Bishop Milton Wright, Father of The Wright Brothers

Milton Wright, father of Wilbur and Orville Wright, has been portrayed in a negative light by some authors of books on the Wright Brothers. The intent of this post is to provide what I believe is a more accurate and positive picture of this man of steadfast faith, and a strong love for his family and community.

 

Bishop Milton Wright, image courtesy of Wright State University Special Collections and Archives.

 

Milton should be judged based on his time period, and not on the family traditions of the 21st century. For example, nursing homes for the elderly were not the norm in the early 1900's. Elderly parents who needed assistance, lived with, and were cared for by their children. Based on this, Milton should not be judged harshly for writing to his daughter in 1889, just weeks before wife's death, "Take especially good care of yourself. You have a good mind and good heart, and being my only daughter, you are my hope of love and care, if I live to be old." (1) Milton actually gave his house to Katharine in March of 1900, such that, Milton, Wilbur, and Orville were in reality, living in Katharine's home at 7 Hawthorn. Writing to his grandniece Grace Frazier in March of 1911, Milton shared, "The family are all well. Of course they are good to me, allowing me mine own ways, and indulging me a good deal, without any charge for my living." (2) Wilbur died in Katharine's home in 1912. Milton, Orville, and Katharine moved out of the home into Orville's home (Hawthorn Hill) in Oakwood in 1914. 

Milton, in an 1887 letter to Katharine, wrote, "Be good. Learn all you can about housework. Do not worry mother. Be my nice pet daughter." (3) Referring to Katharine as his "pet daughter" has been viewed by many in 21st century terms. This was simply a term of endearment. Milton, in a June 1913 letter to his grandniece Grace Frazier, using this same term wrote, "You say that Soney Bowen, Kate, Ralph, and Muriel Wright came. Muriel Wright, that was a stunner! It was sometime before I concluded that you meant my pet girl, Myrl Wright, Ellis's daughter. From a child of less than two years old, till she was too old to kiss, I fondled her, as if she had been my daughter, and the last time I saw her we kissed each other heartily. She is so much a Wright, so much like her grandfather. She is a better girl than common. When she was here, our house was [quarentined ] in Wilbur's sickness and death. We [quarentined ] our house, but we lost Wilbur. He died so soon, He reached fame, and then leaped into death! He had only fixed his will, and soon after fell into unconsciousness. He evidently expected to die". (2)(4) Note also, that the word fondled does not carry its 21st century meaning. Milton simply loved his grandniece Myrl like a daughter.

Wilbur thought highly of his father. "If I were giving a young man advice as to how he might succeed in life, I would say to him, pick out a good father and mother, and begin life in Ohio." Wilbur Wright, January 10, 1910. And in his Last Will and Testament, May 10, 1912, Wilbur stated- "I hereby give to my father Milton Wright, of Dayton, Ohio, my earnest thanks for his example of a courageous, upright life, and for his earnest sympathy with everything tending to my true welfare..."

William Hazelgrove, in his 2018 book "Wright Brothers, Wrong Story", states his belief that Wilbur Wright solely solved the flight problem, and Orville simply manipulated history after Wilbur's death to shift the credit more in his own direction. With this mindset, the opinion piece is presented with an unfortunate mixture of facts and fiction, with the facts many times incorrect. The author stated that Katharine was 15 when her mother died (she was 14); he indicated Katharine didn't have time to graduate from High School (she graduated from Central High in 1892); he wrote Reuchlin headed west from Dayton to Cincinnati (Cincinnati is south of Dayton); he wrote Reuchlin returned to Dayton 13 years after moving out west (except for visits, Reuchlin remained in Kansas till his death in 1920); he states the United Brethren Church split in 1899 (it split in 1889); he wrote of the development of the first flight photo in the darkroom in Dayton in late December of 1903, "the photographic paper slowly emulsified..." (the glass plate negatives were developed; the first flight image would have first been viewed on the glass plate, not on a paper image); he wrote "The first scientific publication to report that man could fly was a magazine on bee culture, Gleanings in Bee Culture. That would not be until March 1, 1904" (6) (Scientific American reported the Wright's December 17, 1903 flights in their December 26, 1903 issue, L'Aerophile Decembre 1903 issue reported the flights pg 282, Automotor Journal December 30, 1903 reported the flights pg 1385, just to name a few); he titled a chapter "The Great Flood- 1914 (The Dayton flood occurred in 1913); he wrote the 1903 Flyer was stored in a shed behind the Wright home (the Flyer was stored in a shed behind the Cycle Shop); he tells a fictitious story of Orville drying out the 1903 Flyer in his laboratory just after the flood (the laboratory wasn't constructed until late 1916);  he tells a fictitious story of the 1903 Flyer strut wires within the shipping crates humming so loudly within the crates when shipped to England in 1928 that the men on deck wondered what the source of the noise was, tracing it to the crates below deck (the disassembled Flyer would have no taut wires in place to vibrate); he wrote that Orville died at the age of 77 (Orville was 76 when he died).  

Hazelgrove doesn't just slander Orville's name, but he also attacks Milton Wright, when he wrote "Milton was a covetous old sinner in that he was psychologically castrating his children. He would record in his diary, "there is much in the papers about the Wright brothers. They have fame but not wealth yet. Both these things, aspired after by so many, are vain." "Bishop Wright was the star of the household, and even the invention of manned flight could be seen as frippery." "In his pictures he is a man with a bad comb-over and an Amish beard; he seems pious, self-absorbed, and judgemental." A basic understanding of  the teachings of Christianity by the author appear to be lacking here. Milton did not psychologically castrate his children. Milton was proud of Wilbur and Orville's achievements as is obvious from a multitude of other letters and actions by Milton. From the Old Testament book Ecclesiastes, Solomon, one of the world's richest and wisest men of his time, wrote that fame and wealth are vanity, and do not bring lasting happiness. Milton is simply paraphrasing scripture. Seeking fame and fortune alone is an empty pursuit, and Milton understood that these were not the driving forces in his son's lives. They were demonstrating their invention to the world, and their desire was to make enough profit that they could dedicate their time to scientific study.  Hazelgrove's comment about Milton's appearance is odd, and unprofessional for a published author. Making fun of his comb-over? He appears pious and judgemental? Katharine Wright wrote in January of 1924 "Neither Father, nor Mother were a bit pious". (2)(7) In his comments above, Hazelgrove reveals his dislike for a man he never met, or really understands.

