Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1911-12-26
DEATH OF SEN. WRIGHT.
Passed Away at His Home in Merrill
Last Thursday. Funeral Monday.

The people of our city were greatly
shocked Thursday evening to learn
that Senator James A. Wright had
died at O'Clock on that evening al
his home in Merrill. The senator
had been very i'll with typhoid fever
for two weeks, but his condition was
not alarming until the day of his
death.
Previous to his illness he had been
on trip to New York, and other
points and had been to Rib Lake
looking after his interests. Thursday
morning internal hemmorrhages set
in and the end came quickly.
Senator Wright was prominent
citizen of Merrill and one whom that
city could lily afford to lose. The
following brief history of deceased is
taken from the Merrill Herald:
Senator Jas. A. Wright was born
in Racine, Wis, June II, 1873, his
father, Hon. Henry w. Wright, who
was engaged in the sash and door
business in Racine, which he success
fully conducted until September 1881,
when on the suggestion of Hon. A. ii.
STANCE, Messrs. Wright and STANCE
decided to go to Merrill, where they
viewed greater opportunities in lum-
bering and the manufacture of sash
and doors. Hon. H. w. Wright sold
his Racine interests and became a
partner with Ex-Congressman Myron
H. McCord in the McCord & Wright
plant, which la6er became the III. w.
Wright Lumber company's saw mill,
planning mill and sash and door plant.
James A. Wight came to Merrill
with his parents when he was eight
years of age, since which time he has
resided in Merrill He was educated
in the public schools, and took bust
ness course at the Northern Illinois
Normal school and at the Dixon Bust
ness college. He later became asso-
ciated with the H. w. Wright Lun-
Der company, serving that firm as
vlce-president and taking charge OF
the company's logging interests on
Trout lake. In 1901, when Hon. II.
w. Wright died, James A. Wright,
became president of the I'll. w. Wright
Lumber company and in 1903, he
organized the Wisconsin Lumber
company of Littell, Washington, and
was elected president of that concern.
He was also made state manager for
the Central Leather company and all
its subsidiary companies, including
the United States Leather company,
the Rib Lake Lumber company, the
Copper River Land company, and
others. He was also one of the origin
al board of directors of the Lincoln
County bank and has remained D
member ever since. He was elected
to the state senate in 1904 and re-
elected in 1908, receiving 1928 votes
against 4, 1868 received by Matt Stapel-
ton, democratic candidate for the
senate"
He was unmarried and leaves
mother, Mrs. H. w. Wright, and
sister, Miss Nettie Wright, both of
whom reside in Merrill.
The deceased was member of Vir-
ginia Falls lodge, No. 226, f. & A. NJ;
of Merrill Chapter, No. II, R. A. NJ,
Merrill; of st. Omer Commandery,
No. 10, X. T., Wausau; of Wisconsin
Consistory, A. A. S. R., Milwaukee;
and of Tripoli Shrine, A. A. o. M. n.
S. He was member of Merrill lodge,
No. 696, B. p. 0. E., in which order,
he held the honory distinction of
Past Exalted Ruler. He was also a
member of the Knights of Pythias.
The funeral ceremonies were held
Monday afternoon from the family
residence in Merrill at O'Clock and
after brief services by Rev. Wilson
was given in charge of the Masonic
order. The remains were taken to
Racine for interment. St. Omer
Commandery No. 10, X. T., of this
city, sent an escort leaving at 2:l5 on
a special train, which was kindly
furnished by H. II. Ober Supt. of the
Valley division of the st. Paul Ry.
Co. The following Masons went up: