Andrew Jackson Wright, second son of Josiah and Sarah (Sherman) Wright, was born in Enfield, Connecticut, Wednesday, June 8, 1842, and died in Springfield, Massachusetts. March 14, 1895. When he was eight years old his parents were drawn to Springfield, the magnet for all the country about. He attended the local schools and graduated from the high school in 1860. This was in the days when Ariel Parish left his mark on a generation of boys who became leading citizens. Then young Wright began his business life, and served two years in the Springfield postoffice. He entered the locally famous Company A, Forty-sixth Regiment, August 15, 1862, served his term of enlistment, and was honorably discharged after a year's service. His acquaintance with postal work led to his being detailed as clerk of the army post-office at Newbern.
In 1864 he began his long connection with the Springfield Fire and Marine Insurance Company as bookkeeper, and for this institution he rendered faithful and efficient service in that capacity until April 9, 1872, when he was elected treasurer of the company, and all his future became identified with it. In December, 1890, he was elected a director to fill vacancy caused by the death of N. A. Leonard, and was also made vice-president at that time. Mr. Dunham, who had succeeded Dwight R. Smith in 1880, had a high regard for Mr. Wright, and came more and more to confide in and rely on him. On the death of Mr. Dunham, in 1891, there was no question as to who ought to succeed him, and Mr. Wright was called to the duties of the presidency. From that time forward his time was closely devoted to the work of the office, and everything indicated a long and successful administration when he was cut down in the prime of life. He caught a severe cold which settled in his head, and resulted primarily in influenza, suppuration of the middle ear and mastoid cells: and secondarily in septic meningitis, from which he died after an illness of three weeks. Mr. Wright was thoroughly identified with the local life of Springfield. He was always manly and upright, and his progress in business was steady and his success fairly earned by hard work and perfect fidelity to each task undertaken. All his life was clean and open and wholesome after the New England ideals. He had come to be one of the strong men of the city, and was expected to grow into a still larger place in the respect and confidence of the community when his career of usefulness came to a sudden conclusion. Mr. Wright was an ardent Republican, and before his business duties became so absorbing he took a somewhat active part in politics, and served as chairman of the city committee and as president of the Ward Five Republican Club. He also did admirable work in the city government as member and president of the common council, in which body he served in 1877-78, holding the presidency in the latter year. In short, he was public spirited and alive to the duties of good citizenship. He was long identified with the South Church, active on committees, and interested in all that concerns its welfare. He was a member of both the Winthrop and Nayasset Clubs. His business associations outside of the insurance company included a directorship in both the Agawam National Bank of Springfield and the Franklin County National Bank of Greenfield, while he was a trustee and member of the finance committee of the Hampden Savings Hank.
Andrew J. Wright married, South Manchester, Connecticut, May 22, 1867, Mary Jane Case, born in what is now South Manchester, Connecticut, March 6, 1835, daughter of Charles and Mary Ingals (Clough) Case, who died May 19. 1908. They were the parents of five children: Fred Case, born March 1, 1868; Grace Sherman, May 21 1870, wife of H. H. Bosworth of Springfield; Harry Andrew, Royal Josiah, August 22. 1875; Josephine Mary, October 28, 1878, wife of James M. Gill, of Springfield.
In 1864 he began his long connection with the Springfield Fire and Marine Insurance Company as bookkeeper, and for this institution he rendered faithful and efficient service in that capacity until April 9, 1872, when he was elected treasurer of the company, and all his future became identified with it. In December, 1890, he was elected a director to fill vacancy caused by the death of N. A. Leonard, and was also made vice-president at that time. Mr. Dunham, who had succeeded Dwight R. Smith in 1880, had a high regard for Mr. Wright, and came more and more to confide in and rely on him. On the death of Mr. Dunham, in 1891, there was no question as to who ought to succeed him, and Mr. Wright was called to the duties of the presidency. From that time forward his time was closely devoted to the work of the office, and everything indicated a long and successful administration when he was cut down in the prime of life. He caught a severe cold which settled in his head, and resulted primarily in influenza, suppuration of the middle ear and mastoid cells: and secondarily in septic meningitis, from which he died after an illness of three weeks. Mr. Wright was thoroughly identified with the local life of Springfield. He was always manly and upright, and his progress in business was steady and his success fairly earned by hard work and perfect fidelity to each task undertaken. All his life was clean and open and wholesome after the New England ideals. He had come to be one of the strong men of the city, and was expected to grow into a still larger place in the respect and confidence of the community when his career of usefulness came to a sudden conclusion. Mr. Wright was an ardent Republican, and before his business duties became so absorbing he took a somewhat active part in politics, and served as chairman of the city committee and as president of the Ward Five Republican Club. He also did admirable work in the city government as member and president of the common council, in which body he served in 1877-78, holding the presidency in the latter year. In short, he was public spirited and alive to the duties of good citizenship. He was long identified with the South Church, active on committees, and interested in all that concerns its welfare. He was a member of both the Winthrop and Nayasset Clubs. His business associations outside of the insurance company included a directorship in both the Agawam National Bank of Springfield and the Franklin County National Bank of Greenfield, while he was a trustee and member of the finance committee of the Hampden Savings Hank.
Andrew J. Wright married, South Manchester, Connecticut, May 22, 1867, Mary Jane Case, born in what is now South Manchester, Connecticut, March 6, 1835, daughter of Charles and Mary Ingals (Clough) Case, who died May 19. 1908. They were the parents of five children: Fred Case, born March 1, 1868; Grace Sherman, May 21 1870, wife of H. H. Bosworth of Springfield; Harry Andrew, Royal Josiah, August 22. 1875; Josephine Mary, October 28, 1878, wife of James M. Gill, of Springfield.