Most of the world would come to regard the invention of the airplane as Wilbur's finest moment. Milton thought otherwise. Tom Crouch, the author of The Bishop Boys (1989) understood Milton's sentiment, when Crouch quoted Milton's words about Wilbur,  "His mother being a declining, rather than a suffering invalid, he devoted himself to taking all care of her, and watching and serving her with a faithfulness and tenderness that cannot but shed happiness on him in life, and comfort him in his last moments. Such devotion of a son has rarely been equaled, and the mother and son were fully able to appreciate each other. Her life was probably lengthened, at least two years, by his skill and assiduity."(8)   

Of course, Milton was also proud of Wilbur and Orville's aviation accomplishments. Writing to his grandniece Grace Frazier, March 7, 1909, "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)

The two older brothers, Reuchlin and Lorin, had traveled west to find employment, with Lorin eventually returning to Dayton, and Reuchlin remaining in Kansas. Hazelgrove paints Lorin and Reuchlin as unsuccessful in life, and then makes up an account of Milton belittling his older sons in front of Wilbur, Orville, and Katharine. He wrote, "The Bishop could now point and crow, You see! This is what comes of going out into the world! Wilbur would slink in the background of his father's edict. Evil follows man in the world. Milton Wright could point to the two older brothers and say to his daughter, Katherine [Katharine], and his younger sons, Orville and Wilbur, You see what happens when you venture into the world? It is not to be trusted. Better you stay under the family roof, where all is safe and secure." This is all fiction. Milton did not belittle his older sons. This event never happened. Of the readers of his book, how many do you think took this fictional tale as fact? If one has to make up false events in an attempt to prove a viewpoint, it is an indication the viewpoint itself is weak. 

Milton wrote in 1912, concerning his children, "My wife left us nearly 23 years ago. She was the sweetest spirit earth ever knew. She was a trusting Christian through our 30 years of wedded life. She did not suffer much in her long years as an invalid. Her son Wilbur who was so good to her while I was on the Coast, is a man over 160 pounds. The children are all in good flesh lately. They agree well, and discuss their affairs at our table. Lorin my second son lives in our town, and has a nice family....Reuchlin, has a nice family in Kansas. He nearly graduated in College, but prefers a farm, which he owns and runs well. He is well situated and he is as smart as any of them." (5)

In a 2018 interview by Chicago Tonight, Hazelgrove stated, "Bishop Milton was a very overbearing man. He believed the world was inherently evil, and he told his kids do not trust the world.... This began this whole white wash to present a united front to the world....They all remain home their entire life..... They were all high school dropouts by the way...No one could really say how things really were, for one thing, you had to give this united front. The Bishop once said, in a letter he said, Wilbur, you must be careful, because you, if anything happens to you, Orville cannot carry on. And he was very brutal too because he said the same thing to Katharine, basically Wilbur was the only one with true talent." This supposedly was proof that Milton believed it all depended on Wilbur. This is a false understanding of what Milton wrote. Assuming the letter referenced is Milton's February 22, 1909 letter to Katharine, in which he wrote, "...It does not make so much difference about you, but Wilbur ought to keep out of all balloon rides. Success seems to hang on him, in aeroplane business......I am glad to learn that Orville improves rapidly..."  Milton does not say if anything happens to Wilbur, Orville cannot carry on. He does not say Wilbur was the only one with true talent. Orville is still recovering from the aeroplane accident at Fort Myer four months prior. At this point, Wilbur is in the best position to further the aeroplane business. Once Orville fully recovers, Orville will complete his flights at Ft Myer for the U.S. Government in June and July, 1909.

The idea that Wilbur, Orville, and Katharine could not speak their minds, and had to present a white wash to the world is total fiction. Labeling the three as "high school dropouts" is inappropriate for their 19th century lives. Wilbur completed his high school education in Richmond Indiana, and continued with some additional classes in Dayton. He simply didn't receive his diploma because he didn't attend the ceremony due to the move. Orville chose to pursue his printing career in lieu of finishing his senior year, not an uncommon choice in the 19th century. Katharine, as stated earlier, did graduate from Central High School. 

Did Milton believe the world was inherently evil, and his children were not to trust the world? Christianity teaches we live in a fallen world where evil freely reigns. Milton devoted his life going out into that world to share the good news of God's plan of redemption. Christians are told by scripture to go out into the world, but not to be of the world. The lack of a true understanding of what this means by those outside the faith of Christianity leads many to view men such as Milton Wright in a negative light. 

My intention is not to turn this into a Bible lesson, but for the reader to understand the man Milton Wright, there needs to be an understanding of his faith. From the book of John Ch 3: verses 18-21, Jesus explains to his disciples,  "If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. Remember what I told you: A servant is not greater than his master. If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the one who sent me." 

 

 

Copyright 2025-Getting the Story Wright

 

Related posts: 

Bishop Milton Wright, Editor of the Religious Telescope and Father of Wilbur and Orville Wright 

Bishop Milton Wright Autobiography 

Christianity Amongst the Wright Brothers 

Reuchlin Wright- The Eldest Wright Brother 

 

Notes-

1. As quoted in The Bishop Boys, Chapter 6, The Ties that Bind, May 30, 1889 letter, Milton to Katharine, Library of Congress. I could not find the letter on the LOC website.
2. From Author's collection. 
3. Milton Wright to Katharine Wright, October 15, 1887, Library of Congress, Family Papers: Correspondence- Wright, Milton, 1881, 1887-1901.
4. Myrl Wright, daughter of Ellis Wright, daughter of Rev. William W. Wright, Milton's brother. 
5. Milton Wright letter to Mrs. Wyatt, February 12, 1912. 
6. The March 1, 1904 account by Amos Root was a story he told to his Sunday school class of young boys about two young men from Dayton Ohio that flew at Kitty Hawk on December 17, 1903. I own a copy of this magazine. It obviously was not "the first scientific publication" to report man could fly.  I own multiple copies of the December 26, 1903 Scientific American issue that reported the first flights. I own a copy of L'Aerophile December, 1903 reporting the flights. 
7.  Katharine Wright to Vilhjalmur Stefansson, written on a copy of Air Service News Letter, January 7, 1924, "The Airplane's Twentieth Anniversary".
8. From Ch 5, Times of Trial, Crouch quotes from Milton Wright interview from a newspaper clipping in the Wright Scrapbooks, 1909, Wright Papers, Library of Congress, "Wilbur Wright Born in Henry County". I found this same quote in the Wright Scrapbooks at the Dayton Montgomery Library, dated June 13, 1909, "Father Wright Tells About Wilbur and Orville as Children and as Men".

