r-'—Wr"^- ''^1— 1 j --•tr.iiiiTi II'I'nn--•^Mfi' in'T',~i-i •-rn---iii"iivff fH'f i •-- r •r - i''iiiiin viti. •'-iinii •fivT— •]-•--
..i-.i,...—,
-i'ittiiri-^i<'-'ifc-ii r i-iafi'i-'r
-^^•-'^"'•^ii-jT ••'ir I•'"tnn twf'r'
•5 ^ -
• f
fawt V.& li. 450W. »-14^
Tem&No..
SXATBOFOmO
Comty
Tow^l^
Bnreaa of Tital Statistics
Reg.Dist.No..
BIJBIAL OB BBMOTAT F£itMIT
•.^V-
^ ^ s,^/ha^
V
Fhce of bozialj
m
-
,-•:=
-»r:
V J."
*
-Ss- .
V-??
'
•
"v- •". '-•-*-
.... ••-:,.':^;V: •^.;-::ryv^-.. "y.,r-
•"-•i
•
.
-
'
. •"
• ;••.
•
-
- •-
'-
'
;.. ••••
.". •
"•;
• '• '••
•.;•••••
Si
•
M •• .
^.y..v,'N-::
• -'
•
••;•••
•
;.•
'•
•'•.•
••
m
:
'
•" :•
- " -
"
-_•
-". -
•-:'
• ^
yt:.;.. ••yi~ VV^
"-•:
Vyy-ArbAv-'
2Wilmington, 0., News-Journal
Tuescfay, July 21.1981
Deaths and
WSBam
WiUiam R. (Red) Wright, 72, of 226K.
St., Dayton, was found dead at his
Homer E. Wr^t
Homer E. Wright, 77, of 80117th St.,
Zephyrhills, Fla., formerly of
Wilmington, died Monday. His wife,
residence Monday evening.
HelenLukens Wright, survives.
Mr. Wright was bom in Clinton
County, January 31,1910, a son of Leslie
June 6, 1904, a son of Gumey C. and
and Rowena Berlin Wright. He had
retired as an employee of the National
Cash Register Co. in Dayton after 25
years.
Surviving are a half-brother, Billy S.
Luse of Wilmington; a half-sister, Mary
E. Thompson of California; and several
nieces and nephews. A brother Wendell
is deceased.
Graveside services will be 10 a.m.,
Thursday at Sugar Grove Cemetery
with the Lawrence Barker officiating.
Friends may call at the funeral home
from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m., Wednesday.
Burial will be under direction of the
Marsh-Chamberlain funeral home.
Mr. Wright was bora in Wilmington,
Carrie E. Bragg Wright. He was a
member of the Wilmington Friends
Meeting and past president of
wiimingtnn Lions Club. He attended
Wilmington College and was the former
publicity director for the Fraternal
Order of Eagles for Ohio, Kentucky,
and West Virginia. Mr. Wright held
numerous editorial positions with the
Dayton Daily News and the Wilmington
News-Journal.
Also surviving are thrw sons, David
H. of WilmifigtOQ, William L. of
Bradenton, Fla., and Homer C. of
Zephyrhills, Fla.; two daughters, Mrs.
Patricia (Jack) WoHe of Sabina and
Mrs. Caroline (Veraon) Baker of North
Hampton; 18 grandchildren; and 10
great-gtandchildren.
Serviceswillbe2pJn., Friday at the
ReynoldsrSmi^ fimeral home. Friends
may^ at the funerailbome from 2to4
and7to9p.m., Thursday
inSugarGrove Cemeteiy.
..
,
rt:gu.cy for TamUyTcn^^ 11
~
^
She's doing family book Wright way
By EILEEN HAWLK
DaUy News Sptclef WNter
thought so much of my family. We may
Although in Dayton, the name Wright
•0
out today, but we'll make up tomorrow:'': w
she altered men's clothing for a variety ^
tary school "offand on" for 13 years. Lal«
large family of Wrights in the city whose
history has been written by the clan's
matriarch, Lyda Wright Bradshaw Guy.
University in Frankfort and taught elem/^
MRS. GUY ATTENDED Kentucky State
usually brings to mind Orville and Wilbur
and Kitty Hawk, there's a lesser-known but
tailors.
f*
book) have good homes and good jobs., I'm
"bits and pieces," finishing it Just before
Christmas. It covers 15family units, whose
She has sent her book "all over the coun4
Mrs. Guy, 82, said she wrote the book in
try. Quite a few (of the relatives inJtV
very proud of the Wrights. My fathW's
members have lived in 12 states.
