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Milton Wright (Bishop)
Encyclopedia
Milton Wright was the father of aviation pioneers Wilbur Wright and Orville Wright, and a Bishop
of the Church of the United Brethren in Christ
.
frontier, in Rush County
. He attended Hartsville College, and graduated in 1854. He married Susan C. Wright in 1858.
. She declined, but agreed to marry him when he returned. They married in 1859, when he was almost 31 and she was 28.
Both shared a love of learning for the sake of learning. Their home had two libraries — the first consisted of books on theology, the second was a large, varied collection. Looking back on his childhood, Orville once commented that he and his brother had
. The second son
, Lorin, was born
in 1862 in Orange Township, Fayette County, Indiana
. Wilbur, the third son, was born in 1867 near Millville, Indiana
. In 1871, the family moved to Dayton, Ohio
, where Susan gave birth to her fourth and fifth children, twins Otis and Ida, who died soon after birth. Orville, the sixth child, was born in Dayton, Ohio, in 1871, and Katharine, the only surviving daughter
, was born in 1874.
None of the Wright children had middle names. Instead, their father tried hard to give them distinctive first names. Wilbur was named for Wilbur Fisk
and Orville for Orville Dewey
, both clergymen that Milton Wright admired. They were "Will" and "Orv" to their friends, and "Ullam" and "Bubs" to each other. In Dayton, their neighbors knew them simply as the "Bishop's kids."
Because of Milton's position in the church, the Wrights moved frequently — twelve times before finally returning permanently to Dayton in 1884.
, alcohol, and "secret societies" such as Freemasonry
.
of the Church of the United Brethren in Indianapolis
. He was ordained in 1856 and was pastor in Andersonville, Indiana
from 1856 to 1857. Later that year, he went to Oregon
as a missionary
and served as pastor at Sublimity
and first president of Sublimity College, a denominational institution.
Wright returned from Sublimity in 1859 and was assigned by the church as a circuit preacher
in eastern Indiana
, where he served also served as presiding elder and pastor in Hartsville, Indiana
. From 1868 to 1869 he was professor
of theology
in Hartsville College.
of the church newspaper, the Religious Telescope, moving to Dayton, Ohio
. This position that gave him prominence within the church and helped him get elected as a bishop in 1877.
Bishop Wright continued to advance in the church hierarchy. In 1878, he assumed responsibility for the Western conferences of the church and moved his family to Cedar Rapids, Iowa
. He traveled widely on church business, but always sent back many letters and often brought presents home. His gifts stimulated his children's curiosity and exposed them to a world beyond their immediate surroundings. Returning from one of his travels, he brought Wilbur and Orville a toy helicopter. The helicopter was made of bamboo, cork, paper and powered by rubber bands. When the first broke, the boys make several copies. Westfield College, in Illinois
, gave him the degree of D.D. in 1878.
. Milton Wright, a staunch conservative
, failed to be re-elected to his Bishop's post. The Wrights moved to Richmond, Indiana
, where Milton served a circuit preacher
once again. He served as presiding elder in the White River conference from 1881 to 1885. He also founded a monthly religious newspaper, The Star, for fellow conservatives in 1883.
As the liberals in his church began to press for change, Milton Wright sensed there would be a showdown with the conservatives. Wanting to get back into the fray, he decided to move back to Dayton, the political center of the Church of the United Brethren in Christ, in 1884. It was the last time he would move his family. Wright was once more elected Bishop in 1885. He was to spend the next four years serving the Pacific Coast district.
In 1889, Milton Wright broke with the liberal leadership of the church and with others started a conservative church that continued with the former Constitution, naming the denomination the Church of the United Brethren in Christ (Old Constitution)
. Wright took an important leadership role in the new organization. Since they were in the minority, they had to rebuild from scratch. Wright's sons Wilbur and Orville provided publishing services for the new organization until a publishing house could be established in Huntington, Indiana
. Wright also provided valuable support to Huntington University (Huntington College)
, established by the Old Constitution branch in 1897.
, where he was indicted for land fraud.
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
of the Church of the United Brethren in Christ
Church of the United Brethren in Christ
The Church of the United Brethren in Christ is an evangelical Christian denomination based in Huntington, Indiana. It is a Protestant denomination of episcopal structure, Arminian theology, with roots in the Mennonite and German Reformed communities of 18th century Pennsylvania, as well as close...
