Wilbur and Orville's nephew Milton and his Wright Flyer Models

Within the extended Wright family, the name Milton Wright appears a number of times through the generations. Orville and Wilbur's father Bishop Milton Wright enjoyed his grandchildren and often wrote about their visits in his diary entries, and his family letters. His grandson Milton was born in 1892, and so enjoyed a relationship with his Grandfather for 25 years (the Bishop died in 1917). In 1920, Milton Jr. was born, the subject of another post, "Orville Wright's grand-nephew, Milton Wright Jr."

Milton and Susan Wright's children- Reuchlin, Lorin, Wilbur, Otis, Ida, Orville, Katharine.

     Lorin and Ivonette (Netta) Wright's children- Milton, Ivonette, Leontine, Horace (Buster).

 

Bishop Milton Wright fought it in 1865. Orville battled it in 1896. It was now young Milton's turn. Beginning on July 18 of 1908, and day by day, Bishop Milton Wright recorded in his diary entries- "Milton is sick with something like the fever.....Milton has high fever today....Milton's fever is still high....Dr. Spitler pronounced Milton's fever is a mild case of typhoid.....Milton is quiet and notices things but little; sleeps considerably....Milton seems to be getting along well, tho his temperature at times runs up to 104 degrees.....Milton's fever still strong and he for the first a little flighty....Milton more flighty......Consultation of doctor's. Milton is quite sick....Milton's fever is still pretty high....Aug 2- Near morning, Milton's pulses almost stopped beating, but he revived, and his fever ran high all day and all night....Milton seems better this morning and later in the day, Dr. Spitler pronounced him decidedly better....Milton restless and nervous last night. The doctor gave him codeine, and he slept five hours to-day......Aug 8- The fever is rather high in the afternoon. But we think Milton is gaining. Wilbur is reported to have made a successful flight of two and 17/100 miles in LeMans, France this afternoon at 3:00.....Aug 12- Milton has some congestion of the lungs, but gets no worse during the day.....Milton continues to improve....Aug 17- Milton is still improving and was moved downstairs....Orville is getting ready to go to Washington City......Milton still improves....Sept 6- I called on Lorin's to see Milton who begins to walk again....Orville at Ft. Myer, flew 65 minutes and 52 seconds....Sept 13- Lorin's brought Milton to our house, and he remained two hours, in the afternoon. It is his first visit- since his sickness- anywhere.....Sept 17- Orville injured. Orville's disaster at 5:00; Selfridge's death.(1)

 

Bishop Milton Wright wrote in a March 7, 1909 (partial) letter to his Grand-niece Grace Frazier, 

"We are having scarlet fever in Lorin's family. His Horace (seven years old) took it February 11th, and his daughter Leontine (10 years) took it last week, and that will keep their house quarantined three weeks, more. Milton 16, and Ivonette 13, are boarding at our house, and attending school. Horace had a light spell, and Leontine a little harder. Leontine's fever broke, yesterday. It takes two or three weeks to peel off. 

The Assembly of France voted Wilbur and Orville the great honor of  'The Legion of honor'; Congress U.S. voted them gold medals, March 3rd. They have sold one machine to the Aeronautical Society in Rome for $10,000, and train a man to use it. When that is delivered, they come home, in April or May, and in June get their $35,000 of the United States Government for one Machine, and go to Germany in August or September, and take $17,000, for exhibitions, etc. They are not selling much rights, but taking in a good deal of money...." (2)

 

Lorin and Ivonette Wright's children- Milton (left rear), Ivonette (left front), Leontine (right rear), and Horace (right front). In 1910, Bishop Milton Wright wrote, "With a smiling face Leontine is so motherly. Horace is a sinless sage....Milton is tall and good looking for one just grown." (2) Courtesy of Wright State University Special Collections and Archives.

 

Lorin and Netta's first born, Milton, influenced by his Uncle Wilbur and Uncle Orv's invention, showed his talent while a teenager, of constructing small scale models of the Wright Flyer.  

