Senator George Franklin Wright View All Years

Your committee appointed to draft suitable resolutions upon the death of the Hon. George F. Wright, late of Council Bluffs, Iowa, beg leave to submit herewith the following report:

George F. Wright was born in Warren, Washington county, Vt., December 5, 1833, and was the eldest of a family of four children of the late Franklin Asher Wright, born in Hanover, N. H., September 17, 1801, and of Caroline Susanah Wright, nee Tillottson, born in Berlin, Vt., November 3, 1807.

George F. Wright was reared and spent his boyhood on a farm in his native State and at the age of seventeen he commenced his academic education at West Randolph, Vt., under the tutorage of the late Hon. Austin Adams of Dubuque, Iowa. During his academic training he taught in the district school during the winter, as was the custom of many New England boys. He completed a preparatory course but did not enter college. In the spring of 1855, when he attained his majority, he came to Iowa and settled in Keosauqua, where he commenced the study of law in the firm of Wright, Knapp & Caldwell, a law firm composed of the late ex-Senator George G. Wright, the late Hon. Jos. C. Knapp of Keosauqua and Judge Henry C. Caldwell, now of Little Rock, Ark. In 1857 George F. Wright was admitted to the practice of law by Judge H. H. Hendershot. Immediately after his admission to the practice of law George G. Wright retired from the law firm because of his election to the Supreme Bench of Iowa, and George F. Wright became junior partner. His education, founded in the old-fashioned New England schools was rounded under the training received from his association with these eminent lawyers and jurists. Aided by their ripe business experience and by his extensive acquaintance with business affairs he became an active, persevering and successful lawyer.

In 1861 he enlisted in response to President Lincoln’s call for 75,000 volunteers and in connection with Captain (afterwards General) James H. Tuttle, raised a company of volunteers in Van Buren county, of which he was elected the first lieutenant, receiving his commission from the hands of Governor Kirkwood, at Davenport, Iowa. His company rendezvoused at Keokuk and after being some time in camp it was accepted in the second call for volunteers and became a part of the Second Regiment of Iowa Volunteers. Just before this regiment was mustered Judge Caldwell was elected major of the Third Iowa Cavalry and the business of the law firm required Mr. Wright’s return to Keosauqua. On his return, at the request of Governor Kirkwood, he raised a company of State militia, was elected captain thereof and his company was accepted by the Governor for the protection of the Iowa border in Van Buren county. This organization was frequently called to the border and into the State of Missouri until the rebels and guerrillas were driven out of the northern part of the State, when most of the company enlisted in and became a part of the Fifteenth Regiment of Iowa Volunteers.

On October 26, 1863, he was married in the city of Chicago to Ellen E. Wright, nee Brooks, of Northfield, Vt. Six children were born of this marriage and five survived after his death. In the spring of 1868 he moved to Council Bluffs and formed a law co-partnership with Judge Caleb Baldwin. After the retirement of Judge Baldwin from the firm Mr. Wright became the senior member of the firm that was then organized and remained such to the time of his death. In the practice of the law he was subsequently associated with the Hon. John F. Baldwin, now general counsel for the Union Pacific Railroad and Amos J. Rising.

Mr. Wright identified himself from the time of his advent into the State of Iowa with the politics of the State and Nation. He was always a staunch Republican and for many years a leading worker in his party, being frequently tendered a nomination as a member of the Legislature from his county and he invariably declined the honor. In 1875 he was elected as a member of this body from the Ninth Senatorial district of the State, the same being composed of the counties of Pottawattamie and Mills. After serving as a Senator in the Sixteenth and Seventeenth General Assemblies, he was again elected Senator in 1879, in the Nineteenth Senatorial district, composed of the county of Pottawattamie. He served from this district in the Eighteenth and Nineteenth General Assemblies. During his senatorial career his reputation as a lawyer and his energy and ability won for him substantial influence in this body. He was from the first a member of the Judiciary Committee and an active and industrious worker. He was ever vigilant and faithful in the trust imposed upon him, never allowing his personal feelings to swerve him from the path of duty and justice. He rendered the State faithful and competent service and his career reflected credit upon himself and honor upon his State. For many years he was Commissioner of the United States Circuit Court for the State of Iowa.

In 1870 he became actively engaged in business and from that date on he was prominently connected with large business enterprises. In 1886 he was prominently connected with the organization of the Omaha & Council Bluffs Railway and Bridge Company, the first electric railway line in the State of Iowa and the second constructed in the United States.

As a lawyer Mr. Wright was prominent, leading and able and ever loyal to the rights of his client. Gifted with sound judgment, endowed with great common-sense, possessed of a large knowledge of men and affairs, he was ever ready to meet his adversary in court or in the field of compromise, confident in his resources and ability to secure better results for his client by negotiation rather than by prolonged and expensive litigation.

He died at Council Bluffs, Iowa, on the 13th day of December, 1906, surrounded by his wife and children.

WHEREAS, George F. Wright, a member of this body in the regular sessions of the Sixteenth, Seventeenth, Eighteenth and Nineteenth General Assemblies, departed this life in his home in Council Bluffs, Iowa, on the 12th day of December, 1906; therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Senate has learned with great sorrow and regret of the death of the Hon. Geo. F. Wright, and it recognizes that in his departure the State has lost an honored and distinguished citizen, who served his State and generation with honor and credit. In his career as a member of this body he was a valuable public servant and distinguished by his ability and devotion to public duty;

Resolved, That the Senate joins with his neighbors and friends in sorrow at his loss, and it hereby tenders to his family its sincere sympathy in this hour of their bereavement; be it further

Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be spread upon the records of the Senate and that an engrossed copy, authenticated by the President and Secretary, be sent to the widow and family of the deceased.

C. G. SAUNDERS,

JAMES J. CROSSLEY,

WILL C. WHITING,

Committee.