.
Family
- Father: Dan Wright
- Mother: Catherine Wright née Reeder
- Spouse: Susan Catharine Wright néeMarried and maiden namesA married name is the family name adopted by a person upon marriage. When a person assumes the family name of her spouse, the new name replaces the maiden name....
Koerner married 1859 (b. 1831, d. 4 July 1889) - Children:
- Reuchlin Wright (b. 1861 near Fairmont, IndianaIndianaIndiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
, d. 1920 KansasKansasKansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
) - Lorin Wright (b. 1862 Orange Township, Indiana, d. 1939)
- Wilbur Wright (b. 16 April 1867 near Millville, IndianaMillville, IndianaMillville is an unincorporated town in Liberty Township, Henry County, Indiana.-Geography:Millville is located at , just north of State Road 38 and east of New Castle on Wilbur Wright Road. It is home to the Wilbur Wright Birthplace and Museum....
, d. 30 May 1912 Dayton, Ohio) - Otis Wright (b. 1870 Dayton, OhioDayton, OhioDayton is the 6th largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Montgomery County, the fifth most populous county in the state. The population was 141,527 at the 2010 census. The Dayton Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 841,502 in the 2010 census...
, d. 1870 Dayton, Ohio) - Ida Wright (b. 1870 Dayton, Ohio, d. 1870 Dayton, Ohio)
- Orville Wright (b. 19 August 1871 Dayton, Ohio, d. 30 January 1948 Dayton, Ohio)
- Katharine WrightKatharine WrightKatharine Wright Haskell was the only sister of aviation pioneers Wilbur and Orville Wright. She was a high school teacher and later became an international celebrity when she accompanied her famous brothers in Europe....
(b. 19 August 1874 Dayton, Ohio, d. 3 March 1929 Kansas City, Missouri)
- Reuchlin Wright (b. 1861 near Fairmont, Indiana
Early life
Wright was born on the IndianaIndiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
frontier, in Rush County
Rush County, Indiana
As of the census of 2000, there were 18,261 people, 6,923 households, and 5,046 families residing in the county. The population density was 45 people per square mile . There were 7,337 housing units at an average density of 18 per square mile...
. He attended Hartsville College, and graduated in 1854. He married Susan C. Wright in 1858.
Marriage
Milton met Susan at Hartsville College in 1853, where he was appointed supervisor of the preparatory department and she was a literature student. After a long courtship, Milton asked Susan to marry him and accompany him on his assignment by the church to OregonOregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
. She declined, but agreed to marry him when he returned. They married in 1859, when he was almost 31 and she was 28.
Both shared a love of learning for the sake of learning. Their home had two libraries — the first consisted of books on theology, the second was a large, varied collection. Looking back on his childhood, Orville once commented that he and his brother had
- “special advantages...we were lucky enough to grow up in a home environment where there was always much encouragement to children to pursue intellectual interests; to investigate whatever aroused their curiosity.”
Children
Susan and Milton had seven children. Four sons and one daughter survived past infancy. Their first son, Reuchlin, was born in a log cabin in 1861 near Fairmount, IndianaFairmount, Indiana
Fairmount is a town in Fairmount Township, Grant County in the east central part of the U.S. state of Indiana. The population was 2,992 at the 2000 census. It is ninety kilometers northeast of Indianapolis...
. The second son
Son
A son is a male offspring; a boy or man in relation to his parents. The female analogue is a daughter.-Social issues regarding sons:In pre-industrial societies and some current countries with agriculture-based economies, a higher value was, and still is, assigned to sons rather than daughters,...
, Lorin, was born
Born
Born may refer to:* Childbirth* Born , a limited series comic book featuring the Punisher* Born Feinkost GmbH, a German food company* Born , a lunar crater-Places:* Born, Netherlands, a town in the Netherlands...
in 1862 in Orange Township, Fayette County, Indiana
Orange Township, Fayette County, Indiana
Orange Township is one of nine townships in Fayette County, Indiana. As of the 2000 census, its population was 789.-Geography:Orange Township covers an area of ; of this is water.-Adjacent townships:* Fairview Township...
. Wilbur, the third son, was born in 1867 near Millville, Indiana
Millville, Indiana
Millville is an unincorporated town in Liberty Township, Henry County, Indiana.-Geography:Millville is located at , just north of State Road 38 and east of New Castle on Wilbur Wright Road. It is home to the Wilbur Wright Birthplace and Museum....