^ Mrs. Guy said that writing the bio^fe
"took a lot of letters, phone calls and askjt
ing ministers for their help. I couldn't traqk.
down one segment of the family, so I WTo{jk
to ministers in several small towns in K^-.
Mack, put the book into book form and got
brother, Tom. was the first black butchg^i
in his town. An uncle, George Wright,-us§^
to gather plants and take them to dr^^g
*I lost ray sight, then got it back, then lost
it again." Mrs. Guy said. "While I couldn't
see, I had a lady, Stella Hines, take down
my notes. My youngest daughter, Sue
stores and pharmacies," Mrs. Guy said.,
it published."
One hundred copies have been privately
printed for distribution to family members,
according to Mae Wilkerson, Mrs. Guy's
eldest daughter who helps care for her
tucky and they furnished information." .. i,--..
mother and 89-year-oid stepfather during
the day.'
staff Photo by 8B Shephord
"WE HAVE HAD family reunions for the
past two years, and have had 3,001 rela
tives come," Mrs. Wilkerson said. Of Mrs.
Guy's six children, one lives in Campbells-
ville, Ky., one in Troy and the rest in Day
ton. One is deceased. She has six
grandchildren.
"The Wrights have been a very close
family. We haveshared many joys and sor
rows and tragedies," Mrs. Guy said. "It
was a book of inspiration. I dedicated it to
my father."
Mrs. Guy started the book with her
Lyda Wright Guy
The book has a family tree, a narrative
and many picturesand snapshots.
•'
MRS. GUY DIDN'T trace her roots'i'd
Africa, as did Alex Haley, whose Roots (a
grandparents, Susan and Sam Wright, who
lived m a small town in Kentucky. She re
called her grandfather mentioning his trip
up to the Licking River and the money and
land he left to his son, Willie Wright, Mrs.
Guy's father.
book and later a television mini-series
made genealogypopular.
"Id like to go, to Africa," she said.' iVfy
church, the A.M.E. (African Meth6(^^
Episcopal), sends a lot of money and mis
sionaries to Africa and a lot come ba^^
here."
"I thought of writing the book in 1968'
when we held our first family reunion, then
put It aside and forgot about it," Mrs.
Wright said. "Later, I decided to write. I
"I wanted to leave a legacy for the f'grfiily, and show them what their ancestors'!^
achieved," she said. "And besides, She
added, "I always have wanted to write;"
V. .iiU
ttrgwcy lor TamilyTTt^' /2^/ /v :=> -
^
She's doing family book Wright way
By EILEEN HAWLK
thought so much of my family. We may lail
Daily News Special Writer
out today, but we'll make up tomorrow.'-'; h
Although in Dayton, the name Wright
MRS. GUY ATTENDED Kentucky Stit'e
tary school "off and on" for 13 years. Lal?^,
I usually brings to mind Orville and Wilbur
^ and Kitty Hawk, there's a lesser-known but
University in Frankfort and taught eleraw-
=: large family of Wrights in the city whose
* history has been written by the clan's
matriarch, Lyda Wright Bradshaw Guy.
I Mrs. Guy, 82, said she wrote the book in
"bits and pieces," finishing it just before
Christmas. It covers 15famiiy units, whose
she altered men's clothing for a variety^
tailors.
try. Quite a few (of the relatives in;
book) have good homes and good jobs., lkn
very proud of the Wrights. My fat^w's
members have lived in 12 states.
brother, Tom, was the first black butcl^
in his town. An uncle, George Wright, :us§^
'I lost my sight, then got it back, then lost
it again," Mrs. Guy said. "While I couldn't
see, I had a lady, Stella Hines, take down
my notes. My youngest daughter, Sue
to gather plants and take them to
stores and pharmacies," Mrs. Guy said.. ..
Mrs. Guy said that writing the bpqjk
"took a lot of letters, phone calls and asigi
ing ministers for their help. I couldn't tra<^,
down one segment of the family, so I WTO^ji
to ministers inseveral small towns in Keg^
Mack, put the book into book form and got
it published."
One hundred copies have been privately
printed for distribution to family members,
according to Mae Wilkerson, Mrs. Guy's
eldest daughter who helps care for her
tucky and they furnished information."
mother and 89-year-oid stepfather during
the day.*
HAVE HAD family reunions for the
staff Photo by BH Shepherd
Lyda Wright Guy
past two years, and have had 3,001 rela
tives come," Mrs. Wilkerson said. Of Mrs.
Guy's six children, one lives in Campbellsville, Ky.. one in Troy and the rest in Day
ton. One is deceased. She has six
grandchildren.
"The Wrights have been a very close
family. We have shared many joys and sor
rows and tragedies," Mrs. Guy said. "It
was a book of inspiration. I dedicated it to
my father."
