Asher Wright | |
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| Born | September 7, 1803 Hanover, New Hampshire, United States |
| Died | April 13, 1875 (aged 71) Cattaraugus, New York, United States |
| Burial place | United Missions Cemetery, Erie County, New York, United States |
| Spouse | Martha Edgerton (m. 1831; died 1832) Laura Maria Sheldon (m. 1833–1875) |
Asher Wright (September 7, 1803 – April 13, 1875) was an American Presbyterian missionary, who worked among the people of the Seneca Nation, of the native Iroquois of the northeastern United States from 1831 to 1875. His most notable work was the extensive translation and linguistics work he did among the Seneca people.[1] Asher and his wife Laura Maria Sheldon were based in the Seneca mission on the Buffalo Creek Reservation. After 1845, they relocated along with the Buffalo Creek Seneca to the Cattaraugus Reservation following the sale of Buffalo Creek to developers from the Ogden Company. Alongside their missionary and ministry work, the Wrights recorded the Seneca language and culture. Integral to their work was the education of the Seneca people, especially teaching literacy to the people in their own language. In 1855 they founded the Thomas Asylum for Orphan and Destitute Children, later named the Thomas Indian School.[2]
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
:1was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Burich, Keith R. (2007). ""No Place to Go": The Thomas Indian School and the "Forgotten" Indian Children of New York". Wíčazo Ša Review. 22 (2): 95. doi:10.1353/wic.2007.0015. ISSN 0749-6427. JSTOR 30131236. S2CID 159954138.