Miami Union

August 24, 1911 

WRIGHT, JUDGE CALVIN D. - Calvin D. Wright, former common pleas judge of Miami county and former mayor of the city of Dayton, died at 11 o'clock Saturday morning at his residence in Dayton.  He had suffered from diabetic trouble for some time, and had been troubled with dizzy spells at certain periods.  His condition did not, however, confine him to his bed until he fractured his hip in a fall about a week before his death.  He was one of the most widely known public men in this section and his death was a great shock to his many friends both in Dayton and here at his old home in Troy.  Calvin D. Wright was born near Troy, January 7, 1842, spending his early life on the farm and securing his early education in the country schools, later attending the grammar schools of Troy and completing his education in the Normal university of Lebanon.  He then taught school in Miami county until 1870, when he was elected justice of the peace, which office he held for four years, at the end of which time he was elected prosecuting attorney of Miami county, having begun the practice of law upon taking the office of magistrate.  Making a most capable prosecutor he was promoted to the common pleas bench where he served the people of Miami county satisfactorily for several years.  Sixteen years ago he removed from Troy to Dayton where he formed a law partnership with George W. Ozias.  Judge Wright had been a lifelong Republican and in Dayton continued to take an active interest in politics.  In 1902 was elected president of the city council and re-elected to the same office in 1904.  Upon the death of Mayor Charles Snyder, who was drowned in White Fish lake, near Port Arthur, Ontario, Canada, October 24, 1906, Judge Wright, as president of council, became mayor of the city by natural process of law.  As chief executive of the city, as in his administration of all public positions which he held previously, Mayor Wright was ever faithful to the trust and confidence placed in him; was at all times for clean, wholesome, business like conduct in all public positions, legislative, executive and administrative.  While serving as justice of the peace in Miami county, Judge Wright was married December 18, 1873, to Jennie S. Street, of Troy.  To this union was born two sons and two daughters, one son dying in infancy and the other three children, with Mrs. Wright, living to survive father and husband.  The children all of whom reside in Dayton are William B. Wright, auditor and office manager of the D. P. Clark Toy works, and who was secretary to his father in the mayor's office, and later served as secretary of the department of health for 18 months; Mrs. Daniel E. Nauman and Mrs. Frank E. Van Wormer, who, with her husband, reside with her parents. One granddaughter, Margaret Wright, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William B. Wright, and three sisters, Mrs. Albert Wagner of Des Moines, Ia.; Mrs. Sabie Black of Leroy, Ill.; and Mrs. Maggie Will of Washington, D. C., also survive.  Judge Wright served in the army during the Civil war, was held a prisoner for a considerable period during the war, and, at the end, was credited with an excellent record.  He was a member of the G. A. R., the Montgomery County Bar association and also the Masonic fraternity, having joined this organization in Troy and transferring his membership to the Dayton lodge upon moving to that city.  He was an attendant of Grace M. E. church in Dayton.  The funeral was held in Troy Tuesday afternoon the body arriving in a special car over the D. & T. and being taken to the M. E. church.  Accompanying it were the family, many members of the Montgomery county bar and many other friends of the dead man.  Assembled at the church were members of Coleman Post, G. A. R., members of the Miami county bar and others who came to pay a last tribute to one who had long been their friend and associate.  The services which were quite simple were conducted by Rev. M. B. Fuller, pastor of Grace M. E. church in Dayton and Rev. J. E. Beery, pastor of the Troy M. E. church.  Interment was made in Riverside cemetery.

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