Scipio, The Little One

Orville, Katharine, and their father Milton moved to their new home in Oakwood, April 28, 1914. Orville sold the Wright Company in October of 1915, and construction for his Wright Aeronautical Laboratory at 15 North Broadway was completed December of 1916. Transition from the old office at 1127 West Third to his new office at 15 North Broadway was completed, and his involvement with Dayton-Wright Airplane Company had not yet begun early in 1917. It was an ideal time to bring a new addition to Hawthorn Hill. 

Milton Wright wrote in his diary, Saturday, March 10, 1917, "Scipio came. He weighs 16 lbs. He is a St. Bernard dog. He is a good looking puppy." (1) Milton died in his sleep less than a month later on April 3. 

Orville took Scipio to Lorin and Ivonette's residence at 331 Grafton Ave to visit his nephew and niece's home (Milton, Ivonette, Leontine, and Horace). The family lived at this location from 1913 through 1918, having moved there just one week prior to the Dayton 1913 flood. Their former home at 1243 West 2nd street saw at least 8' of flood waters. That home no longer stands. The 331 Grafton home was out of the flood range. 

Photo is identified as "A snapshot of Orville Wright's dog Scipio, a St. Bernard........A man, perhaps Orville, is standing near him......" This photo would date to 1917, as Scipio is a still a puppy. This photo was taken at the front porch step of Lorin Wright's home at 331 Grafton Ave, Dayton. Image courtesy of Wright State University Libraries, Special Collections and Archives, Wright Brothers Collection (MS-1)>Wright Brothers Photographs>2419, ms1_25_6_6. (2)

Katharine Wright, in a letter to Florence Clement, March 17, 1917, "I hope you will be coming with Mr. Guthrie soon. Orv wants to see little Jeanie again. He is sure she will like Scipio!" (3)

 

The Little One, Scipio, a puppy, 1917. Photo in back yard of Lorin Wright's home at 331 Grafton Ave. Image courtesy of Wright State University Libraries,Special Collections and Archives, Wright Brothers Collection (MS-1)>Wright Brothers Photographs>2420, ms1_25_6_5. (4)

  

Ivonette Wright Miller, Lorin's daughter, wrote, "1917 was the year that Scipio came, a ball of fluff weighing 16 pounds, a St. Bernard puppy. Uncle Orv built a pen for him. Thus started a period of years when the lives of both Aunt Katharine and Uncle Orv were enriched by the presence of Scipio." (5)

Orville with Scipio in pen he built adjacent to south side of garage at Hawthorn Hill home. Image courtesy of Wright State University Libraries, Special Collections and Archives, Wright Brothers Collection (MS-1)>Wright Brothers Photographs>2408, ms1_25_6_23.

Per a video display at Carillon Historical Park, "In 1917, Orville got himself a Saint Bernard. He named the dog Scipio after the name of a dog in a book one of his nephew's liked." Nearby, a wall display identifies the nephew, but indicates the name of the dog was in a story in a magazine Orville had in his library; the story being a favorite of Orville's nephew, Horace. A differing account from various on-line posts claims Katharine named Scipio after a Roman general. In either case, no primary source is provided, so neither claim can be substantiated.   

Display at Carillon Historical Park. "Shortly before Bishop Wright's death in 1917, Orville acquired a Saint Bernard dog. He named it Scipio, after the name of a dog in a story in a magazine Orville had in his library. The story was a favorite of Orville's nephew, Horace." Photos in display courtesy of Library of Congress. Photo of display by Author, September, 2026.

