Dr. Charles Olmsted Wright, (USA)

Dr. Charles Olmsted Wright, MD, (USA)

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Dr. Wright was a native of Columbus, Ohio, born on December 26, 1835, oldest child of Dr. I. Marmaduke Burr Wright and Mrs. Mary L. (Olmsted) Wright. Her father, Philo Hopkins Olmsted, was in his day one of the most prominent men in Central Ohio, and for many years was editor of the Ohio State Journal, of that city. The elder Wright was the famous physician of that name, who spent a large part of his professional life in this city, and is appropriately noticed in our chapter on medicine in Cincinnati. He survived until August 15, 1879, when he died here, full of years and honors. Mrs. Wright is still living, in a hale and vigorous age.

Charles was but three years old, when the family was removed to Cincinnati by a call to his father to occupy the chair of Materta Medica in the Ohio Medical college. His primary and in part higher education was taken in the public schools of the city, but stopped when a member of the Hughes high school without graduating, in 1852, with the intention of accompanying his parents to Europe. This intention was abandoned, for the sake of the younger children, who needed his care; and he took instead a special course of one year in the Ohio Wesleyan university at Delaware. Leaving this institution in 1853, he began practice in civil engineering at the tunnel then being constructed under Walnut Hills, as is elsewhere related in this history; but was soon compelled by ill health to seek a more quiet, indoor life.

In 1855 he began the study of medicine with Dr. W.W. Dawson, with whom he read for a year, when, under friendly advice, he went to California and engaged in merchandizing there for about six months, during which he had great experience of the rough and tumble side of life. He was presently burnt out, however, losing his entire stock, and was then seized with the spirit of adventure, pushed across the Pacific to the Sandwich Islands and thence to the Chinese coast, where he enjoyed a breadth and minuteness of observation then not often vouchsafed to a foreigner. Thence he made his way home the rest of his journey around the world, via Japan, Siam, Calcutta, Bombay, through the Chusan Archipelago, the island of Manilla and along the west coast of Africa.

From San Francisco to Cincinnati he occupied three years with his voyages and land journeys. While in China he found an extensive field for the observation of skin diseases, and decided that, if he followed his father's vocation, he would pay some especial attention to such ailments. Arriving at home, he promptly resumed his medical studies, becoming a member of the Ohio Medical College, and enjoying in addition the instructions of both his father and Dr. Dawson.

He took his diploma of Doctor of Medicine in the summer of 1862, went immediately before the State board at Columbus, for examination as a candidate for appointment in the army, passed it successfully, and was appointed assistant surgeon in the Thirty-fifth Ohio volunteer infantry. He was captured at Chickamauga, and for three years was detained as a prisoner at Atlanta and in the famous Libby prison, at Richmond. He was, however, as a medical man, allowed some favors, and was presently released by special exchange, arranged by his friends at "Washington. He rejoined his regiment at Chattanooga, during the cold winter of 1862-3 and the starvation period experienced by the army there. He resigned on the day of the Battle at Kenesaw Mountain, during the Atlanta campaign, from ill health, and returned home. He had then reached the full grade of surgeon.

Returning home, he was made a resident physician in the Cincinnati hospital, and also went into private practice. In this he had his father's invaluable advice and aid, and soon undertook the same specialities of practice—obstetrics and diseases of women and children. He became a member of the staff of the Good Samaritan hospital and lecturer on skin diseases, and was afterwards one of the physicians in charge of the dispensary. He has always maintained a large private practice, but has found time to write occasional papers for the professional societies and press, and is an active member of the Cincinnati Academy of Medicine, the Obstetrical Society and the State Medical Society.

He has been called to much service as a medical examiner for the large life-insurance companies, having been examiner, among others, for the Mutual Benefit of New Jersey for sixteen years. He is supreme medical examiner of the Knights of the Golden Rule for the United States, and grand medical examiner for the Ancient Order of United Workmen in Ohio. He does not take a very active part in politics, but retains his membership in the Grand Army of the Republic.

Dr. Wright was married, in March, 1870, to Miss Eva, daughter of David K. and Ann Eliza Cady, of Cincinnati, the former a member of the city school board for thirty years. They have three children living, and one, a little girl, in the grave. The surviving children are David Cady, a boy of nine years; Marmaduke B. (named from the paternal grandfather), in his fourth year; and Ann Eliza (from the maternal grandmother), aged two years. Mary L. died an infant in 1874.

Source: 1789 - 1881 History of Cincinnati, Ohio, with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches - Publ. L. A. Williams & Co. - Page 442

Name Dr Charles O Wright
Gender Male
Birth Date 26 Dec 1835
Birth Place Cincinnati, Ohio
Enlistment Date 15 Aug 1862
Discharge Date 18 Jun 1864
Death Date 29 May 1893
Death Place Cincinnati, Ohio
Burial Date 31 May 1893
Burial Place Spring Grove Ave., Ohio, USA
Cemetery Spring Grove
Rank Assistant Surgeon
Branch of Service Army
Spouse Eva Cady

Name Charles O Wright
Gender Male
Marriage Date 11 May 1870
Marriage Place Hamilton, Ohio, USA
Spouse Eva Cady
Film Number 000355093

Ohio, U.S., County Marriage Records, 1774-1993