Lottie Jones and the Wright Family

Updated June 7, 2025 

Lottie Taylor was born in Kentucky in 1874, the same year Katharine Wright was born in Dayton, Ohio. Lottie married young at the age of 19 to John Luther Jones also originally from Kentucky, December 18, 1893. The year Lottie began to provide laundry services to the Wright family is open to debate. Her obituary states that her relationship with the Wright's began when she was just 17 years old (1891), however, according to a 1936 account, the Wright's became a client when she was 21 years old (1895). In either case, Lottie provided laundry and maid services to the Wright Family for almost her entire adult life. In addition to that, she was also a good friend to the family. She even purchased and lived in the birthplace home of Orville and Katharine Wright, 7 Hawthorn, from late 1923 through 1936, eventually selling the home to Henry Ford for relocation to Greenfield Village at Dearborn, Michigan.

As written by Charles J. Bauer in the Dayton Daily News in 1936, "Lottie Jones was a vigorous young woman of 21 when she started doing the Wright's washing. To her they were just another customer. But one day something happened that made her cross them off her list. 'I never had no trouble with the boys,' Lottie recalls (meaning by 'the boys' Orville and Wilbur); 'and I only had trouble with Miss Katharine once. You see, I used to charge a certain price each week for the washing. One week Miss Katharine put a blanket in the wash. Well, you know people ain't supposed to put no bedclothes in the wash. When I brought the wash back I told her it would be 25 cents extra. She wanted to know what for. When I told her she said she wouldn't pay it; said it wasn't worth that much. I asked her what she thought it was worth and she said: 'Ten cents'. 'Well, give me the 10 cents,' I said, and when she did I walked out. I didn't ever intend to go back. But I used to do the people's washing next door, and I sent my nephew over to pick up their wash,' Lottie continued. 'Miss Wright called him over. She wanted to know why I hadn't been around. 'Lottie ain't gonna do your wash no more,' he told her. 'She says she won't do nobody's wash if they won't pay what it's worth.'  Well, Miss Wright came down after me. She said,'Lottie, if money is all that's worrying you, come on back.' She laughed and laughed about my nephew and what he said. He just told the truth, but pshaw, I didn't expect him to repeat what I said. I went back and I've been with the Wright's ever since."(1)

 

Photo courtesy of the Dayton Daily News November 22, 1936 issue.

Milton Wright kept a diary throughout his adult life, noting day to day activities of his ministry, or details of family events, mention of letters he received or wrote that day, physical ailments, or really anything that he so chose to write. His interest in Wilbur and Orville's work is well documented. He also occasionally mentioned  Lottie Jones helping at the home. 

Milton Wright recorded in his diary entry of October 30, 1908, "Mrs. Lottie Jones spends the day in sweeping and cleaning the house, $1.25. The evening paper reports that Wilbur's motor exploded to-day, while his Flyer was in the air. Lorin & Netta called in the evening." During this time, Katharine had been at Ft. Myer with her brother Orville while he was recovering from the September 17 accident in which Lt. Thomas Selfridge was killed. They would return to Dayton November 1. Milton also records that Carrie Grumbaugh "came to look after our dinner...". November 10, Milton wrote, "Lottie Jones worked for Katharine and Mrs. Carrie Davis came back to keep house, in the afternoon."

November 27, 1909, Milton wrote, "At home. Some women visit Katharine in the afternoon. Lottie Jones helps. Katharine goes to Ida Grabill's an hour in the evening."

Apparently time for Spring cleaning, Milton recorded in his diary Friday April 1, 1910, "Lottie Jones helps clean the house." And again Monday April 4, "Lottie Jones and Celia....are cleaning our house." And Tuesday, "Women are cleaning up my room." And Wednesday, "Lottie is still cleaning house."

Milton Wright wrote in his diary entry of February 22, 1911, "...Mrs. J. L. Stevens came and she and Katharine visit Lottie Jones, who has been sick two weeks." Assuming Lottie was at her home, the visit would have occurred at 298 South Dunbar Ave.

The Wright's new Hawthorn Hill home in Oakwood was under construction during 1913 while the family continued to live at 7 Hawthorn in Dayton.  When the March 1913 Dayton flood occurred, all furniture at the first floor level of 7 Hawthorn was destroyed. Lottie and Luther were fortunate to have been just beyond the flood waters at 298 South Dunbar Ave. The amount of cleaning and restoration work required throughout the neighborhood was extensive. Milton recorded in his diary that Lottie worked for Katharine April 19th, and then again on the 26th. Luther advertised in the July 31, 1913 issue of the Dayton Daily News "Plastering and patch-work neatly done. Address Luther Jones, 298 Dunbar Av".

Family life was not easy in the Jones household. By November of 1913, Luther was living separately from the family at 23 Weidner Street, and Lottie had filed complaint of non-support.(9) In November of 1915, it was reported that Luther Jones of "298 Dunbar avenue, arrested Monday night on a charge of abusing his family, will have a hearing Wednesday."(6) Lottie, and her husband were listed as living at 298 S Dunbar Ave through 1920 per the Dayton Directories, but it is not known with certainty from year to year if they both lived there, or if they were separated occasionally. In July of 1919, Lottie reported that her pocket was picked of $4 by a junker while "talking of buying scrap paper...She said he dashed down an alley in the rear of her home after getting the money."(8) In March of 1922, Luther is reported to have been robbed of $84, then living at 205 Dunbar Ave.(4) In June of 1923, Luther "pleaded guilty in police court Thursday morning to charges of false registration and was fined $200 and costs. Jones, according to police, was arrested following a complaint made by the Phillips Hotel company that he had registered under a fictitious name and that several towels had been stolen from the rooms."(7) Then, in January of 1925, Luther was attacked and beaten with a blackjack in front of 32 Hawthorn. "Jones told police that the highwayman followed him from a Fifth street restaurant, and accosted him near his home. He was armed with a revolver and a blackjack, but obtained nothing from Jones."  Luther lived at 20 Hawthorn at this time. (5) Luther becomes absent from the record until 1930 where he is listed living with the family per the 1930 census. The 1930 Census information for Lottie's family is all subject to doubt as there are numerous errors. Lottie's age is given as 50, but she was 56 in 1930. Her son Edward is listed as age 29, but he was 25 in 1930. His wife's name is listed as Wilmar, but her name was Connie. Their six children were listed with ages ranging from 2 years old to 8 years old. Lottie's sons Paul, and Wilbur are not listed in the census. Lottie filed for divorce in September of 1934; Luther was living at 647 Grand Avenue at this time.(10) Lottie was listed as Mrs. Lottie Jones in the 1939 Dayton Directory, either in error, or the 1934 divorce hadn't been finalized. In the 1940 census, Lottie was listed as widowed; however, this was in error as Luther was still living at this time. Oddly, Luther was also listed as widowed in the 1940 census, listed as living with his son Edward's family at 409 Norwood Avenue. Luther would remain here until his death in 1943.

