American Revolution; of
Diamond Council Of the National I'm.
ion; and of Cooper lodge of the Path,
finder.
Perhaps one of the most important
undertakings Mr.. Wright ever engage.
In was with Messrs. Chas. Baird and
VIM. McFarlin in assuming the admin
istratorship of the estate of the late
It. w. Cornell, which amounted to
something like $3O00,OO0 Mr.. Baird
is the only one of the administrators
now living. Messrs. McFarlin and
Wright. two of the administrators
had worked with Mr.. Cornell at the
First National bank. When Mr.. Cor
nell died in 1892, Mr.. MeFarlin was
promoted to the presidency, and when
Mr.. McFarlin died, in 1895, Mr.. Wright
| became president Of the bank. Nothing
has yet been said abot successor to
Mr.. Wright.