Source: News-Journal, February 13, 1941

OLDEST MINISTER DIED MONDAY

Funeral services for the Rev. John H. Wright were held this afternoon at the Walnut Street church of the Brethren with the Rev. H.L. Hartsough in charge assisted by Pres. Otho Winger and Prof. Edward Kintner. Burial was in Fairview cemetery.

The Rev. Mr. Wright served for sixty-seven years as a minister in the Church of the Brethren. In point of service, he was the oldest minister of the denomination in the state. He was born east of North Manchester on February 18, 1850, to Catharine and Peter Wright, and would have been ninety-two years of age next Tuesday.

He was baptized into the church in March, 1874, and was elected into the ministry two months later, May 30, 1874, when he was twenty-four. The election took place in Joseph Lesh's barn where the Ogan's Creek congregation was holding meeting. Some time later the brick Organ's Creek church was built. It was a short distance south and east of Servia. The Rev. Mr. Wright served there, later going to Huntington and Rossville. The Ogan's Creek church was torn down five or six years ago.

The Rev. Mr. Wright moved to North Manchester about 1912 and was presiding elder at the Walnut Street Church of the Brethren for many years. He served often on committees at the annual conferences of the church and was many times the moderator at the district meetings. He was ordained into the eldership on February 12, 1881.

His marriage to Lucinda Shock occurred on October 17, 1875. One daughter, Mrs. Etta Butterbaugh, survives. It was at her home that he died on Monday evening. There are seven grandchildren, fifteen great grandchildren, and one great great grandchild. Also surviving are a sister, Miss Lizzie Wright and three brothers, I.B. Wright and Marion of North Manchester and Frank Wright of Phoenix, Arizona.

The Rev. Mr. Wright often spoke of standing at the graveside of a neighbor, Levi Hawkinsmith, who was the first person buried in the Fairview cemetery where he was buried today.