An Unusual Childhood

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Meanwhile:
How about a
little music?
We have a selection of tunes that were popular during the first days of aviation, performed by Sue Keller, courtesy the Ragtime Press:

	*Alexander's Ragtime Band* Irving Berlin 1911
	*Aviation Rag* Mark Janza 1905
	*Maple Leaf Rag* Scott Joplin 1909
	*St. Louis Rag* Tom Turpin 1903
	*Waiting for the Robert E. Lee* Gilbert/Muir 1912

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mailto:[email protected]

ilbur and Orville Wright grew up in a close, caring family. Their father, Bishop Milton Wright, was a strict disciplinarian, but he and his wife, Susan, were also warm, loving, protective, and encouraged intellectual interest and constructive activity. Susan, the daughter of a carriage maker, was remarkably mechanically adept, and she taught her children to make all manner of things. Milton didn't know which end of a hammer to hang onto, but he encouraged this activity. He also exposed his children to the wide world beyond their horizon through his library and the letters he sent home when he traveled on church business.

The Wright brothers had their share of squabbles, like siblings everywhere. But they were much closer than most. Of his relationship to his brother, Wilbur wrote:

"From the time we were little children, my brother Orville and myself lived together, played together, worked together, and, in fact, thought together. We usually owned all of our toys in common, talked over our thoughts and aspirations so that nearly everything that was done in our lives has been the result of conversations, suggestions, and discussions between us."

Timeline:

	1859 to 1869 The United Brethren Church assigns Milton Wright as a circuit preacher in eastern Indiana. Wilbur is born near Millville on August 16, 1867.
	1869 to 1878 Milton moves to Dayton to edit the Religious Telescope newspaper and buys a new house in a city suburb. Orville is born on August 19, 1871. Milton is elected a bishop in 1877.
	1878 to 1881 Milton is appointed leader of the United Brethren conferences west of the Mississippi and the Wrights move to Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Returning from one of his travels, his brings Wilbur and Orville a toy helicopter. The boys make several copies.
	1881 to 1884 Milton loses his position to church politics and returns to Indiana as a circuit preacher. Susan's health begins to fail. Wilbur excels as a scholar and an athlete and graduates high school. Orville becomes interested in printing and develops a reputation for mischief.
	1884 to 1889 Concerned about changes in the United Brethren Church, Milton moves his family back to Dayton, Ohio to be closer to the leadership. In 1889 he splits with the church becomes leader of his own sect. After a sporting accident, Wilbur puts off college and tends his tuberculin mother. Orville drops out of high school in his senior year to start a printing business.

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Click on a picture to enlarge it.

Milton Wright, as a rising young clergyman in the late 1860s

Susan Wright, 1870

Reuchlin Wright

Lorin Wright

Wilbur Wright

Orville Wright

Katharine Wright

Like all good scholars, we don't pretend to have all the answers, and we're constantly searching for new information or ways to make our exhibits better and more accurate. We also welcome Wright scholars and enthusiasts who would like to participate. If you have information that we should include, or want to add to what's already here, please write. Address your comments to mailto:[email protected].
Last updated: August 28, 2006.