Published October 11, 1929 in “The Ashland” Cass County, Illinois USA Font Page
Andrew Wright, one of this community’s most substantial citizens and a longtime resident of Cass County, peacefully passed away at 7:50 o’clock last Friday morning at Our Savior’s hospital in Jacksonville, at the age of 88 years, 1 Month and 18 days.
Mr. Wright had been a patient at the hospital for two weeks just before his death. Earlier in the year he was a patient there, but was able to leave it for the summer months.
It is the writer’s good fortune to have known him long and well, and we him to esteem him more highly as the years passed by. We miss his friendly greeting and genial presence. He was a man of generous impulses, and never forgot the hospitable ways of the pioneer, nor passed a friend in need.
Mr. Wright was born August 21, 1841 (sic 1842), in Tyrone County, Ireland. As a young man he came to the United States, lived for a time in Connecticut and Later in Philadelphia for a year. Then he came to Illinois and located on a farm near Alexander, where he had friends known from his boyhood days.
On Jan.22, 1872 in Alexander neighborhood, he was married to Miss Sarah A. Baxter, who passed away in September, 1924. After living in the Alexander neighborhood for a period of years they removed to a farm near Murrayville and in 1888 their place of residence was changed to Cass County on a farm west of Ashland, which thereafter remained the family home.
Mr. Wright was a successful farmer and always manifested a deep interest in community affairs. He was active in the Republican Party and in 1902 had the party nomination for the sheriff of Cass County. Mr. Wright was accounted one of the most successful citizens of Cass County: a man of strict integrity he had the faculty of making friends and keeping them. He lived a long and useful life and his final illness was due to the infirmity of age.
Mr. Wright is survived by one daughter and four sons: Mrs. Jesse McNeely, Philadelphia, Ill.; Leonard G. Wright, Beardstown; Thomas H. Wright, Maroa; Joseph A. Wright and Nathaniel W. Wright, Ashland. The oldest son, James Wright, died in 1924.
The funeral was held at 2 o’clock Sunday afternoon at the Reynold’s Chapel in Jacksonville. Rev. W. C. Meeker, pastor of Westminister (sic) Presbyterian Church, conducted the services.
Two solos were given by Mrs. Wm. Barr Brown, “Abide with me”, and “The City Four Square,” with Mrs. Ralph Hutchinson at the organ.
Flowers were in charge of Mrs. Lancaster of Virginia.
The bearers were four sons, Leonard G., Thomas H., Joseph A. and Nathaniel W. Wright: Jesse McNeely, son-in-law and James R. Baxter, a nephew.
Following the services at Jacksonville, the body was brought here and laid to rest in the Ashland cemetery.