According to notes within the Wright Brother Archives at the Benson Ford Library in Dearborn, Michigan, in a paper titled "Birthplace",  Milton Wright gave the 7 Hawthorn home to his daughter Katharine March 31, 1900. Katharine, in an October 16, 1925 letter to Harry Haskell, wrote "Then I had the house on Hawthorn Street which Father gave me in 1900...".  Lottie stated that she rented the house from Katharine from 1914 to 1922 until September of that year when she purchased it for $4000. Orville Wright's recollection was that Lottie purchased the home in October of 1923. Neither Lottie nor Orville's memory was correct in this case. Per a letter from Katharine to Harry Haskell, dated December 22, 1924, Katharine announced "I am selling our house, on Hawthorn Street, to Lottie, our laundress". The Dayton Directories indicate other individuals living at 7 Hawthorn from 1914 through 1923 in lieu of Lottie and family. The 1924 Dayton Directory lists for the first time Lottie and her son Edward living in the home, and the Directories show Lottie continuing to occupy 7 Hawthorn until 1936.(11)(12)(15) As Katharine was discussing selling the home to Lottie in December of 1924, it is apparent then that Katharine leased the home initially in late 1923 to Lottie, only later making arrangements to sell the home to her. Perhaps Lottie was misunderstood when questioned in November of 1936, meaning to communicate that Katharine leased the home from 1914 through the early 1920's (to others), until finally leasing the home to Lottie and family. Katharine wrote in the October 16, 1925 letter to Harry Haskell, that "Lottie is paying me four thousand for the Hawthorn St. house".  Rather than paying for the house outright, evidence points to Lottie making semi-annual payments of $40 to Katharine toward the principle owed on the home.Later, to settle Katharine's estate (Katharine died in 1929), Lottie borrowed from Orville to pay the remaining balance owed on the home. In a letter written to his nephew Herbert Wright dated December 13, 1933, Orville wrote "I will be sending in a few days for your signature a deed for the Hawthorn Street property. This deed will require either fourteen or fifteen signatures. Lottie Jones, to whom Katharine contracted to sell it, can not now keep up her payments even on the taxes. She worries so much for fear Katharine's heirs will take the property away from her that I have decided to advance the balance for her, have the property  transferred into her name, and I take a mortgage for the money I advance and then let her pay it back when she can." (14)

Lottie Jones' signature from check dated July 9, 1929.

Wilkinson Wright, in a 1996 interview with Ann Deines (Honious), was asked about employees at Hawthorn Hill. He responded, "Well, Lottie- Charlotte Jones- and she was always just called Lottie. She was the laundress and she came, I think, a couple of days a week. You know, Orville had all these stiff collars and cuffs and so on, and she came there to the house and did the washing. Then when the bishop died, he left the Hawthorne Street house to Katharine, and later, and I can't tell you the date, Katharine sold that house to Lottie." Wilkinson's memory was incorrect concerning Bishop Wright leaving the Hawthorn Street house to Katharine after he died. In lieu of this, he had given it to her in 1900.

In her book "Twelve Seconds to the Moon", Rosamond Young wrote "Henry Ford who was building Greenfield Village at Dearborn, Michigan, wanted the old Wright home at 7 Hawthorn Street and the West Third Street Bicycle Shop for his village. He inquired of Orville whether he could buy them. The home had been in Katharine Wright's name and she had sold it before her death in 1929 to Charlotte Jones, the Wright laundress. One day in 1936 Charlotte Jones answered a knock on the door at 7 Hawthorn Street. Standing on the porch were Mr. Orville and a thin man Mr. Orville introduced as Henry Ford. The two men sat on the sofa facing her. 'Mr. Ford is building a museum and village at Dearborn, Michigan. He would like to move this house and the shed behind it and the bicycle shop to the village. He would like to buy the furnishings along with the house. Now Charlotte, will you sell to Mr. Ford?' 'Well, Mr. Orville, if you say so, I will'."

In a phone conversation between Fred Black of the Ford Motor Company and Orville Wright in November of 1936, the negotiations with Lottie in parting with her home for preservation at Greenfield Village were discussed. Fred asked, "Did you have a nice trip to Baltimore?" "Yes, a very nice trip. I've been a little sore ever since", Orville responded. "I imagine the ride gave you quite a jolt", said Fred. Orville mentioned Lottie, "Mrs. Jones came in Saturday morning." "How does she feel about it?", Fred asked. This is funny, Orville responded, "She feels she ought to have a living for the rest of her life." So Fred asks, "What do you think we ought to do, let her wait a while?" Orville agreed, "Let her wait..." Fred mentions he offered Lottie $4000 for the house and various household items.(2)

The Dayton Daily News, on November 22, 1936, headlined, "Old Wright Homestead is Purchased by Henry Ford". "The sale includes besides the house a number of pieces that had belonged to the Wrights- a table, a mirror, a settee, a chair, a washstand and a number of pictures. For these Ford is reported to have paid $100. Mrs. Jones said that a stove used by the Wrights also will go to Ford. While not disclosing the sale price, she said that it is less than $7000 but enough, even deducting the mortgage held by Wright, to build a home elsewhere. Mrs. Jones owns another property on Fitch st. She acquired the Hawthorne st. property by purchase from Katharine Wright in 1922. At the time of the latter's death about five years later, Mrs. Jones said she borrowed on the property from Wright to settle the estate. Removal of the home is to start as soon as the present occupants have moved, Mrs. Jones said. Only the original five rooms of the 10-room structure are to be restored, with such changes in arrangement of the stairway and other features as will replace the house as it was before remodeling."

 

7 Hawthorn home, 1936, with later addition to rear. Note bay window at second floor level. Photo courtesy of The Henry Ford. This addition had already been in place by 1922 (16).

 

Reconstructed 7 Hawthorn home at Greenfield Village, Dearborn, Michigan. Compare with photo above; second floor addition to rear has been removed. Photo by author, August 2018.

1936 views of 7 Hawthorn home from north face rear side and rear view of second level addition, photos courtesy of The Henry Ford. 1 Hawthorn, the darker home pictured above just north of 7 Hawthorn, burned to the ground in 1993.

August 2018 views of side and rear view of Wright home at Greenfield Village, photos by author. Compare to 1936 views above.

