Asa Wright's obituary, Owosso, Shiawassee County, Michigan

Copyright © 1999 by Michael Brown. 
This copy contributed for the use in the USGenWeb Archives.  


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Owosso Argus Press, 23 April 1937, page 1

A.T. Wright, Sr.
Former Mayor, Taken by Death
Pneumonia Fatal to Man Who Served as Mayor for 12 Years
Ill ONLY SIX DAYS
Served City During Some of Her Most Trying Days

	Asa T. Wright, Sr., who served Owosso as mayor more years than any
other man in her history, is dead.   The former mayor expired shortly
before noon today at his home, Shiawassee and Lee streets, after illness
of only six days.   Pneumonia was the cause of death.
	Mr. Wright was taken ill last Sunday, after having attended the funeral
on Saturday afternoon of Mrs. G. L. Nutson, mother-in-law of his sister,
Mrs. Claude Nutson.   It is believed that he contracted a cold while at
work at the foundry of the Central Castings Co. that morning and that it
may have been aggravated by exposure while attending the funeral.   he
first complained of not feeling well, soon after rising Sunday morning,
and became seriously ill within a short time.   Hope for his recovery
had been held out, however, until this morning, when it became apparent
that he could not recover.
	Few of the former mayor's friends realized that he was so seriously
ill, and many of them were of the opinion that he was recovering, when
news of his passing came.
	Arrangements for the funeral services had not been made at 2 o'clock
this afternoon.
Served For 12 Years
	Mr. Wright served Owosso as mayor for 12 years or four complete terms
of three years each, spread over a period of 18 years.   He was first
elected inn 1917, the second mayor under the commission form of
government, after having served as city treasurer, then an elective
office, for four years.   Mr. Wright continued as mayor for nine years,
or until 1926, when he was defeated by O. L. Sprague.
	Six years later, he stage a political come-back, when he defeated W. A.
Seegmiller, and served until 1935, when he lost to Mayor John N. Axford.
	Mr. Wright served as mayor during some of the most trying periods of
the city's history, including the war days, a long railroad strike here,
and the worst of the depression years.   The years that he was in office
also saw some of the city's finest improvements made, including the
building of the new city hall, installation of boulevard lights, the
construction of the interceptor sewer, the improvement of Bentley Park,
the opening of Harman-Patridge Park north of the city, and the
motorization of the fire department.
Born in Ontario
	Mr. Wright was born in Kingston, Ont., on August 4, 1872, the son of
Mr. and Mrs. William Wright.   The family  came to Michigan in 1876 and
settled on a farm north of Owosso.  A year later, they moved to the
Mason neighborhood near Burton and there he grew to manhood.   He was
married while living there to Miss Alta Brown, on March 25, 1903, and
soon afterward they came to Owosso.   Mr. Wright became circulation
manager for the then Evening Argus, now the Argus Press, and was
employed by that concern for a number of years.
	Later Mr. Wright entered the real estate business as a member of the
firm of Phillips & Wright.   He continued in this work until he was
elected city treasurer, in 1914, and went from that office to the office
of mayor.
Was Friend of All
	The many years of public life put in by Mr. Wright were marked by one
outstanding characteristic, his unquestionable integrity, and his
devotion to duty.   He was also a public official who was close to the
people, and the poorest worker in the street was just as much to him as
the wealthy business man or manufacturer.   He knew virtually everyone
in Owosso at one time, either by their name or by sight, and he always
greeted them all with a hearty smile and a wave of his hand as he walked
or drove down the street.
	Probably one of the kindest men who ever sat in the mayor's chair here,
it hurt him to see people suffer for want of the necessities of life
during the worst depression years, and no one will ever know how much he
gave out of his own pocket to help them.   Those in trouble always knew
that they would find a friend and benefactor in Asa Wright.
	Officials at the city hall were shocked when they learned of the former
mayor's passing.   Mayor John N. Axford immediately ordered the flag
lowered to half staff, and said that all city offices would be closed
during the funeral.
	Since going out of office two  years ago, Mr. Wright had devoted his
time to the foundry, which be started a number of years ago and to the
growing of peppermint south of Bancroft.
Active Church Member
	Mr. Wright was a member of the First Methodist Church and had been
active in it for years.   He had a deep, rich bass voice, and loved to
sing the hymns of years ago.
	Surviving Mr. Wright are his widow, and three children: Asa Jr, Mrs.
Filbert Hartshorn, and Max Wright, all of Owosso.   He also leaves two
brothers and one sister.   They were George U. and Grant E. Wright, and
Mrs. Claude Nutson, all of this city.   Another brother, Howard Wright,
died 10 years ago.
	His son, Asa, was desperately ill with pneumonia during the winter and
for a time, he was not expected to recover, but he eventually did, after
a hard battle for life.