Edward A. Enright

EDWARD A. ENRlGHT. - Of the many men who have attained emimnence at the Kansas bar, achieving distinct success through their own efforts, special mention should be made in this volume of Edward A. Enright, a prominent lawyer of Kansas City. A man of broad mentality and strong personality, he has made his influence felt in legal, business and political circles, and as a man and a citizen is held in high regard. A native of New England, he was born September 11, 1858, at West Burke, Caledonia county, and grew to a vigorous manhood among the rugged hills of his native state.

Rev. Joseph Enright, his father, was born at Kilrush, county Clare, Ireland, in 1817. In early manhod[sic] he immigrated to America, the land of bright promise, crossing the ocean in a sailing vessel and landing in Quebec. His parents were members of the English church, and he was brought up in the same religious faith. Soon after his marriage he joined the Methodist Episcopal church, and for more than forty years thereafter was engaged in ministerial work, holding pastorates in different places. He died in Windsor, Vermont, in 1894. He married Catherine Weir, who was born at Waton, province of Quebec, Canada, in 1824, and died in Vermont, March 5, 1867. Nine children were born in their union, five of whom are now living, Edward A. having been the sixth child in succession of birth. After her death, Rev. Mr. Enright married for his second wife Hannah Abbott, who belonged to a prominent and well known Vermont family, and to them two children were born, both of whom are living. Mr. Enright's grandfather, Archibald Weir, a native of Scotland and a Methodist minister, lived to be nearly one hundred years old.

Acquiring his preliminary education in the common schools of his native state, Edward A. Enright was graduated from the Windsor, Vermont, high school with the class of 1878, after which he further advanced his studies at Thetford Hill Academy. In the meantime, being, determined to obtain a college education, he set about earning the means to do so, and worked as opportunity afforded in cotton factories or an farms, and taught evening schools. Subsequently entering the University of Vermont, at Burlington, he was there graduated with the highest honors in 1882. Beginning his professional career as an educator, Mr. Enright taught school with eminent success in Woodbury county, Iowa, and in Boone county, Nebraska. He became prominent in educational circles, and held positions of note in Nebraska, serving as superintendent of the Boone County schools, as president of the State Teachers' Association, and being president of the North Platte Summer Normal Institute for three years.

Taking up the study of law, Mr. Enright was admitted to the bar in 1886, and soon after located at Kansas City, Kansas, where he has since been actively and sucessfully[sic] engaged in the practive[sic] of his profession. He has ever evinced a warm interest in local affairs, and in 1890 was made chairman of the Republican committee. In 1898 Mr. Enright was elected county attorney, and held the office four years. In 1902, in November, he was elected to the state legislature, and again in 1906 had the honor of being elected to represent his district in the same law making body. Fraternally Mr. Enright is an active member of the Royal Neighbors, and has held the highest offices of that order.

On July 27, 1888, Mr. Enright was united in marriage with Myra B. Brewer, who was born in Mauston, Juneau county, Wisconsin, a daughter of Henry C. and Martha Brewer, she being the oldest of a family of three children. Mr. Brewer was born and bred in New York state, while his wife was a native of England. Migrating with his family to Wisconsin, he was for awhile employed as a lumberman in Mauston. From there he removed to Illinois, and a few years later settled in Red Cloud, Nebraska, where he was engaged in the grain business until his death, in 1900. His widow is now a resident of Kansas City, Kansas. Mr. and Mrs. Enright have one daughter, Myra Alice.