ZENAS MERRIMAN WRIGHT (DECEASED), GRISWOLD

The late Zenas M. Wright, brother of A. J. Wright, was a thoroughly educated, earnest Christian, as well as a practical, useful citizen, and his death was not only deeply and widely lamented by those close to his private life, but was felt to be a distinct public loss to the community. He was the third son of Zenas J. Wright, and born in Noble county, Ind., August 30, 1846. At the age of twenty-one he came to Hancock county, this State, where he remained two years, removing thence to the State of Nebraska. Not finding a satisfactory location in that section of the country, in 1870 he removed to Cass county, where he took up land, and founded the homestead upon which he died on the 19th of August, 1901.

The deceased received a good education, concluding his school days by a two years' course in Adrian College, Mich. He was converted to the Baptist faith at an early age, joined the church, and felt himself called to preach the Gospel. There being no organization of that denomination when he settled in Cass county, he united with the Christian Church and remained with that body until his death.

In the early days Mr. Wright busied himself with preaching, teaching school and improving his land. On October 29, 1876, he married Fannie Oglesbee, and to their union were born three children -- Bertha, Minnie E. and Zenas L. Mr. Wright was well known and highly honored for both his abilities and virtues, and his popularity as well was attested by his public prominence, holding, at different times, all the offices within the gift of the township. In later years, when public duties were not so pressing, he developed a fruit farm, making a specialty of strawberries. Altogether his life was busy, useful and strictly conscientious, and showed both pronounced abilities and quite a remarkable versatility.


From "Compendium and History of Cass County, Iowa." Chicago: Henry and Taylor & Co., 1906, pg. 572.