William L. Wright in 1913

WILLIAM L. WRIGHT, Dayton, Ohio.
William L. Wright, who is one of the runners on the Wells-Fargo Express of the Cincinnati Division, is a man who commands the respect of all, both as an engineer and a man. The thirty-five years he has been in the employ of the Erie has but proved his worth and given him an opportunity to establish a record as one of the best engineers in the service. He was born in Dayton, Ohio, August 6, 1843, and was the son of John Wright, a merchant of that place. He secured a fine common school education, having attended school until he was 18 years of age. He then learned telegraphy at Pittsburg, and for two years was operator on the Cleveland & Pittsburg at Pittsburg. In 1863 he quit telegraphy and accepted a position as fireman on the Oil Creek Railroad. He ran between Titusville and Cory, Pennsylvania, for a year, and then went to Richmond, Ohio, where he was given a similar position on the Erie. A year later, in June, 1865, he was promoted to engineer and since then his advance has been continuous until now he has a run on one of the most important trains on the road.

On December 26, 1864, he was married to Miss Mary J. McCune, daughter of Henry McCune, a blacksmith of Pittsburg. They have a family of five grown children, whose standing in life and standrd of intelligence reflect high credit upon the parents. Edward Boalt Wright, the eldest, is 30 years of age, and is trainmaster on the D. & I. Division of the Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton; John M., aged 27, is train dispatcher at Dayton; Walter L., is a popular dentist of Dayton; Mary E., aged 20, is a graduate of Dayton High school; William H., aged 18, is a clerk in the National Cash Register Works. Mr. Wright is an influential citizen of Dayton, and is a member of American Mechanics' Senior and Junior Orders; Knights of Honor; of Dayton Lodge No. 147, F. & A. M.

Excerpted from: "American Locomotive Engineers, Erie Railway Edition," H.R. Romans Editor; Crawford-Adsit Company Publishers, Chicago, IL 1899.

From the September, 1913 issue of Erie Railroad Magazine:
RETIRES AFTER 50 YEARS.
On August 6th last (1913), engineer William L. Wright of the Cincinnati Division, celebrated his seventieth birthday. During the same week he made his last run on the Erie, after serving the company well and faithfully for 50 years. He was retired only because he had reached the age of 70. He is a robust man and boasts that he has not been attended by a physician in 40 years.

The point to consider in the career of engineer Wright is, that during his long term of service he was never injured, nor did he ever cost the company anything for damages resulting through any fault of his.

Mr. Wright began his service with the Erie when it was known as the Atlantic & Great Western, in 1863, his first work being that of telegraph operator at a little station called Wadsworth, the first point west of Akron, Ohio, while the railroad was being put through. From there he went on the Oil Creek road as engineer, then a branch of the Erie, his run being from Titusville to Corry.

Mr. Wright's run then took him to Richwood, O., near Marion, where hauling for ballasting the track occupied a summer, while the system was being completed into Urbana, thence on into Dayton.

Mr. Wright was next given a run into Dayton, on the Erie, which had graduated from its older name to that of the N.Y.P. & O., and has been a habitue of this division of their tracks ever since, with the exception of a nine months run between Galion and Kent.

Of all the men who have been employed during his length of service with the Erie, only three still remain on the road, Joe Dando, the well-known Daytonian who has his engine named for him, and Eber Gurley, who is now stationed at Marion, O.

At the time Mr. Wright went with the Erie, it was in charge of Supt. Leiford, and later he enjoyed long service under Supt. T.A. Phillips of Marion. He also served under Supt. C.A. Allen of Galion, who occupied this position for twenty-five years, and is now assistant to the general superintendent of the Erie Road.

The veteran engineer quits the road with the high esteem and friendship of a host of friends, who wish for him many more years of good health and prosperity.

From the October, 1913 issue of Erie Railroad Magazine:
AN UNUSUAL RECORD.
Although a sketch of the career of Engineer William L. Wright of the Cincinnati Division, appeared in last nonth's issue, it is repeated here because a photograph of Mr. Wright was not obtainable to accompany the original story.

Fifty years is a long time for a man to serve a railroad company in the somewhat dangerous calling of fireman and engineer, but Mr. Wright holds that record, and during that long period was never injured, nor did he cost the Erie anything for accident or damage resulting through his own negligence.

Engineer Wright is regarded on the Cincinnati Division as being a remarkable man, for the passengers riding behind him were always safe in his care. This compliment comes from so well loved a man as C.A. Allen, who, for 25 years, was superintendent of the Cincinnati Division, and was a personal friend of Mr. Wright.

In eulogizing Engineer Wright's career, Mr. Allen says:
"His retirement from active work closes the career of a remarkable man. I say a remarkable man because there are but few, if any, 'knights' of the footboard who can claim as he, with pride, honor, and distinction, the enviable record of having run his engine with such care and regard for the safety of the thousands of passengers entrusted to him, as to close his career, after all these years, with such a clean and distinguished record.

"Twenty-five years of this service was performed under me while I was trainmaster and superintendent. It is a profound pleasure for me to have the opportunity of proclaiming the efficient work of Mr. Wright. I have always had implicit confidence in him, and felt when he was on the road, every duty imposed upon him would be discharged to the minutest detail. His faithful record shows that the confidence was not misplaced or abused. His exemplary life is worthy of the emulation of those who are to follow in this great railroad work.

"Mr. Wright has a family of successful sons, and a daughter, of whom he is exceedingly proud, and well may he be. I, with his many personal friends, wish that he may be spared to enjoy them all for many years to come, and that he may have the pleasures of a complete rest from the arduous duties of the locomotive engineer, a privilege he has so justly merited."

One of Mr. Wright's sons, William, is a successful physician in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and on the occasion of a recent reception given by the Brazilian Minister of the Exterior to the American Ambassador at the President's palace, he was one of twenty Americans invited.

Another son is engaged in the coal business at Dayton, Ohio, and has routed at his father's solicitation, 500 cars of coke from Youngstown district to Dayton, via the Erie Railroad, a fact which is well worth mentioning here, as showing the loyal spirit.

At the time of Mr. Wright's recent retirement, he wrote the following letter to his old superintendent, Mr. C.A. Allen:

Dayton, Aug. 6th, 1913.
Dear Sir:-At your request I am sending a newspaper account of my service, and the only thing that I would add is that all firemen who served any length of time with me have made good as locomotive engineers.

Today I secured the shipment of some 400 or 500 cars of coke, Youngstown to Dayton, for the Erie. This has been coming via the Penn. lines.

All I want is that my daughter's name be placed on my annual pass. Can you do anything about it?
I am yours fraternally,

William L. Wright