The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1907-07-18
The Late Francis Wright.
"Reminiscences of Early Days in winterport

utl0 ldlO 0INlO vUlyuSS.
"Reminiscences of Early Days in Winterport.
Francis Wright, SO years old, a resi-
dent of the Odd Fellows Home, Seven
teenth and TiOga streets, died yester-
day afternoon, in the Hahnemann
Hospital, of injuries received yesterday
morning BY falling from a doorstep at
PA North Fifteenth street, where he
was visiting. He was born in Winter
port. Me-. in 1888. He came to this
city and engaged as dealer in horses.
| He was past grandmother of,HancOck
Lodge, No. 43, and of National Pales-
tine Encampment, No. 81, l. 90. F.,
and had resided at the home since July
3, 1902.-Philadelphia Paper.
Francis Wright was the son of
Francis Wright, who was baker and
had his shop on the south side of Com
mercial street, in what is now known
as the James Knox place. Mr..
Wright senior was large man. He
/ liked the boys and the boys liked him.
We used to 60 down and help him
knead his bread. His cake board was
a half circle with an upright in the
center with long bar Of hardwood Sc
cured to the upright by bolt. The
bar was beveled so that the edge was
perhaps ga of an inch, and by standing
on the outside of the circle and taking
hold of the handle the bread was knead-
ed.
the oldest son of Francis Wright,
John Wright, learned the carpenters
| trade with Adam Grant. His sister
Nancy made her home for years with
Mrs. Daniel Williams and later with
the family of DR.. Ezra Manter. She
married James Curtis, by whom she
had two sons. She died some years ago
and is survived by her husband and
children, who now live in Hampden,
Me.
Frances, the deceased was very
clever boy. 1 think he had trouble
with his knee which caused some lame
ness. He was about the age of Capt
A. E. Fernald, Col. A. K. Bolan, we'll
known resident of Castine, and the
writer. Col. Bolan went to the war as
a private and was promoted to be
Colonel of the 14th Maine. He served
with credit to himself and honor to his
regiment. He had the reputation of
looking closely after the sanitary con-
dition of his men, and while strict
disciplinarian always had an eye to their
| hoalfh and oopafort II iS cold that ho
rode some thirty miles on horseback
one night to get quinine for his men
who were sick. Col. Bolan was at one
time a refner of kerosene oil and built
up fine reputation, both in a business
way and for his oil. He had fine sum-
mer home at Castine and was noted for
kindly acts, done in quiet, unassum-
ing way. l remember him as a bare
footed boy and knew him as million
aire. His untimely and sudden death in
1906 was sad.
The few old boys still living will re-
member the Wrights, father and son,
and it is pleasure to know that the
last days of the latter were made CON
Portable in his Odd Fellows home.
Conditions have undergone marked
change since his boyhood days. Then
the stage left Bangor in the morning
passing through Aampden, Winterport
Frankfort, ETC., arriving at Belfast
about noon and leaving at one and
reaching Bangor about 6 p. n. This
was the mail stage, usually four horses
5 with a nice passenger coach, and as a
rule we'll filled. Among the drivers
, were Henry Parker, Giles Harrington
George Lancaster and Dana South.
worth. They used to cover the route
from Bangor to Belfast and return
about 81 miles, each day. The fare to
Bangor from Winterport was so to Il
cents. These drivers have made theil
last trip, and all have crossed the river
Mr.. Thomas A. Beckett of Philadel
, phia wrote to Capt. Farnsworth to
make enquiries as to Mr.. Wright, the
deceased, who had evidently received
many kindnesses from MI. Beckett,
and the old boys will all have a kind
feeling for Mr.. Beckett, who is typical
: of the Philadelphia. Philadelphia
and her citizens are noted for their
kindness, and particularly for their
loyalty to the Union cause. They es.
tablished what was known as the Coop.
er Shop Lunch Room, where it was
possible to seat and feed more than
200 men at once. l remember being
present at the time Col. Knowles
with the 18th Maine landed at Philadel
phia near the Cooper Shop. The soldiers
had an opportunity with wash bowls
and running water to put themselves
into condition for supper, and while
the band or fife and drum made Union
music the soldiers partook of their
hearty meal, served by the first ladies
of the city. Mrs. E. A. Souder was
very prominent in these matters She
was lady from Rockland, Maine 1
think her maiden name was Thatcher.
FRED ATWOOD.
Winterport, Me.