After the sale of 7 Hawthorn, Lottie and family lived at 402 Norwood Avenue till 1939, and then to 137 S Williams street until her death August 4th, 1943.

In 2003, in an interview with Lottie's granddaughter Peggy Jones Phillips, Peggy said of her grandmother, "Katharine Wright was a friend of hers. She worked for the family at their house on Hawthorn Street and she also worked for them when they moved to Hawthorn Hill. I loved her, but I told her one day she was stingy. I asked her for a nickle, and she said no, and I flew out of the house."(3) Perhaps if Peggy had offered to perform some chores for the nickle, she may have had better luck!

Lottie Jones, courtesy of Dayton Daily News, from October 5, 2003 issue.

 

July 10, 1929 check, Orville Wright to Lottie Jones.

Courtesy of The Journal Herald, Friday August 6, 1943. Lottie died at her home at 137 South Williams street after an illness of two years. Her estate was valued at $7130. The obituary mentions in error that both Orville and Wilbur were born at 7 Hawthorn. Orville and Katharine were born at 7 Hawthorn, but Wilbur was born near Millville, Indiana.

 

Woodland Cemetery, Dayton, Ohio, view from Lottie Jones' grave site looking toward Goose Lake in the distance. Her head stone partially shows in this picture, lower right. Photo by author, June 2021.

 

Orville Wright died on January 30, 1948. His will had been signed June 21, 1937. At that time, his will had a provision to leave a portion of his estate, $300,000, to be received by the Board of Trustees at Oberlin College to be held as an Endowment Fund to provide payments to a select group of seven people who had touched Orville's life. Payments were to be distributed quarterly, for the remaining years of their lives. Named were Orville's brother Lorin, his sister-in-law Lulu, his secretary Mabel Beck, his life long friend Ed Sines, his mechanic and friend Charles Taylor, his housekeeper Carrie Grumbach, and his laundress Charlotte Jones. Orville had outlived Lorin (1939), Ed (1940), and Lottie (1943).

 

Check written to Lottie Jones from Orville Wright, July 31, 1943. Lottie died at her home after an illness of two years. This check was written to Lottie just four days before her death. The last year of Lottie's life, Orville sent her checks monthly, and recorded the checks as "Pension" on each check stub as can be viewed in the Wright's Financial records at Wright State University Special Collections and Archives.(17)

Items left to investigate

• The date of Luther Jones death and burial location. Answer 6/26/21- Though the 1940 Census indicated Lottie as widowed, Luther was alive in 1940. John Luther Jones, born in 1873, died September 20th, 1943, six weeks after Lottie passed. Luther's address was given as 409 Norwood Ave, his son Edward's residence. His grave marker is in the area of Lottie's grave site.

  

  John Luther Jones, born November 23, 1873, died September 20, 1943, buried at Woodland Cemetery, Dayton, Ohio.
  

  
  
  
• 

  Lottie Taylor Jones, born 1874, died August 4, 1943, buried at Woodland Cemetery, Dayton, Ohio.
  

  
  
• Was the Wright's furniture left at 7 Hawthorn from 1914 through 1923 for use by tenants, or had Lottie removed the furniture to her place of residence during these years?
  

Copyright 2021-Getting the Story Wright

Notes:

1. Dayton Daily News, Sunday November 22, 1936, "A Washerwoman's Recollections of the Wrights" by Charles J. Bauer.

2. Benson Ford Research Center Wright Brother Archives.

3. Dayton Daily News, Sunday October 5, 2003, "Time has blurred Lottie Jone's link to Wrights" by James Cummings.

4. Dayton Daily News, Sunday, March 26, 1922 "Larceny Charged".

5. The Dayton Herald, Monday, January 5, 1925, "Police Searching for Highwaymen"

6. Dayton Daily News, Tuesday November 2, 1915, "Good Morning Judge". Luther had shown a violent side in 1908 by hitting a foreman with a rock the previous winter, chased a man "all over Baxter street with a knife, because he would not give him ten cents."(Dayton Herald, May 25, 1908.)

7. The Dayton Herald, Thursday June 7, 1923, "Registered Wrong"

8. The Dayton Herald, Wednesday July 9, 1919, "Junker Took Coin and Then Ran Away".

9. Dayton Daily News, November 12, 1913, "Non-Support Cases".

10. Dayton Daily News, September 27, 1934, "3 Seek Decrees".

11. Ann Honious, in "What Dreams We Have- The Wright Brothers and Their Home Town of Dayton Ohio", Ch 10, Ann wrote, "When they vacated the home at 7 Hawthorne Street in 1914, the Wrights chose not to sell but to lease the home to Lottie Jones, their laundress. Milton gave the house to Katharine in 1900, and in the early 1920's she decided to sell to Lottie for $4000. This sale was either never finalized or recorded, for the deed was not transferred to Lottie until 1929, after Katharine's death." Ann lists multiple sources including letters from Katharine Wright to Harry Haskel, and interview with Wilkinson Wright, and source #1 in this list, "A Washerwoman's Recollections of the Wrights". Seems unlikely that Lottie would have paid Katharine rent, and then leased the home out to others from 1914 through 1923. Ann further wrote "Since Orville and Katharine purchased new furniture, much of the old furniture was left in the Hawthorne Street home for Lottie and her family." This is confusing, because the Dayton directories do not show Lottie and family living at 7 Hawthorn until 1924. So if the furniture was left at 7 Hawthorn, it was used by the various families that rented the house from 1914 through 1923. Then when Lottie moved in in late 1923, the furniture apparently became hers at that time. Comments anyone?

12. Lottie had been making payments from 1924/5 through 1929 directly to Katharine to pay for the home, in lieu of providing the full cash amount up front. From a 2003 Dayton Daily News story, "Property records uncovered by Rene Mays and James McCowan of the Montgomery County Recorder's Office show that Lottie Jones didn't buy the Hawthorn Street house until 1934, when she paid $3500 for it. She bought it from the estate of Katharine Wright Haskell, who died in 1929. It's unclear if Jones rented the house from 1924 to 1933 or had some other arrangement with the Wright family."(3) Lottie had been making payments toward the purchase of the home, and simply paid the balance owed in 1934.

13. Katharine Wright letters to Harry Haskell December 22, 1924 and October 16, 1925 shared by Harry Haskell's grandson, Harry Haskell with author per e-mail correspondence. Harry shared a document dated May 1931 "Receipt and Releases", in which his Grandfather listed $669.45 identified as "Principle payments on Dayton House by Lottie Jones".  Harry also shared of Lottie that "it seems clear that she had not paid off the purchase price before Katharine's death in 1929, because the house is listed among the assets in Katharine's estate in the probate record of her will dated May 19, 1930. The line item reads: 7/1 (1929) Payment received from Lottie Jones on indebtedness ($)40.00."