. In 1871, the family moved to Dayton, Ohio
Dayton, Ohio
Dayton is the 6th largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Montgomery County, the fifth most populous county in the state. The population was 141,527 at the 2010 census. The Dayton Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 841,502 in the 2010 census...
, where Susan gave birth to her fourth and fifth children, twins Otis and Ida, who died soon after birth. Orville, the sixth child, was born in Dayton, Ohio, in 1871, and Katharine, the only surviving daughter
Daughter
A daughter is a female offspring; a girl, woman, or female animal in relation to her parents. The male equivalent is a son. Analogously the name is used on several areas to show relations between groups or elements.-Etymology:...
, was born in 1874.
None of the Wright children had middle names. Instead, their father tried hard to give them distinctive first names. Wilbur was named for Wilbur Fisk
Wilbur Fisk
Willbur Fisk , also known as Wilbur Fisk, was a prominent American Methodist minister, educator and theologian. He was the first President of Wesleyan University. Willbur Fisk (August 31, 1792 – February 22, 1839), also known as Wilbur Fisk, was a prominent American Methodist minister,...
and Orville for Orville Dewey
Orville Dewey
Orville Dewey was an American Unitarian minister.He was born in Sheffield, Massachusetts. His ancestors were among the first settlers of Sheffield, where he spent his early life, alternately working upon his father's farm and attending the village school. He was naturally thoughtful, and was...
, both clergymen that Milton Wright admired. They were "Will" and "Orv" to their friends, and "Ullam" and "Bubs" to each other. In Dayton, their neighbors knew them simply as the "Bishop's kids."
Because of Milton's position in the church, the Wrights moved frequently — twelve times before finally returning permanently to Dayton in 1884.
Church service
Milton joined the Church of the United Brethren in Christ in 1846 because of its stand on political and moral issues including slaverySlavery
Slavery is a system under which people are treated as property to be bought and sold, and are forced to work. Slaves can be held against their will from the time of their capture, purchase or birth, and deprived of the right to leave, to refuse to work, or to demand compensation...
, alcohol, and "secret societies" such as Freemasonry
Freemasonry
Freemasonry is a fraternal organisation that arose from obscure origins in the late 16th to early 17th century. Freemasonry now exists in various forms all over the world, with a membership estimated at around six million, including approximately 150,000 under the jurisdictions of the Grand Lodge...
.
Indiana and Oregon
From 1855 to 1856 he served as pastorPastor
The word pastor usually refers to an ordained leader of a Christian congregation. When used as an ecclesiastical styling or title, this role may be abbreviated to "Pr." or often "Ps"....
of the Church of the United Brethren in Indianapolis
Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
. He was ordained in 1856 and was pastor in Andersonville, Indiana
Andersonville, Indiana
Andersonville is an unincorporated town in Posey Township in the northwest corner of Franklin County, Indiana, USA.-Geography:Andersonville is located at at an elevation of 1050 feet. It lies at the intersection of U.S...
from 1856 to 1857. Later that year, he went to Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
as a missionary
Missionary
A missionary is a member of a religious group sent into an area to do evangelism or ministries of service, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care and economic development. The word "mission" originates from 1598 when the Jesuits sent members abroad, derived from the Latin...
and served as pastor at Sublimity
Sublimity, Oregon
Sublimity is a city in Marion County, Oregon, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the city population was 2,148. It is part of the Salem Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
and first president of Sublimity College, a denominational institution.
Wright returned from Sublimity in 1859 and was assigned by the church as a circuit preacher
Circuit preacher
A circuit preacher is a Christian minister who, in response to a shortage of ministers, officiates at multiple churches in an area, thus covering a "circuit"....
in eastern Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
, where he served also served as presiding elder and pastor in Hartsville, Indiana
Hartsville, Indiana
Hartsville is a town in Haw Creek and Clifty townships, Bartholomew County, Indiana, United States. The population was 362 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Columbus, Indiana metropolitan statistical area.-Geography:...
. From 1868 to 1869 he was professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
of theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
in Hartsville College.
