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Wright, Charles

From the "The Village of Harlem: Its People, Homes and Business – 50^th Anniversary Souvenir 1856 to 1906"

"Mr. Charles Wright was born in Winfield, DuPage County, Ills., in 1864, and came from sturdy New England stock.  He moved to Oak Park in 1886, engaging in the livery business, the firm being Knapp & Wright, afterwards Wright & Cougleron.  Selling his interest in the livery business, he purchased the Adolph Westphal Bottle Beer business at River Forest.  Later he formed a partnership with Mr. Westphal in the manufacture of carbonated beverages.  He came to Harlem in 1898 and purchased a bottle beer business.  Later he purchased a saloon on Circle Avenue.  Then he bought the Abel property and built his present saloon at Elgin and Circle Avenues.  Mr. Wright is one of the most popular beverage dealers in Harlem and has a very large trade.  He is agent for the celebrated Val Blatz Brewing Co., having a large ice and storage house for same on his premises.  He has always taken an active interest in athletics.  He achieved a reputation in his younger years as a baseball player, and was at one time captain of the Northwestern League, winning the pennant for two years in succession.  He was once with the Chicago Maroons and for several years played independently in various cities.  Mr. Wright married two sisters, Minnie and Annie Schultz.  Minnie died several years ago.  He has four children, Harry and Robert, aged sixteen and thirteen; Mildred and Ruth, aged nine and five.  He was at one time on the County Constabulary force and was Chief of the Oak Park Volunteer Fire Department for five years.  At that time it was necessary to pull the hose cart by hand and frequently in order to make quick time they would stop a street car and hook on."