Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1925-12-11
PAGE COURIER
PAYS TRIBUTE
Pioneer Photographer Once Pictured
Geronimo-Was Gallant Soldier

citizen of this place, died at his home
on Water Street, just north of the
First National Bank building at
1890 p. NJ, on Tuesday Until last
Saturday Mr.. Wright had been in
fairly good health for one of his
advanced years, although his heart
had been affected to some extent
On Saturday he was taken i'll. from
phase of heart trouble. congestion
of the lungs developing later. Mr..
Wright was born at Toms Brook,
Va, December IS, 1914, and lacked
but few weeks of being eighty-one
years old. Until the last he was
active in his movements and with
possession of all his faculties mani
tested none of the decrepitude as
son, William H. Wright, manual
training instructor in the Roanoke
High Schools, came to Luray as soon
as he was notified of the serious
condition. of Mr. Wright and was
present when the end came Mr.
Wright leaves a widow and the one
son already named.
For many years Mr. Wright was
practically the only photographer at
Luray and had about all of the pat
ronage of the county in his line.
He took hundreds of pictures of
family groups and travelled to every
part of the county for this purpose
becoming known to all the people.
He settled here in 1881, forty-four
years ago and lived here ever since,
but in recent years has not followed
his calling. He was man of honor
able principles and this was evidenc-
ed by his professional work which
was of sterling value and exactly as
represented. He was a pioneer in
night photography. The February
1892, issue of the American Journal
of Photography contained repro
Vi plNbQlC VI lllC Jul lii 8
of the Luray Inn taken by Mr.
Wright This night picture, was a
perfect success and considered an
extraordinary feat at that time.
For a long time Mr. Wright serv-
ed as adjutant of Rosser-Gibbons
Camp of Luray. His Confederate
record was a valiant one, a fact at
tested by all who knew and associat-
ed with him at the time He seldom
referred to his own personal war
service and then only indirectly, but
he took an intense and intelligent
interest in all matters relating to
the civil war His recollection was
accurate and he made few if any
errors as to the officers and person
mel of Confederate organizations. In
deed. he was man of unusual in
telligence and of wide information.
He enlisted with Company E,
Twelfth Virginia Cavalry, Laurel
(Ashby's and Rosser's) Brigade
when only seventeen years of age.
Among the members of his company
was the late James H. Bushong, of
Luray, an early neighbor and life
long friend of Mr. Wright The
company was first commanded by
Capt. James Marshall, and later by
Capt. ]. C. Mckay, an uncle of
Henry R. Mckay, of Luray. All or
nearly all of the men were from
Shenandoah county, Va. The regi-
mental commander was Col Asher
w. Hartman, of Staunton Next in
command was Lieut-Col. Thomas
E. Massie, of Washington, Va, faith
er of Wade H. Massie, of the State
Highway Commission. On account
of his youth Mr. Wright did not
enlist right at the beginning of the
war but he had been in the service
for some time when the battle of
Brandy Station took place in June
1868 He fought in this battle,
Trevilians Station, Ream's Station
and many other cavalry engage
ments. Several years ago Mr.. Wright
by our request was drawn out from
his silence about the war and wrote
a stirring article for this paper which
afterwards appeared in the Confed-
crate Veteran. The subject was the
celebrated attack by fourteen
Confederates including Mr. Wright
and James H. Bushong, made upon
a force of seventy men belonging to
Sheridan's barn-burning army. Mes
srs. Wright and Bushong were then
on furlough at their homes at Toms
Brook. These two collecting a dozen
furloughed comrades belonging to
several companies, but mainly of Co.
E, and putting one of their number,
Martin Stricken, in command, who
attacked and routed the seventy
Yankees, and later on defeated the
various reinforcing bodies. One of
the confederate party, seventeen
year-old boy named Bushong was
killed. Some years ago Mr. Wright
was appointed Assistant Adjutant
General, U. c. ", by Gen. R. d.
Funkhouser.
MI Wright was born at Toms
Brook, Shenandoah county. the son
of William and Elizabeth Wright,
and spent his early years on the
farm. He had two brothers, George
of Woodstock, now dead, and An
drew, of Bristow. Va. After the war
Mr.. Wright was a photographer at