Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-12-14
HON. GEORGE F. WRICHTDEAD
Had Been in Failing Health for Some Time
but Critically III Only Few Days
BIG FACTOR IN AFFAIRS OF THE CITY
Instrumental I'm Starting Gas works,
street Railway and the Council
BluHs & Omaha EIec-
tric Line.

and one Of the pioneer members Of the
bar Of southwestern Iowa, died at an early
hour yesterday morning at his home on
South Sixth street, opposite Bayliss park.
after illness of about two weeks. While
his death had been anticipated for a few
days by his immediate family and a few
friends, the fact that he was critically
i'll was not known generally and the news
Of his death came as a great shock to the
community at large.
Mr.. Wright had for several years been
sufferer from a complication Of kidney
troubles, but 1t was not until the latter
part OF November that his condition be-
came alarming At that time he suffered
severe attack and was confined to his
bed. Two days ago his condition became
critical. and Wednesday morning he sank
into semi consciousness and It was evil
dent that the end was not far OF.
Mr.. Wright was 70 years OF age on De-
cember s. He is survived by his wife, two
sons-Franklin p. Wright and George s.
Wright-the latter being a member Of the
legal firm Of Wright & Baldwin, and two
daughters-Eliza Caroline Wright. who
lives at home and Mrs. william Benson
Of Dubuque. All the members of the fam
lily were at the beside when the end
came.
Funeral services will be held Sunday aft
ernoon at o'clock at the family resi-
dence 100 South sixth street, conducted
by Rev. Marcus ,. Mcclure pastor of
the First Presbyterian church, and burial
will be in Walnut Hill cemetery.
sketch of His Career.
George Franklin Wright was born in
Warren, washington county, Vermont, on
December 3, 1885, and was a son Of the late
Franklin Asher Wright, who died in this
city on October 5, 1876. Both of his parents
were Of Engllsh-Scotch ancestry. He spent
his boyhood on a farm. At the age OF II
he began his academic education at West
Randolph, VT, under the tutorage Of the
late Hon. Austin Adams of Dubuque, who
was twice chief justice OF the state. In
the spring of 1855, following his majority,
he came to Iowa and settled in Keosauqua,
Van Buren, county, where he commenced
the study of law with the firm of Wright,
Knapp & Caldwell, composed of ex-United
States Senator George c. Wright Of Des
Moines, the late Hon. Joseph c. Knapp of
Tleosauqua, who was his uncle, and ex-
Judge Henry c. Caldwell. He was ad-
mitted to the Van Buren, county bar in
| 1857. The same year he was admitted to
partnership with his uncle, Judge Knapp,
of Knapp, Caldwell g. Wright and so con-
tinued until Judge Caldwell was called to
the United States bench at Little Rock.
| Ark.
! Early in 1861 Mr.. Wright, in response to
President Lnsolns call for volunteers, en-
listed, and in conjunction with Captain
/ ]. NJ Tuttle afterwaTd general, raised
/ company of volunteers in Van Buren,
1 county, Of which he was elected first lieu
tenant, receiving his commission from the
hands Of Governor Rirkwood, known as
Iowa's 'war governor" The company be-
came part Of the Second regiment Of
Iowa volunteers.
Immediately before this, Judge Caldwell
having enlisted. the business Of the firm
J demanded MT. Weights return to Keosau-
] qua. He Immediately raised a company
of militia. was elected captain, and ten
dered the services Of the company to Gov
ernor Kirkwood for the protection Of the
Iowa border in Van Buren, county. The
| offer was accepted, and the organization
was kept intact being frequently called to
the border and into the state of Missouri,
until the rebels were driven out Of that
state, when most of the company enlisted
In and became part Of the Fifteenth regi-
ment of Iowa volunteers.
On October 26 1868, he was married in
the city OF Chicago TO Ellen E. Brooks Of
Mortified. VT, daughter of the late Josiah
Prentice Brooks.
In the spring OF 1868 Mr. Wright moved
with his family to Council Bluffs and
formed law partnership with the late
Judge Caleb Baldwin, and the firm at once
became one OF the leading law Arms OF the
state. This law connection continued up
TO the time when Judge Baldwin was APP
pointed by President Grant as one Of the
judges of the court OF commissioners or
Alabama claims, requiring his residence
in Washington, when the firm was dis
| solved.
start of Present Firm.
Mr. Wright then associated himself with
Hon. Amos J. Rising and John n. Baldwin
After several years Judge Rising retired
from the firm and removed TO Colorado
and the firm became and has since remained
Wright & Baldwin.
While ALWAYS a staunch republican and