The copper era., 1902-02-06
PASSING OF A PIONEER.
Judge Anthony Wright, Pioneer,
Prospector and Soldier, Crosses
the Great Divide.

ais final reward in this city Friday
night last. Dad" Wright a. he was
affectionately called in latter years by
hundreds TO whom he had been az a
father in times OF need, was ons OF the
best known aud most highly respected
citizens OF Graham county. lie b.
came resident Of Clifton in the early
sos, before the construction OF the rail-
road from Lordsburg, and was for many
years 10 the employ Of the Arizona
Copper company, and il is generally ad-
mItted that he did more really hard
physical labor for tho company than
any other man who was eyer in It's en-
ploy. About five years ago he was
elected Justice OF the peace, position
which he held at the time Of his death.
! Anthony Wright was born at Con-
cord, Massac husetts, February - 1885.
He was the son OF Anthony and Mary
Wright, whose ancestry da ted back 10
the Pilgrim Fathers. Deceased resid-
ed under the parental roof until twelve
| years OF age, when like SO many OF the
boys who made New England famous
in all ports OF the world. he shipped
before the mast, and in few years be-
came an able seaman. In the sos he
rounded tho Horn to seek his fortunes
in the placer mines OF Golden California,
whore he followed mining until the
breaking out OF the civil war, when he
answered the call OF his country, and
with the "CalifOrnia Column" marched
from Sacramento TO Franklin, (now Ell
PasO) on the Rio Grande. He after
wards saw service in A rilOna, and was
at Prescott when the flag was raised
there, before even cabin marked the
site OF the present beautiful city. He
partici pated in battles with the Indians
throughout the territory, but after the
close of the war was honnorably dis
ing and mining. He blazed the trails
through the mountains, which many
have since followed to fortune. Haunt
ed by the sweet face of Mary Cornell.
whom he had met in Pennsylvania,
when mere lad, he returned to 1.-THE
statos" in 1868, and on the 22d day of
May OF that year, married the sweet
heart of his youth. But Il man OF his
adventuresome disposition could not
long be content with rural life at
sweet Home" 30 he again came west.
and was soon washing yellow nuggets
in Buckskin gulch, near where the
great mines of Leadville were later
discovered. He afterwards mined
through New Mexico and Arizona, al
ways attended by his faithful wife,
who shared his SORROWS and his joys.
The wife Of his youth. faithful even
unto DEATH" was with him in his last
hours, and three children, Harry
Wright, Mrs. Thomas Simpson OF Cliff
ION and Mrs. Nave of San Francisco,
remain to mourn his loss.
Dad" Wright was good man with
a character as rugged as the rock-ribbed
mountains which he loved so well, with
Il heart as tender and true As Il woman's.
Ii he had faults, his friends knew them
not
The funeral occurred from the resi-
dence of his daughter, Mrs. Simpson.
Sunday at p. IN. The funeral was
military in character, the hearse being
draped by the stars and stripes. The
two special trains thoughtfully proyid
ed by Superintendent ColquhOun were
in waiting at the depot to convey the
body, and the vast concourse of people,
(who had gathered in from the sur
rounding campsl to the cemetery. The
body was borne from the train TO the
grave by the following pail bearers:
II. A. Arbuckle, L. n. Stevens, w. II. /
Hasry II II. III. Schuman
and Ben NJ. Crawford. all old timers. |
and acting at the request OF deceased.
J udge Egan then delivered a touching
grafton over the body of his lifelong |
read the burial services of the Metho- /
dist church. y military salute was
then fired over the grave by the follow
Ing old soldiers: Theo Shirley. VIM.
Jinkius, II. +. Butterfield, Jim Smith,
Maurice McAlptne, Hugh Quinn, |
Robert Brockmaa and George chase. |
Taps" calling the old soldier to his
long rest, was then sounded, and the |
simple services were over.
The funeral cortege was perhaps the |
largest ever witnessed in Graham
people coming in from all di-
rections, to pay their last tribute of re-
g. cd f,.iapI
TRIBUTE FROM A FRIEND.
Anthony and fell in together on the Sacra
mcuto river. We were ON barge. some two |
hundred of us young fellows. We had no !
place to sleep and no blankets. II was dark aud |
raining everyone was trviug to get under cover. |
asked if there were anyone who cared 10 MAKE |
n bed with me, and Anthony Wright came 10 |
the front He told me he had blanket snd |
asked, how many have you" As l had none
was SIRE that would have IL take cold mig II |
but my fellow soldier said. let Us crawl under |
the caves of the deck and can set up with |
this blanket over us. and So VIC aid al through /
q, 81,