14. Another letter concerning this subject, see OW letter to Ivonette Wright Miller, January 15, 1935, WSU Archives.

15.  The 1910 Census listed John L(Luther) Jones and Lottie Jones living at 298 Dunbar, with sons Robert Edward, and Wilbur. The Dayton Directories listings require some interpretation, and are as follows, including Census reports:

• 1912 Luther Jones (Lottie) 296 (typo?) S Dunbar Ave
• 1913 Luther Jones (Lottie) 298 S Dunbar Ave 
• 1913 November,  Luther Jones 23 Weidner Street (per news report)
  
• 1914 Luther Jones (Lottie) 298 S Dunbar Ave
• 1915 Edward J Borton (Edna), Mabel Borton, 7 Hawthorn
  
• 1916 Luther Jones (Lottie) 298 S Dunbar Ave
• 1916 Edward J Borton (Edna), Mabel Borton, 7 Hawthorn
  
• 1917 Luther Jones (Lottie) 298 S Dunbar Ave
• 1917 Mrs. Lottie Jones laundress 624 S.Western Ave
• 1917 Chas Grumbach (Carrie M) 7 Hawthorn
  
• 1918 Luther Jones (Lottie) 298 S Dunbar Ave
• 1918 Frank M Sheller (Myrtl M) 7 Hawthorn
• 1919 Frank M Sheller (Myrtl M) 7 Hawthorn 
• 1920 Census, Luther & Lottie Jones, Edward, Paul, Wilbur Jones 298 S Dunbar Ave
  
• 1921 Mrs. Lottie Jones, 1939 W Eaton Ave (Not sure if same Lottie Jones)
  
• 1921 Clara (wid of Louis) & Eva Acton 7 Hawthorn
  
• 1921 Earl Walker, Henry Otto, John Otto all room at 7 Hawthorn
• 1922 Mrs. Lottie Jones, 1947 W Eaton Ave (Not sure if same Lottie Jones)
  
• 1922 Clara Acton, Eva Acton, Grace Acton, Myrtle Sodder, 7 Hawthorn
• 1923 Mrs. Lottie Jones, 1947 W Eaton Ave (Not sure if same Lottie Jones)
  
• 1923 Clara Acton, Grace Acton, Harry Fear (rooms) 7 Hawthorn
  
• 1924 Mrs. Lottie Jones, Edward Jones 7 Hawthorn 
• 1925 Mrs. Lottie Jones, Edward & Connie Jones, 7 Hawthorn
• 1926 Mrs. Lottie Jones, Edward & Connie Jones, Wilbur Jones, 7 Hawthorn
  
• 1927 Mrs. Lottie Jones, Edward Jones, Wilbur Jones, 7 Hawthorn
• 1928 Mrs. Lottie Jones, Edward Jones, Wilbur Jones, 7 Hawthorn
• 1929 Mrs. Lottie Jones, Edward & Connie Jones, Paul Jones, Wilbur Jones, 7 Hawthorn
• 1930 Lottie & Luther Jones, Edward & Connie Jones, Paul Jones, Wilbur Jones, 7 Hawthorn
• 1931 Mrs. Lottie Jones, Edward & Connie Jones, Paul Jones, Wilbur Jones, 7 Hawthorn
• 1932 Mrs. Lottie Jones, Edwd & Connie Jones, Paul Jones, Wilbur & Rebecca Jones, 7 Hawthorn
• 1933 Mrs. Lottie Jones, Edward & Connie Jones, Wilbur & Rebecca Jones, 7 Hawthorn
• 1934 Mrs. Lottie Jones, Edward & Connie Jones, Paul Jones, Wilbur Jones, 7 Hawthorn
• 1936 Mrs. Lottie Jones, Paul Jones, Wilbur Jones, 7 Hawthorn
• 1936 Edward & Connie Jones 400 Norwood Ave
• 1937 Mrs. Lottie Jones, Paul Jones, Wilbur Jones, 402 Norwood Ave
• 1938 Mrs. Lottie Jones, Paul Jones, Wilbur Jones, 402 Norwood Ave
• 1939 Mrs. Lottie Jones, Paul Jones, Wilbur Jones, 402 Norwood Ave
• 1940 Census, Lottie Jones, Paul Jones, Wilbur Jones, 137 S Williams Street 
• 1940 Census, Luther Jones living with Edward & Connie Jones and their children Charlotte, Marie, Mary, and Katharine at 409 Norwood Ave.
  
• 1942 Lottie Jones (widow of John), Paul Jones, 137 S Williams Street

 16.  The addition with 2nd floor bay window to south can be seen pictured in the following postcard which is postmarked 1922.

 17. MS-1 Wright Brothers Collection, Special Collections & Archives, Wright State University Libraries, Series 3: Financial Records, 1814-1948, Subseries 3D: Union Trust Company/Winters National Bank, 1930-1948.

Bishop Milton Wright, Editor of Religious Telescope and Father of Wilbur and Orville Wright.

(Revised March 9, 2019) The Wright Brother's father, Milton Wright, was editor of the Religious Telescope from 1869 through 1877. The Telescope was the organ (newspaper) of the United Brethren and was printed at the UB Publishing House in Dayton, which is still standing, now known as the Centre City Building. He continued to contribute submissions to the Telescope up to the split of the church in 1889. Contrary to some fictional writer's portrayal,  Milton Wright was a loving father and husband, and was greatly admired by his children. 

Members of the Twentieth General Conference, Old Constitution UB, 1889. Bishop Wright top row, third from left.(1)

January 5, 1876 issue, Milton Wright and W.O. Tobey, Editors.(1)

 Milton provides a summary of his ministry with the United Brethren in a letter dated June 22, 1909, just prior to heading to Ft. Myer to watch Orville fly. "Yes, I am the student at Hartsville, of 1853. I have since served as presiding elder ten yeas (years), as editor (1869-1877) eight years; as bishop twenty-four years, beginning in 1877. I  am in the last half of my eighty-first year....."

Portion of Milton Wright letter to L.N. Countryman, June 22, 1909 (1)

 In 1877, Milton was elected bishop, as recorded in the Proceedings of the Seventeenth General Conference, of the United Brethren in Christ, Held in Westfield, Illinois.

May 1877 Proceedings of the 17th UB General Conference (1)

From the 1877 Proceedings, Milton Wright elected Bishop.