 

Robert Hadeler wrote, "We would see him [Orville] occasionally at other times- for instance, when we would be coasting on the watertower hill close to his home, he would rescue us from his big St. Bernard dog, Scipio, who liked to play, but who was as big as a horse." Robert lived at 900 Harman Avenue, across the street from Hawthorn Hill, to the east. Robert assisted Orville at Orville's vacation resort at Lambert Island in Georgian Bay in Canada for the years 1928 through 1932. (6) 

Orville took Scipio to Lambert Island for each of his trips there from 1918 through 1921. He did not go in 1917 due to his involvement with the design development of the Kettering Bug, and his assistance with the war effort at the Dayton-Wright Airplane Company. (7) 

Guy Johnstone wrote in his book 'From Kitty Hawk to KITTYHAWK', "Orville missed going to his Georgian Bay Island in 1917. The year was not all bad, for he had acquired a new addition to his family, his new St. Bernard puppy named Scipio, who would be his friend for six years. Scipio went with him and Katharine to the Island most of the time; he was great fun for both." (8) 

Katharine, wrote in a letter to Orville (who had earlier left with Scipio on his trip to Lambert Island), July 19, 1918,

"Dear Baby Brother, Mistús [A term Katharine uses to describe herself] was so astonished at the report of meekness in the part of your pettie doggie, on his departure, that she has only now recovered sufficiently to write a letter to inquire about his subsequent behavior. Alas! Great fears are entertained as to that report. After you were gone, I thought of several things I wanted to say to you and felt a bit lonesome, so I thought "I'll get Scipio to come in the porch with me!" But the pen was empty and "little one" was gone! ......The sidewalks are being put in from opposite- our drive down toward Kenneth's today. There doesn't seem much to worry about since Scipio can't tramp around in it! The street is being repaired some, too.....I hope you are all well and happy, including "little one". And I hope you are getting enough to eat, also including Scipio.....Much love to Buster & Little One as well as to you." (9) [Orville had invited his grand-nephew Horace to the island. Horace's nickname was Buster.]

Katharine, in a letter to Orville, August 2, 1918, wrote,

"Your letter of last Sunday has just arrived. Mistús doesn't blame Little One for wagging his head and looking "funny", with a couple dozen of those "feathers" sticking in his nose & mouth. I'd like to see the encounter between Porcupine & Doggie......I will come up the middle of August, if you think it will be all right. Maybe we could stay one week in September...." (9) [This would not be the last time Scipio would encounter a porcupine.]

The next year, Orville vacationed with Col. E. A. Deeds and his wife Edith W. Deeds on a road trip out west. Katharine, in a hilarious letter to Orville, July 7, 1919, wrote, 

"Dear Little Brother, The Little One wishes Master [A term Katharine uses to describe Orville] would come back. Mistús [Katharine] is on an awful tear and didn't give L.O. any breakfast- just told him what he was, instead! And all this just because L.O., after being gooder than anything all day- and Mistús being good too, taking L.O. to the woods in the morning and for a walk in the hill just before supper- as I say- all this disagreeableness on the part of Mistús just because L.O. after a nice walk just before dark- suddenly darted across the street into Matterson's place and made off- Mistús trying to follow in the deep weeds and briars. Mistús hunted for an hour and finally went to bed, resolved that there would be no more twilight walks, no matter how innocent some one acted and looked.

So today Little One is sulking in his pen; Mistús is "mad" and everything is going wrong. Mistús lock shut the gate to the pen so L.O. couldn't get in. When Charlie [Charles Grumbach, husband of Carrie] went down this morning L.O. was in the East porch and growled at Charlie! Some One scolded Mistús a little bit Saturday night, because she tried to hurry him too much about going to bed. The weather has been cool since you left. Last night, we had to sleep under covers,- when sleeping we did, which wasn't much, with Little One out roaming about!...... Mistús will ask some one early this evening, if he will be a "good doggie now" and if Some One wags his tail and says "Yes" he will get a good supper, with some nice cookies for dessert...." (10)

Orville camping out west with the Deeds, July of 1919. Image courtesy of Wright State University Libraries Core Scholar Special Collections and Archives>Wright Brothers Collection (MS-1)>Wright Brothers Photographs>2438, ms1_26_2_2.

