Santa Cruz County Biographies

THOMAS W. WRIGHT

Submitted by Kathy Sedler

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm

 
        I doubt if any other man in California has served as long as a public 
official as the gentleman whose name is at the head of this sketch. He was 
elected county surveyor of Santa Cruz County in the fall of 1850, and, with the 
exception of four terms, covering a period of eight years, when he was compelled 
to decline the office because of defective vision, held the office continuously 
until 1890. So great was his popularity that frequently he had no opposition, 
although he has always been a steadfast and consistent Democrat, and the county 
is hopelessly Republican. Thirty-two years of official life is a record of 
historical importance. It is needless to add that his knowledge of this county 
is extensive. He is familiar with nearly every section of land in this county, 
familiar with the county's topography, familiar with the county's geology, a 
subject in which he takes more than ordinary interest, and equally entertaining 
whether discussing reminiscences or anecdotes of early times or discoursing upon 
the character of some peculiar geological formation of some strange fossil. 
Possessing a retentive memory, he has a fund of interesting and useful 
information, and I take this occasion of acknowledging the receipt of much data 
from him which has been found valuable for this publication.
        He was born October 29, 1824, near Minden, Louisiana, being a descendant 
of Revolutionary sires. His grandfather on his mother's side was a Virginian by 
the name of Wilson, who, on September 19,1781, helped to repulse the British at 
Yorktown. His father's people were of Irish ancestry and natives of South 
Carolina. Mr. Wright was reared in Western Arkansas, being the son of a farmer. 
His education was not neglected, although the educational advantages at that 
time were meager. He studied surveying when a youth, and responded to the call 
of his country at the time of the Mexican War, going to the front as the first 
sergeant of Company "G," Arkansas Volunteers. He was in General Wool's command 
in Buena Vista, and fired the first gun in that memorable encounter. He was in a 
position to see the entire battle, and his description of it is filled with 
interest, particularly so as the writer has never heard a detailed description 
of the battle of Buena Vista. In the latter part of the war he was in the 
quartermaster's department, serving a year. Returning home, he came to 
California in 1849, to Santa Cruz the last day of the year, and has lived here 
ever since, holding the office of county surveyor, as above noted.
        When he arrived here, there were only two houses where the main business 
part of Santa Cruz is now situated. One of them was a log house, near where the 
City Hall now stands, owned by Eli Moore. The other was a store made of boards 
and belonging to Elihu Anthony. All the other buildings were adobes, located on 
the hill in the vicinity of the Mission, where the Catholic Church now stands. 
At that time there were not more than a dozen American children in the town. Mr. 
Wright was the treasurer of the first Sunday school in Santa Cruz, and always 
has been very much devoted to children. He never married, never had time, so he 
says. He still performs the duties of his profession, although at the last 
election he declined to again be a candidate for the county office which he had 
so long held. His long service in the field has developed a proficiency which 
makes him unexcelled as a surveyor.
        Mr. Wright has taken a commendable interest in young men who have 
evinced a desire and willingness to get along in the world; and among others who 
have had the benefit of his experience and teaching in the science of surveying, 
are Mr. Perry, the present county surveyor, Charles Pioda, a bright young man 
who is the chief engineer of the Santa Cruz, Garfield Park, and Capitola 
Electric Railroad, and Lawrence Williams, youngest son of E. L. Williams.
 
HISTORY OF SANTA CRUZ COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.-  E. S. Harrison, 
Pacific Press Publ. Co., San Francisco, 1891