 

"The Top picture is that of an aeroplane model, made by Milton Wright, 17 years old, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Lorin Wright, and nephew of the celebrated aeroplanists, Wilbur and Orville Wright. The young man shows undisputed mechanical genius. The model was constructed for his own amusement and was built in the premises of the parental home, on West Second-st. The lower picture is that of 'Buster' Wright, the young son of Mr. and Mrs. Lorin Wright. The picture shows the child, who is a great favorite with all who know the family, with a pet chick." (3)

 

The Dayton Herald, June 24, 1909, reported, "The exact miniature reproduction of the Wright brother's aeroplane, which was constructed by Milton Wright, son of Lorin Wright, and nephew of the famous aviators, was purchased Wednesday night by the International Aeroplane club of this city. The price paid for the machine, which was made of material from the machine wrecked at Ft. Myer, was $40..." (3).  In lieu of the model being made of material from the machine wrecked at Ft. Myer, the model was likely constructed from scrap wood and fabric as reported in a Dayton Herald article later in this post. 

Lorin's father, Milton Wright, wrote to his grand-niece Grace Frazier July 22, 1909 (partial), "Miss Grace Frazier, Dear Niece: It is some time since you were here. [Grace Frazier had visited to attend the Dayton Wright Brother's Home Celebration the prior month] I may say now that Lorin's have come in to stay with me while Katharine goes a week to Washington. Milton sold his model of the Aeroplane for forty dollars, and has built another better one, which he, this afternoon, expressed to a house in Anderson, to remain a week, at $25.00. Horace has nine chickens near half grown with his black hen, and has a pullet older, and a nice half grown rooster. He is very attentative [sic] to them. Netta was to have gone with the children to Richmond last Friday to stay over night......but she got sick and canceled the engagement. She is resting at our house, is well......." (2)

The elder Milton Wright wrote in his diary September 8, 1909, "....Orville is reported to have flew alone 24 ms in 36 minutes, to-day, and 17 min. with Hildebrand, 200,000 reported. Ivonette & Horace staid here and to breakfast. Lorin and Milton are working on models of flying machine...." (1)

And on September 24, the elder Milton wrote, "I slept well last night. I get no letters before noon. I spend the morning, mostly reading. Milton's models came back from Eaton & Rock Island." The next day, Milton would write that the Hudson-Fulton Exposition opened in New York, and on the 29th, that Wilbur had flown twice; "once from Governor's Island round the Statue of Liberty & back." (1)

On October 1, the elder Milton wrote, "...Milton shipped a model to St. Louis...".  The next day Milton would write that Orville had flown 1637 feet high at Potsdam, Germany, and "took up the crown prince of Germany 60 ft. high, gets a present of a diamond and Ruby ring, Composing the letter 'W' and a crown." On October 4, he wrote "Wilbur flew from Governor's Island beyond Grant's Tomb & back safely. He ha[d] a canoe attached..." (1)

The Dayton Herald, October 5, 1909, wrote, "Young Milton Wright's model of his famous uncle's aeroplane is attracting considerable attention in the Rike-Kumler Co. window, Fourth and Main sts.  The model is the property of the Aeroplane club." (5)

 

Milton Wright in 1936, holding Wright Flyer model he made in 1908 (6).

 

Lorin's father Milton Wright in November 7, 1910 letter to Grand-niece Grace Frazier, wrote, "Milton teaches at Van Buren Township High School at $65 a month, 8 and a half months. He is teaching Chemistry with a great zeal, learning probably more than his scholars about it. He has a class in Civil Government and two classes in History. He rides on Street cars two miles and walks two miles to reach there. But largely rides instead of walking. He is eighteen years old to-morrow. So he has not been a lawful teacher the past six weeks! Herbert four months younger than he, is of lawful age to teach in his school five miles south of where Reuchlin lives! He teaches eight months at $50 a month........Ivonette is only two inches lower than her aunt Katharine, and is a witty nice girl. Leontine is growing fast now, a model little woman. Horace is the favorite of all the folks....Halloween evening a company of about a dozen came in with false faces. Leontine is the only one I knew. Children turn all things to fun...." (2)