Andrew Jackson Wright, second son of Josiah and Sarah (Sherman) Wright, was born in Enfield, Connecticut, Wednesday, June 8, 1842, and died in Springfield, Massachusetts. March 14, 1895. When he was eight years old his parents were drawn to Springfield, the magnet for all the country about. He attended the local schools and graduated from the high school in 1860. This was in the days when Ariel Parish left his mark on a generation of boys who became leading citizens. Then young Wright began his business life, and served two years in the Springfield postoffice. He entered the locally famous Company A, Forty-sixth Regiment, August 15, 1862, served his term of enlistment, and was honorably discharged after a year's service. His acquaintance with postal work led to his being detailed as clerk of the army post-office at Newbern.
In 1864 he began his long connection with the Springfield Fire and Marine Insurance Company as bookkeeper, and for this institution he rendered faithful and efficient service in that capacity until April 9, 1872, when he was elected treasurer of the company, and all his future became identified with it. In December, 1890, he was elected a director to fill vacancy caused by the death of N. A. Leonard, and was also made vice-president at that time. Mr. Dunham, who had succeeded Dwight R. Smith in 1880, had a high regard for Mr. Wright, and came more and more to confide in and rely on him. On the death of Mr. Dunham, in 1891, there was no question as to who ought to succeed him, and Mr. Wright was called to the duties of the presidency. From that time forward his time was closely devoted to the work of the office, and everything indicated a long and successful administration when he was cut down in the prime of life. He caught a severe cold which settled in his head, and resulted primarily in influenza, suppuration of the middle ear and mastoid cells: and secondarily in septic meningitis, from which he died after an illness of three weeks. Mr. Wright was thoroughly identified with the local life of Springfield. He was always manly and upright, and his progress in business was steady and his success fairly earned by hard work and perfect fidelity to each task undertaken. All his life was clean and open and wholesome after the New England ideals. He had come to be one of the strong men of the city, and was expected to grow into a still larger place in the respect and confidence of the community when his career of usefulness came to a sudden conclusion. Mr. Wright was an ardent Republican, and before his business duties became so absorbing he took a somewhat active part in politics, and served as chairman of the city committee and as president of the Ward Five Republican Club. He also did admirable work in the city government as member and president of the common council, in which body he served in 1877-78, holding the presidency in the latter year. In short, he was public spirited and alive to the duties of good citizenship. He was long identified with the South Church, active on committees, and interested in all that concerns its welfare. He was a member of both the Winthrop and Nayasset Clubs. His business associations outside of the insurance company included a directorship in both the Agawam National Bank of Springfield and the Franklin County National Bank of Greenfield, while he was a trustee and member of the finance committee of the Hampden Savings Hank.
Andrew J. Wright married, South Manchester, Connecticut, May 22, 1867, Mary Jane Case, born in what is now South Manchester, Connecticut, March 6, 1835, daughter of Charles and Mary Ingals (Clough) Case, who died May 19. 1908. They were the parents of five children: Fred Case, born March 1, 1868; Grace Sherman, May 21 1870, wife of H. H. Bosworth of Springfield; Harry Andrew, Royal Josiah, August 22. 1875; Josephine Mary, October 28, 1878, wife of James M. Gill, of Springfield.
In 1864 he began his long connection with the Springfield Fire and Marine Insurance Company as bookkeeper, and for this institution he rendered faithful and efficient service in that capacity until April 9, 1872, when he was elected treasurer of the company, and all his future became identified with it. In December, 1890, he was elected a director to fill vacancy caused by the death of N. A. Leonard, and was also made vice-president at that time. Mr. Dunham, who had succeeded Dwight R. Smith in 1880, had a high regard for Mr. Wright, and came more and more to confide in and rely on him. On the death of Mr. Dunham, in 1891, there was no question as to who ought to succeed him, and Mr. Wright was called to the duties of the presidency. From that time forward his time was closely devoted to the work of the office, and everything indicated a long and successful administration when he was cut down in the prime of life. He caught a severe cold which settled in his head, and resulted primarily in influenza, suppuration of the middle ear and mastoid cells: and secondarily in septic meningitis, from which he died after an illness of three weeks. Mr. Wright was thoroughly identified with the local life of Springfield. He was always manly and upright, and his progress in business was steady and his success fairly earned by hard work and perfect fidelity to each task undertaken. All his life was clean and open and wholesome after the New England ideals. He had come to be one of the strong men of the city, and was expected to grow into a still larger place in the respect and confidence of the community when his career of usefulness came to a sudden conclusion. Mr. Wright was an ardent Republican, and before his business duties became so absorbing he took a somewhat active part in politics, and served as chairman of the city committee and as president of the Ward Five Republican Club. He also did admirable work in the city government as member and president of the common council, in which body he served in 1877-78, holding the presidency in the latter year. In short, he was public spirited and alive to the duties of good citizenship. He was long identified with the South Church, active on committees, and interested in all that concerns its welfare. He was a member of both the Winthrop and Nayasset Clubs. His business associations outside of the insurance company included a directorship in both the Agawam National Bank of Springfield and the Franklin County National Bank of Greenfield, while he was a trustee and member of the finance committee of the Hampden Savings Hank.
Andrew J. Wright married, South Manchester, Connecticut, May 22, 1867, Mary Jane Case, born in what is now South Manchester, Connecticut, March 6, 1835, daughter of Charles and Mary Ingals (Clough) Case, who died May 19. 1908. They were the parents of five children: Fred Case, born March 1, 1868; Grace Sherman, May 21 1870, wife of H. H. Bosworth of Springfield; Harry Andrew, Royal Josiah, August 22. 1875; Josephine Mary, October 28, 1878, wife of James M. Gill, of Springfield.
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