 

Then, four days later, Katharine, in a letter to Orville, July 11, 1919, wrote,

"Little One has been gooder than anything- ever since the unfortunate excursion of last Sunday night. He wags his tail for Mistús most like he did for Master but Mistús looks for a sudden falling off of affection for her when M.er returns. Mistús feeds him and discovers that he knows the difference between "store" cookies and Carrie's. It was comical to see the change of expression when we changed from ginger snaps to Carrie's cookies. He seems very well & lively. The flies have been making his nose sore but Charles got some carbolic salve last night & rubbed it in. Little One tried to get it off to keep it from hurting him but gave it up. "Folks" don't know much about doctoring doggies!" (10)

The next year, Orville and Katharine's oldest brother Reuchlin died (May 23, 1920). Orville was in too much pain to attend the funeral. (11) (12)

From the Kansas City Times, Mo, Monday, May 24, 1920, "Reuchlin Wright, 59 years old, died yesterday at his home, 3836 Euclid avenue, following a stroke of apoplexy. Mr. Wright was first stricken last Monday morning but seemed to be on the road to recovery when he received a second stroke from which he failed to recover. He was a brother to Wilbur and Orville Wright, the inventors of the first successful heavier-than-air flying machine..." Unfortunately, Orville was suffering from sciatica (11) at the time of Reuchlin's strokes and eventual death, and therefore neither Orville nor Katharine was able to visit Reuchlin during his final week. From the Dayton Daily Journal, May 24, 1920, "Information of a previous stroke which he suffered one week ago today summoned his younger brother, Lorin Wright, to Kansas City, where he and his wife now are. Orville Wright is ill with sciatica at his home in Oakwood, so neither he nor his sister, Miss Katharine Wright, will be able to go west..."

 

How terribly sad it must have been for Orville and Katharine to not be able to be with Reuchlin during his final days. Katharine wrote of the experience to her friend Vilhjalmur Stefansson December 26, 1923, and within the letter wrote the following, "We had the family (twelve besides ourselves) for dinner Christmas Eve and for supper, in the kitchen, last night. After they had gone last night I had a chance to sit down before the wood-fire in the living-room and think about you. I was thinking about Christmas Eve four years ago when we had a Christmas telegram from you- and about on any, many other nice things that I love to remember. I wonder if you ever knew about the one letter that just about "saved my life". It was just after we had been in New York, for the medal, and Orv was down in bed after we got home. My oldest brother was ill too and we couldn't go or do a thing. I had to stay with Orv and he was very uncomfortable and I was worn out with anxiety. On Saturday afternoon in the last mail came a dear letter from you. I'll never forget what that letter said. I know it by heart. Well, I can't tell you how it helped me through that black time- my brother died the next morning- and I needed comfort."(13)

Orville eventually recovered from the bout of sciatica, and was able to return to Lambert Island that summer. Katharine Wright, in a letter to Griffith Brewer, September 17, 1920, wrote, "The trip (from Lambert) wasn't very hard on Orv. He seems more free from lameness than for weeks. The "Little One" (Scipio) was very dirty but otherwise all right. He ran everywhere to visit his old haunts." (14)

 

Katharine Wright and Scipio at Lambert Island. Image courtesy of Wright State University Libraries, Special Collections and Archives, Wright Brothers Collection (MS-1)>Wright Brothers Photographs>2423, ms1_25_6_35.

 

The 1921 trip to Lambert Island included a rematch between Scipio and the porcupine. Scipio did not come out on top this time.  

 

Scipio tried to make friends with a porcupine at Lambert Island during his visit there in 1921. That didn't go so well. Orville and Katharine tied Scipio down in order to more easily remove the quills. Image courtesy of Wright State University Libraries, Special Collections and Archives, Wright Brothers Collection (MS-1)>Wright Brothers Photographs>2426, ms1_25_6_31.

1921 was the last trip to Lambert Island for Scipio, not because of the porcupine encounter, but because of his health. "Scipio had to be put down in 1922 because of a joint disorder which is common to the breed." (7) Orville and Katharine lost their Little One on February 1, 1922. Sadly, Orville and Katharine shared just short of 5 years time with their St. Bernard. 

 

Goodbye Scipio! Lambert Island image of Scipio courtesy of Wright State University Libraries, Special Collections and Archives, Wright Brothers Collection (MS-1)>Wright Brother Photographs>2457, ms1_26_3_42.