Milton, writing to Grand-niece Grace Frazier, May 24, 1911, wrote, "Milton is nearly through his year's school. Ivonette is about closing her first year in High School. Leontine and Horace are as sweet as they can be. Milton is in much better health than last year. He is nearly as tall as his uncle Wilbur, and good looking..." (2)

 

Frank Hamburger "holding the model of the world's first military airplane." (6)

From the Dayton Herald, October 9, 1936, "Constructed by Milton Wright, a nephew of Orville and Wilbur Wright, in the workshop of the two Dayton inventors and with material such as was used in their large machines, a replica of an early Wright airplane is prized possession of Roosevelt high school. Build to scale of one inch to one foot of the original plane, the replica, constructed back in 1908 is fashioned after the plane flown by Orville Wright at Ft. Myer, Virginia, in a demonstration before government officials. It was September 3, 1908 that Orville made a flight of one hour and two minutes in a plane build along the lines of the model at Roosevelt school. On September 5 he flew it for four minutes, on September 9 for 57 minutes and on September 17 while in the air at a height of 125 feet the plane fell, killing Lieutenant Selfridge and inflicting injuries to Mr. Wright from which he has never fully recovered.....It was while the Ft. Myers plane was being constructed that Milton Wright, then a student in Steele high school, was allowed to use the scraps of spruce and muslin for the construction of miniature planes, a hobby in which he had become fascinated. Thus the replica, carefully constructed, contains the same materials as the real plane, though in recent years for purposes of preservation the model has been painted. The model measures 40 inches in wing stretch, which would make the real plane on the basis of the one inch scale 40 feet. Aviation was something quite new in those days and enthusiasm ran high. So much so that West Side residents interested in the Wright boys and their invention organized what they called the International Aero club. It began existence on May 12, 1909 and continued for some six or seven years....During this time the club purchased the model, now at Roosevelt, for $40, proudly exhibiting it during the life-time of the club and then relegating it to the keeping of Frank Hamburger, West Side hardware merchant, who had been treasurer of the club. The late Oscar Needham was president, A. E. Estabrook was secretary and Frank Thompson was first vice president. The late William Andrews and Phil Kerstner were second and third vice presidents respectively. Young Milton Wright, son of Lorin Wright, a brother of Orville and Wilbur, found the business of constructing model airplanes good and made a number similar to the one now at Roosevelt, which he sold throughout the country. Used for window displays, they attracted much attention, being something the like of which had not been generally known theretofore....

Hamburger retained the model purchased by the club for a considerable term of years. In the course of moving it about, the model naturally was damaged some, but a year or more ago when it was presented to Roosevelt, members of the manual training class of Arthur Pitsinger overhauled it. There is even a small motor attached so that the propellers may be operated to give the simulation of flying. The model at Roosevelt was exhibited here during the celebration Dayton staged for the Wright boys when they made their triumphant return from abroad and drew the attention of thousands. At Roosevelt it is prized highly and every effort is being made to ward off damage. The model is the old pusher type plane and in years to come, because of its close associations with the Wright family, should be one of the most valued museum pieces in connection with Dayton's role in development of aviation." (6)

Milton's model, "repaired, hanging from ceiling at Roosevelt high school."(6)

 

Roosevelt High School was closed in 1975, and demolished in 2008. Further research is required to determine if Milton's model still exists. Any information from the Wright descendants, or those with knowledge on the fate of the Flyer would be appreciated. Further, any information on other existing Wright models made by Milton would be of interest. 

Copyright 2025- Getting The Story Wright

Notes-

1. Milton Wright Diaries 1857-1917, Wright State University, Wright Brothers Collection (MS-1)
2. Milton Wright to Grand-niece Grace Frazier letter archive from Author's collection.
3. The Dayton Herald, June 17, 1909 "Aeroplanist's Nephew Builds Model Airship".
4. The Dayton Herald, June 24, 1909, "Wright's Nephew Sells Miniature".
5. The Dayton Herald, October 5, 1909, "Airship Model Very Attractive".
6. The Dayton Herald, October 9, 1936, "Wright Plane Model Built by Nephew of Famous Brothers Still Preserved", "Materials Used by Inventors Utilized to Construct Small Ship".