Ohio and Iowa
In 1869, Milton became editorEditing
Editing is the process of selecting and preparing written, visual, audible, and film media used to convey information through the processes of correction, condensation, organization, and other modifications performed with an intention of producing a correct, consistent, accurate, and complete...
of the church newspaper, the Religious Telescope, moving to Dayton, Ohio
Dayton, Ohio
Dayton is the 6th largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Montgomery County, the fifth most populous county in the state. The population was 141,527 at the 2010 census. The Dayton Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 841,502 in the 2010 census...
. This position that gave him prominence within the church and helped him get elected as a bishop in 1877.
Bishop Wright continued to advance in the church hierarchy. In 1878, he assumed responsibility for the Western conferences of the church and moved his family to Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Cedar Rapids is the second largest city in Iowa and is the county seat of Linn County. The city lies on both banks of the Cedar River, north of Iowa City and east of Des Moines, the state's capital and largest city...
. He traveled widely on church business, but always sent back many letters and often brought presents home. His gifts stimulated his children's curiosity and exposed them to a world beyond their immediate surroundings. Returning from one of his travels, he brought Wilbur and Orville a toy helicopter. The helicopter was made of bamboo, cork, paper and powered by rubber bands. When the first broke, the boys make several copies. Westfield College, in Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
, gave him the degree of D.D. in 1878.
Division in the church
By 1881, the leadership of the Church of the United Brethren in Christ was becoming more liberalLiberalism
Liberalism is the belief in the importance of liberty and equal rights. Liberals espouse a wide array of views depending on their understanding of these principles, but generally, liberals support ideas such as constitutionalism, liberal democracy, free and fair elections, human rights,...
. Milton Wright, a staunch conservative
Conservatism
Conservatism is a political and social philosophy that promotes the maintenance of traditional institutions and supports, at the most, minimal and gradual change in society. Some conservatives seek to preserve things as they are, emphasizing stability and continuity, while others oppose modernism...
, failed to be re-elected to his Bishop's post. The Wrights moved to Richmond, Indiana
Richmond, Indiana
Richmond is a city largely within Wayne Township, Wayne County, in east central Indiana, United States, which borders Ohio. The city also includes the Richmond Municipal Airport, which is in Boston Township and separated from the rest of the city...
, where Milton served a circuit preacher
Circuit preacher
A circuit preacher is a Christian minister who, in response to a shortage of ministers, officiates at multiple churches in an area, thus covering a "circuit"....
once again. He served as presiding elder in the White River conference from 1881 to 1885. He also founded a monthly religious newspaper, The Star, for fellow conservatives in 1883.
As the liberals in his church began to press for change, Milton Wright sensed there would be a showdown with the conservatives. Wanting to get back into the fray, he decided to move back to Dayton, the political center of the Church of the United Brethren in Christ, in 1884. It was the last time he would move his family. Wright was once more elected Bishop in 1885. He was to spend the next four years serving the Pacific Coast district.
In 1889, Milton Wright broke with the liberal leadership of the church and with others started a conservative church that continued with the former Constitution, naming the denomination the Church of the United Brethren in Christ (Old Constitution)
Church of the United Brethren in Christ (Old Constitution)
The Church of the United Brethren in Christ, Old Constitution is that part of the Church of the United Brethren in Christ which withdrew from the larger body in 1889 when the majority group adopted a new constitution...
. Wright took an important leadership role in the new organization. Since they were in the minority, they had to rebuild from scratch. Wright's sons Wilbur and Orville provided publishing services for the new organization until a publishing house could be established in Huntington, Indiana
Huntington, Indiana
Huntington, known as the "Lime City", is a small city in and the county seat of Huntington County, Indiana, United States. It is in Huntington Township and Union Township...
. Wright also provided valuable support to Huntington University (Huntington College)
Huntington University (United States)
Huntington University is an institution of higher education in Huntington, Indiana, United States, that is affiliated with the Church of the United Brethren in Christ.- History :...
, established by the Old Constitution branch in 1897.
Keiter controversy
At the turn of the century, Wright was adamant about prosecuting the publishing house agent, Millard Keiter, who was accused of embezzling. Many members of the publishing board supported Keiter. Because of the controversy, Wright's home district, the White River Conference, voted to rescind his license as minister. The General Conference overruled the home conference in 1905, reinstating Wright. Keiter moved to KentuckyKentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
, where he was indicted for land fraud.
External links
- Huntington College Magazine
- NASA Reliving the Wright Way
- Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum The Wright Brothers
- US Centennial of Flight Commission — Wright Family