Many on-line sources indicate Scipio's death occurring in 1924, which is incorrect. His burial location is not known.

Griffith Brewer to Katharine, February 24, 1922, "I received your letter of the 9th February......I cannot say how sorry I was to hear about Scipio. It must be a terrible loss to Orv and also for you...." (10) 

Katharine Wright, in a letter to Vilhjalmur Stefansson written May 17, 1922, "It will be hard for Orv to go to the Island without the Little One." (15) 

 

"The only photo that Orville had in his wallet when he died", per image designation, courtesy of Carillon Historical Park, and the Wright Family. Scipio east of front entry to Hawthorn Hill. 

 

Scipio is commemorated as providing one of the seats on the Carillon Historical Park Carousel. Photo by Author September, 2026. 

Copyright 2026-Getting the Story Wright  

 

Recommended Reading- From Kitty Hawk to KITTYHAWK, by Guy R. Johnstone, 2011. Fantastic book on Orville's adventures at Lambert Island, with many photos of Scipio and the Island.  

Notes-

1. Milton Wright Diaries, Wright State University.

2. Hawthorn Hill home has all brick facing. The home pictured has lap board siding. Lorin's 331 Grafton home still stands. The porch railing has been changed, but the porch column details remain, and match that in this photo. The details of the porch column which help match these two photos is close to being lost per my visit this September 2026.

 

Side by side view comparison of the 1917 photo of Scipio compared to 2019 photo. The steps that Scipio sat on have been removed and step access to the porch is now located to the west.

 

September 2026 photo by Author. Unfortunately the front porch at 331 Grafton is in danger of collapse. The details of the front door and left column have been lost since the 2019 photo above. 

 

3. Letter, March 21, 1917, Katharine Wright to Florence, Wright State University Core Scholar Special Collections and Archives.

4. The block at grade, and lapboards identify this photo as at 331 Grafton, and being taken likely the same day as the porch view of Scipio. I visited the site September 10, 2026, and deduced the view was shot in the back yard of the home. The single story addition built after 1917 is highlighted with blue outline. Scipio would have been in the position shown, but back near the original constructed building face.

 

331 Grafton Ave, Lorin Wright's home, photo by Author, September 2026. Single story addition to rear highlighted in blue did not exist when this picture of Scipio was taken in 1917. The 1917 photo is aligned with the home with  the vertical yellow line.

 

5. Wright Reminiscences, compiled by Ivonette Wright Miller, 1978, Ivonette Miller's Reminiscences, pg 19. 

6. Wright Reminiscences, compiled by Ivonette Wright Miller, 1978, My Summers with Orville Wright, by Robert Hadler, pg 97.

7. See my posts-

 Orville Wright and the Kettering Bug

 Orville Wright- Until the Cows Come Home

 Dayton-Wright Airplane Company Experimental Research Station 

15 North Broadway- The Wright Aeronautical Laboratory 

8. From Kitty Hawk to Kittyhawk, Orville Wright's Life on Georgian Bay in Canada, by Guy R. Johnstone, 2011.

9. Library of Congress, Family Papers: Correspondence--Wright, Katharine, 1912-1918. Source Collection- Wilbur Wright and Orville Wright papers, 1809-1979.

10. Library of Congress, Family Papers: Correspondence--Wright, Katharine, 1919-1924. Source Collection- Wilbur Wright and Orville Wright papers, 1809-1979.

11. The two paragraphs that follow are taken from Reuchlin Wright- The Eldest Wright Brother

12. Orville suffered from bouts of sciatica for the rest of his life due to injuries received in September of 1908 at Ft. Myer. Travel during his times of illness was not possible due to extreme pain.

13. Katharine Wright to Vilhjalmur Stefansson, December 26, 1923, 4 pages hand written, from Author's collection.

14. As quoted in "From Kitty Hawk to KITTYHAWK" by Guy R. Johnstone, 2011, pg 41.

15.  Katharine Wright to Vilhjalmur Stefansson, May 17, 1922, 6 pages typed, from Author's collection.