William W. Wright
Encyclopedia
William Westwood Wright (April 28, 1813 Adams
, Jefferson County, New York
- June 12, 1889 Geneva
, Ontario County, New York
) was an American politician from New York
.
He was a delegate to the 1860 Democratic National Convention
at Charleston, South Carolina
.
In 1860, he ran for Canal Commissioner
on the Douglas Democratic ticket, but was defeated by Republican Samuel H. Barnes
. Barnes died a week after the election, and the vacancy was filled temporarily by the New York State Legislature in January 1861. Wright was the Democratic candidate, but was defeated by Republican Benjamin F. Bruce
. In November 1861
he ran again, for the remaining two years of Barnes's term, and this time was elected defeating Bruce and War Democrat Frederick A. Tallmadge
. He was in office from 1862 to 1863. In 1863
, he ran for re-election, but was this time was defeated again by Bruce. In 1866, he ran again but was defeated by Republican Stephen T. Hayt
. In 1869
, he was elected again a Canal Commissioner, and was in office from 1870 to 1872.
In 1886, he was chosen Vice President of the Buffalo and Geneva Railroad.
He was buried at the Glenwood Cemetery in Geneva, NY.
Adams (village), New York
Adams is a village located in the Town of Adams in Jefferson County, New York, USA. The population was 1,624 at the 2000 census. The village is named after President John Adams....
, Jefferson County, New York
Jefferson County, New York
Jefferson County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 116,229. It is named after Thomas Jefferson, third President of the United States of America, and president at the time the county was created in 1805...
- June 12, 1889 Geneva
Geneva, New York
Geneva is a city in Ontario and Seneca counties in the U.S. state of New York. The population was 13,617 at the 2000 census. Some claim it is named after the city and canton of Geneva in Switzerland. Others believe the name came from confusion over the letters in the word "Seneca" written in cursive...
, Ontario County, New York
Ontario County, New York
As of the census of 2000, there were 100,224 people, 38,370 households, and 26,360 families residing in the county. The population density was 156 people per square mile . There were 42,647 housing units at an average density of 66 per square mile...
) was an American politician from New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
.
Life
He married Mary L. Ryker (1822–1900).He was a delegate to the 1860 Democratic National Convention
1860 Democratic National Convention
The 1860 Democratic National Convention was one of the crucial events in the lead-up to the American Civil War. Following a fragmented official Democratic National Convention that was adjourned in deadlock, two more presidential nominating conventions took place: a resumed official convention,...
at Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
.
In 1860, he ran for Canal Commissioner
Erie Canal Commission
The New York State Legislature appointed in 1810 a Commission to Explore a Route for a Canal to Lake Erie, and Report which became known as the Erie Canal Commission...
on the Douglas Democratic ticket, but was defeated by Republican Samuel H. Barnes
Samuel H. Barnes
Samuel Howe Barnes was an American politician from New York.-Life:He married Harriet Pellet and they had six children....
. Barnes died a week after the election, and the vacancy was filled temporarily by the New York State Legislature in January 1861. Wright was the Democratic candidate, but was defeated by Republican Benjamin F. Bruce
Benjamin F. Bruce
Benjamin Franklin Bruce was an American politician from New York.-Life:...
. In November 1861
New York state election, 1861
The 1861 New York state election was held on November 5, 1861, to elect the Secretary of State, the State Comptroller, the Attorney General, the State Treasurer, the State Engineer, a Judge of the New York Court of Appeals, two Canal Commissioners and an Inspector of State Prisons, as well as all...
he ran again, for the remaining two years of Barnes's term, and this time was elected defeating Bruce and War Democrat Frederick A. Tallmadge
Frederick A. Tallmadge
Frederick Augustus Tallmadge was an American lawyer and politician from New York. He was a Member of the U.S. House of Representativesfrom New York's 5th congressional district from 1847 to 1849.-Biography:...
. He was in office from 1862 to 1863. In 1863
New York state election, 1863
The 1863 New York state election was held on November 3, 1863, to elect the Secretary of State, the State Comptroller, the Attorney General, the State Treasurer, the State Engineer, a Judge of the New York Court of Appeals, a Canal Commissioner and an Inspector of State Prisons, as well as all...
, he ran for re-election, but was this time was defeated again by Bruce. In 1866, he ran again but was defeated by Republican Stephen T. Hayt
Stephen T. Hayt
Stephen Thurston Hayt was an American politician from New York.-Life:...
. In 1869
New York state election, 1869
The 1869 New York state election was held on November 2, 1869, to elect the Secretary of State, the State Comptroller, the Attorney General, the State Treasurer, the State Engineer, two Judges of the New York Court of Appeals, a Canal Commissioners and an Inspector of State Prisons, as well as all...
, he was elected again a Canal Commissioner, and was in office from 1870 to 1872.
In 1886, he was chosen Vice President of the Buffalo and Geneva Railroad.
He was buried at the Glenwood Cemetery in Geneva, NY.
Sources
- Journal of the New York State Senate 1861 (pages 68ff)
- The New York Civil List compiled by Franklin Benjamin Hough, Stephen C. Hutchins and Edgar Albert Werner (1867; page 406)
- http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/wright9.html Political Graveyard
- The Buffalo and Geneva Railroad in ELECTING ITS FIRST OFFICERS in NYT on January 22, 1882
- http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9A02EED8123BE63BBC4953DFB7678382679FDE The tickets for the state election, in NYT on November 1, 1869
- http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9805E3DB1039E733A2575BC1A96E9C946197D6CF His wife's death notice, in NYT on August 22, 1900 [gives wrong middle initial "A."]
- http://ontario.nygenweb.net/glenwoodcempart7.htm Burial records transcribed at RootsWeb