Milton's mission work took him to the Pacific coast to Oregon. In May of 1886, Milton wanted to relocate his family, but because of poor health of his wife Susan, and his son Wilbur, and because of the expense, he had to leave them in Dayton. Per his diary, he left for Portland May 24th. The Religious Telescope records in the May 26th, 1886 issue, "Bishop Wright said he had a desire to have his family on the coast, but it was a great undertaking while they were in present ill health. It was not thought best to remove Sister Wright over the mountains...." 

Tom Crouch in "The Bishops Boys" pg 75, writes of Wilbur's accident, being injured while playing a game on ice skates. Tom indicates the winter of 1885-86 is the likely period for the accident to have occurred, and also shares Milton Wright's words of what happened: "In his nineteenth year when playing a game on skates at an artificial lake at the Soldier's Home near Dayton, Ohio, a bat accidentally flew out of the hand of a young man...and struck Wilbur, knocking him down...a few weeks later, he began to be affected with nervous palpitations of the heart....The family insisted on a period of extended rest for Wilbur when the first sign of serious complications developed."

Religious Telescope, May 26, 1886- Wright's desire to move family to coast, but they were in ill health. (1)
 

The May 5th, 1886 Telescope makes mention of Milton and Susan's son Reuchlin's marriage. 

May 5th, 1886 Telescope, Marriage of Reuchlin and Lulu Billheimer. (1)

Dr. L. Davis officiated in the ceremonies of the occasion, marriage of Reuchlin Wright and Lulu Billheimer.

The October 6, 1886 Telescope reports that Susan Wright's mother fell on the stairs, breaking one of her thighs. Several years later, January 23 1889 issue reports Susan's mother has died. Susan would also die that year, on July 4th.

October 6, 1886 Telescope, news of Susan Wright's mother's accident. (1)

The differences of opinions between the Radicals (Conservatives) and the Liberals within the Brethren Church that eventually led to the split in 1889 are recorded for history in the Telescope, with many articles written by Milton Wright arguing against proposed changes to the Church Constitution, and against the relaxing of the restrictions of membership of Brethren in secret societies, of which Milton was opposed. Wilbur was much involved with assisting his father in this battle, and the story is told well in Tom Crouch's "The Bishop Boys", and Ian Mackersey's "The Wright Brothers". Milton's Telescope articles and responses by others appear through the years, a sample as follows:

June 15, 1881, pg 597, A Card- Richmond Indiana, "I have...no idea of either abandoning its principles or its laws on secrecy."

April 7, 1886- Communications- article by Milton Wright

April 21, 1886- The Real Issues- Response to Bishop Wright by W. J. Shuey.

May 12, 1886- A Card, Response to Shuey's article by M. Wright.

August 4, 1886- a.The Real Situation, Gen'l Conference of 1885 explained by Shuey. Controversy over secret societies. b. L. Davies article stating that he didn't say specific things attributed to him. c. Reuchlin Wright confirms this account. d. Conference minutes from Walla Walla by Bishop Wright.

May 30, 1888- a. A New Bishopric Proposed- Bishop Wright as candidate for new Episcopal dignity over genuine United Brethren. Told he needs to disavow himself from this, to correct it. b. A Few Things- Men who separate themselves from a denomination...by J. Weaver.

June 4, 1888, Comparison- Amended & Old Confession of Faith & Constitution. 

June 27, 1888- a. The Amended Constitution- Shuey. b. The New Bishopric- Bishop Wright, why did he not give Brother Dillon the spanking he deserved? Give the writer of such "gossipy" "anonymous" articles a spanking. Give him a good one.

1889 photo of William Dillon, editor of the Christian Conservator

By 1888, the articles begin to get very personal. Susan Wright had had enough, and writes a letter to her husband, dated June 1, 1888. This letter is held in the WSU Special Collections & Archives.  
Susan writes "Hott has held in as long as he could and has now commenced on you. In the last Tel he has a note entitled a New Bishopric proposed, and then goes on to quote what Dillon wrote in the last Conservator about your last visit to the coast.....I have it in my mind to write him a note thanking him for the interest he takes in your welfare and that of your district and suggest that Judas also took quite an interest in his Lord...." (Susan was so shy in nature, it really is funny that she wrote that line. Matt Yanney)

Susan was referring to the following article, written by editor J.W. Hott:

Religious Telescope, May 30, 1888, page 344, Editorial Notes- A New Bishopric Proposed. It is understood that a few of our brethren who are leading in the opposition to the action of the General Conference and the church-commission are planning a threat of separation from the Church after the next General Conference in the event that the Church and General Conference should approve and adopt the revised constitution. Though a year has yet to elapse before the sitting of the General Conference, last week the following paragraph given in their paper indicates the plans of the distant future in so far as to put Bishop Wright forth as the candidate for a new Episcopal dignity. ("Their paper", the Christian Conservator, began publication soon after the General Conference of 1885) It reads: "Bishop Wright will leave for his district on the Pacific coast, May 28th. This is his last trip to the coast under this election. The next quadrennium he will likely serve as bishop over genuine United Brethren in the eastern states." The item being reasonably suspected to come from an intimate friend of the bishop, deserves his prompt attention and disavowal in the same medium which proclaims it.....It ill becomes a bishop to travel under such a banner of division, no matter by whom lifted above him. We have that high regard for the bishop which prompts us to believe that he will correct this compromising statement at the earliest opportunity. (If the author had a high regard for the Bishop, he would have written directly to Milton, and not made the issue a public one- Matt Yanney).

This article is followed by another in the Religious Telescope, June 27, 1888, pg 408, Editorial Notes, That New Bishopric, written by James Hott- Bishop Wright in cleansing himself of the aspersion cast upon him by Brother Dillon, also devotes himself to a castigation of the Telescope for calling his attention to such an offensive statement as we could not in justice to the Church overlook. Why did he not give Brother Dillon the spanking he deserved? He lets him off as a mere writer of "anonymous" and "gossipy" articles. That we tried to throw suspicion on the bishop's official integrity and hinder his usefulness on his district is not at all correct. When we quoted the paragraph which stated that Bishop Wright "would likely serve as bishop over genuine United Brethren in the eastern states" after the next General Conference, we kindly called his attention (Give me a break!) to a public menace of division in the Church.....Bro. Wright thinks the article first giving forth the announcement "gossipy" and "anonymous". His facilities were better than ours for knowing that it was written by Bro. Dillon, the editor of the paper and the leader of the movement it represents. It has since been defended as such. Nor was it a private matter which the editor of the Telescope was under bonds to see the bishop about. It was before the public a week before his departure, and he had received the "stab in the back" from Brutus. It was a "stab" in the breast......Let him see Bro. Dillon concerning the matter. Give the writer of such "gossipy" "anonymous" articles a spanking. Give him a good one. (William Dillon was editor of the Christian Conservator).

