Ionia County MI Archives Obituaries.....Wright, Jennie M. 1904
************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/mi/mifiles.htm
************************************************

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Marilyn Ransom mlnransom@chartermi.net August 20, 2012, 8:08 pm

The Ionia Standard, Friday, August 12, 1904

Mrs. Oren C. Wright, a long-time and highly respected resident of this city, 
died at 10 o’clock on Tuesday.  Her maiden name was Jennie M. Rutherford, and 
she was born in Porter township, Niagara county, N.Y., March 4, 1846.  She 
came to Michigan with her parents, who settled in Tuscola county, in 1854.  
She first came to Ionia in 1866, and was a teacher in the city schools, under 
Prof. Hutchins, in 1867.   

She was married in Vassar to Oren C. Wright, Dec. 24, 1870.  To them were born 
two children, the elder, a daughter, dying in Lansing at the age of 5 ˝ years; 
the son, Earl is a resident of the city, and well known.  Their first home was 
in Ionia, but they subsequently moved to Colorado and later to Dakota, in 
hopes of improvement to Mrs. Wright’s health, which was always delicate.  For 
the last 20 years they have been residents of Ionia.  

Ten years ago she was injured in a runaway, and has been an invalid since, 
tuberculosis developing.  She has been a constant sufferer, patient and 
uncomplaining.  She was a charter member of the Rebekah lodge, and the second 
one to hold the place of noble grand.  She became a member of the M. E. church 
at the age of 18, and lived a faithful Christian life.  In all the relations 
of life she was a true woman, deserving the love and confidence so freely 
given by those who were in close relations with her life.  

Besides her husband and son she leaves three sisters, one in California, one 
in Tuscola county, and one in Grand Rapids, and a brother in Oregon.

Subsequent Publication: Friday, August 19, 1904

Funeral services for Mrs. O. C. Wright at family residence Division street, 
Thursday afternoon, was largely attended, members of the I.O.O.F. and Rebekah 
lodges being present as organizations, besides many other friends, testifying 
to regard for the decedent and sympathy for the living.  The services were by 
Rev. M. L. Fox and Rev. D. A. Jewell, each of whom gave some particulars of 
the life of Mrs. Wright, with remarks upon her work and influence as a 
Christian woman.  The music was by Mr. and Mrs. Horace B. Peck.  The 
arrangements for the funeral were mainly made by decedent, including the 
choice of text, the singers, and hymns.

Mrs. Wright had a marked taste for poetic composition, and produced many 
pieces of more than ordinary merit.  Mr. Fox quoted the following, written by 
her in 1899, when her condition was critical, as expressive of her sentiments:

I do not want a costly shaft
  To tower above my head;
Nor a long eulogy
  To extol me when I’m dead;
But preach to the living
  And warn them to be good,
And on a plain white stone engrave,
  “She only did what she could.”

The orders sent beautiful floral pieces, and the casket was literally buried 
in the floral testimonials from the large number of personal friends.

Interment was in Highland Park cemetery, where the burial services were in 
charge of the Daughters of Rebekah, the brothers of I.O.O.F. taking a minor 
part.  The bearers were: W. W. Inman, W. L. Beals, G. B. Fleming, E. W. More, 
W. B. VanVilot, and J. C. Taylor.

Friends present from out of city included sister of decedent, Mrs. A. M. Link 
of Grand Rapids, Mr. and Mrs. Cornelia Courter and Mr. and Mrs. C. A. Shayer 
of Saranac, Mrs. C. M. Powell of Grand Rapids, Mrs. Minnie Gibson of Lansing, 
and Miss L. E. Kimball and Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Kelly of St. Johns.


File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/mi/ionia/obits/w/wright19007nob.txt

This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/mifiles/

File size: 4.0 Kb