The Christian Conservator edited by Revs. W. Dillon and H. Floyd. Bishop Floyd spoke at Susan Wright's funeral.

Telescope, July 2, 1885, Christian Conservator succeeds Richmond Star (1)

Susan wrote another letter to Milton, dated July 25, 1888- 

"Dr Hott lets Will off pretty easy. He calls him nothing worse than a fool but don't deny a word he says. He says wise men sometimes change their minds, but fools never. He says some have recently spent much breath and ink in trying to make it appear that there was some monster crime in the church commission because the members spoke their minds freely and did not always agree to every thing proposed." (The comment from Dr. Hott, editor of the Telescope up to 1889, about Wilbur being a fool is in reference to Wilbur's "Scenes in the Church Commission During the Last day of its Session", Wright Printers, Ohio 1888.)

Religious Telescope July 25th, 1888, Differences of Opinion- Men do not always think alike. Wise men do not always think the same things. It is an old adage, "Wise men sometimes change their opinions; fools never." There are those who are always hunting for differences, and with a view to magnify them. Recently some (Wilbur Wright and his "Scenes in the Church Commission...") have spent much breath and freely shed ink to try to make it appear that there was some terrible monster crime in the church-commission... 

Milton Wright recorded in his Diary July 6, 1889 "D. K. Zeller and Emma came & Daniel Koerner, and our son Reuchlin. Funeral at 2:00 afternoon. Bp. Halleck Floyd (pictured above) pr. Ps. 116:15. 'Precious in sight.' Bury Susan in Woodland Cemetery about 4:00 pm. Daniel Koerner & Emma Zeller stay with us." 
Susan K. Wright had passed away July 4, 1889. Milton had written "and thus went out the light of my home." In the June 22, 1909 letter pictured at the beginning of this blog, nearing the 20th anniversary of his wife's passing, Milton wrote "..Susan Koerner, 'the sweetest spirit earth ever knew', who left us July 4th, 1889...."
The responsibilities of the church struggles continued, and Bishop Wright worked on the new Discipline, indicating in his Diary July 11th, "Worked on preparing copy for the next Discipline all forenoon & part of the afternoon with Rev. Wm. Dillon (pictured above)..."
Below is pictured the 1889 Discipline as assembled by Bishop Wright. I have read that "Wright's sons Wilbur and Orville provided publishing services for the new organization until a publishing house could be established in Huntington, Indiana"- I have wondered if Wilbur and Orville may have printed the 1889 Disciplines. Anyone with information one way or the other on this question- I would appreciate any comments.  

Two Disciplines were published in 1889, one from the New Constitution UB Church, and this one compiled by Bishop Wright, for the Old Constitution UB Church.(1)

In the Introduction, Milton writes that during the May 1889 General Conference, "a portion of the General Conference abandoned the Confession of Faith and Constitution of the United Brethren in Christ and organized a new church having new articles of faith and a new constitution. As that Church has seen fit to issue a book of discipline....it seems necessary to state that the book of discipline here presented is the Discipline of the Church of the United Brethren in Christ..." (1)

This 1889 United Brethren Discipline was signed by Rev. J. K. Nelson, pictured in the members of the 20th General Conference. (1)

1889 picture of J. K. Nelson of the Maryland Conference.

The dispute between the Radicals and the Liberals is documented in the Telescope over the next number of years, through 1894, with many negative comments by W. J. Shuey concerning Milton Wright, as the court battles continued over ownership of church property.

Two decades later, Shuey and Wright are honored on the 80th Anniversary issue. Time and forgiveness heals wounds.

In 1899, Dr. Hott's wife died, and Milton records in his diary-

Monday, August 7, At home. Mrs. Martha Hott died at 8:00.

Wednesday, August 9, Attended the funeral of Mrs. (J.W.) Hott at 12:00. W.J. Shuey and J.Weaver officiated. 

In 1902, J.W. Hott died and Milton wrote-

Monday, January 13, ....Attended Bishop Jas. Wm. Hott's funeral at 1:00, at Oak St. U.B. Church.

In 1914, Milton writes in his diary "Monday, February 9, Rev. W. J. Shuey was born in Miamisburg, Feb 9, 1827. He is now 87 years old...." 

And in 1917, he writes "Friday, February 9, This is W. J. Shuey's Birth-Day Anniversary- the ninetieth. Orville told me that I had an invitation to attend it...."

December 31, 1914 issue of The Telescope, 80th anniversary issue, Author's copy.

  

 From the 1917 issue of "The Ohio Blue Book- or Who's Who in- The Buckeye State", Milton Wright is listed "Teacher- Clergyman: born, Rush Co., Ind., Nov. 17, 1828; son of Dan Wright and Catharine (Reeder) Wright; educated: Rush and Fayette counties common schools; Hartsville College. Married, Susan Catharine Koerner, Nov. 24; 1859. Clergyman, 1853; ordained by Bishop David Edwards, Abbington, Ind., 1856; had charge of Indianapolis Mission Station, 1855-1856; elected editor of the Religious Telescope, 1869; served 8 yrs.; elected Bishop, 1877; served 24 yrs. Positively and publicly declined again to serve in 1905. The United Brethren in Christ. Encouraged his sons, Wilbur and Orville Wright, in their invention of the aeroplane and helped them with means by which they accomplished it. Home address: Oakwood, Dayton, O."

Dayton Daily News, April 4, 1917

Milton Wright died April 3, 1917, and is buried at Woodland Cemetery in Dayton, Ohio in the family plot shared with his wife Susan, sons Wilbur and Orville, and daughter Katharine.

The Ohio Blue Book, 1917, Author's copy. Milton Wright listed, "Encouraged his sons, Wilbur and Orville Wright, in their invention of the aeroplane and helped them with means by which they accomplished it." My Great Uncle, Benjamin Franklin Yanney, shares this page with the father of the Wright Brothers (lower right hand).(1)

Related posts: 

Bishop Milton Wright, Editor of the Religious Telescope and Father of Wilbur and Orville Wright 

Bishop Milton Wright Autobiography 

Christianity Amongst the Wright Brothers 

Reuchlin Wright- The Eldest Wright Brother 

 Index of Topics

 
Copyright 2021-Getting the Story Wright
 
Updates-
3/9/19 added April 4, 1917 Death notice.


Notes-
1. From author's collection.