Mrs. Guy started the book with her
,
She has sent her book "all over the coug*
grandparents, Susan and Sam Wright, who
lived!? a small town in Kentucky. She re
called her grandfather mentioning his trip
up to the Licking River and the money and
land he left to his son, Willie Wright, Mrs.
Guy's father.
"I thought of writing the book in 1968'
when we held our first family reunion, then
put it aside and forgot about It," Mrs.
Wright said. "Later. I decided to write. I
The book has a family tree, a narrative
and many pictures and snapshots.
'
MRS. GUY DIDN'T trace her roots~:f(J
Africa, as did Alex Haley, whose J?oote(a
book and later a television mini-seVie^J
madegenealogypopular.
"Id like to go to Africa," she said.'
church, the A.M.E. (African Methoife^
Episcopal), sends a lot of money and mis
sionaries to Africa and a lot come ba^T^
here."
"I wanted to leave a legacy for the faiii-
ly, and show them what their ancestors'^^
achieved," she said. "And besides, she
added, "Ialways have wanted towrite:*? '^^
DAYTON HISTORY
^
Stevens family memoirs
excitement and merriment to •^
1
road. A concerned farm woman -
include 2 new stories
JirpiWrlght
jUStwhenyouthinkthateveryst
oryaboutthe
brothers has been toli along comes a
j.inew one, or, in this case, two.
.•Inil894, Daytonian Art Stevens worked for the
Barney and Smith Car Works. Because he spoke
Spa0sh fluently, he was sent to Colombia to buy
W9.Qdfor the inlay.work on the railroad cars.
Stevens lived with a family in the village of
Ga^zpn.; The father was a fine woodworker and
mechanic. He saw a photograph of a bicycle in a
magazine and built one entirely of wood. The fin
ished bicycle lacked only one element to make it
function^. It had no tires. He neededsomething
tubular and pliable to fasten to the wheel rims.
His solution was to send village boys out into
the countryside to catch snakes. He dried the
snakeskins and stuffed them with dried grass and
lashed them to the wheel rims.
AUast the bicycle was ready for a trial ride. The
m^yor of Garzon declared a legal holiday. The vil
lagers lined the streets and cheered while Art
Stpvens rode by.
•.
Later Stevens bought the wooden bicycle and :
ha i it shipped to Dayton for the Wright brothers
to pxhibitin their shop.It wasdisplayed there
ui^til the 1913 floodi when it was washed away
with much ofthe shop's contents. .:
the many observers beside the
[Hf
nearby kept a bucket of water, •
bandages and salve for any
injuries that might occur to the
flyers. Her small son would
take off, bucket in hand, to the
crash site, thoroughly enjoying
P
his mission.
Young
his hired manwere driving cat-
Roz
"One day, as my father and
tie to the stockyards, a highspirited young bull suddenly
broke away and headed across the prairie. The
stretch was notorious for pockets of quicksand
and rattlesnakes — definitely a nasty place to
chase a bull.
"He had not gone far when he stumbled into a
pool of quicksand and started thrashing around
violently. When the two men saw there was no
way for them to pull the bull out, my father raced
across to the Wright hangar. He explained their
predicament to Orville Wright, who hurried out to
a recently purchased tractor, grabbed ropes and
planks and drove to the terrhled beast.
"After much tugging and pulling, the bull was
oozed out. All involved were exhausted as well as
very slimy."
These two new (to us) stories are from a collec
tion called "Deja-Vu," 14 episodes of Helen's life,
•
written for her family in 1992.
.Aii: Stevens wasthe uncleofHelen Bradbury,'
Incidental note
:^eand his younger brother, Helen's father,
If you were born on or before March 25,1913,
and lived in Dayton, you are a flood survivor. The
Miami Conservancy District invites flood survi'
vors to attend a Sunday matinee performance of
the Wright State University play, 1913 — The
Great Dayton Flood at the Victoria Theatre on
Sunday, Sept. 21, at 3 p.m. A reception will be held
for the survivors before the performance at the
2o6f)iWilmington Road, Lebanon.
werehoth bicycle enthusiasts, and, on Sunday
afternoons, Wilbur and Orville Wright often bicy
cled to the Stevens home and the four took many.
bicycle trips together.
One of their favorite destinations was Huffman
Prairie, two miles from the Stevens farm..
r,. "^ears,later, the Wright brothers rented a corner
of the prairie, built a hangar there and spent many
hours in experimental flights with their airplanes.
Mrs. Stevens often packed picnic baskets, and
they drove in the family buggy to Huffman Prairie
on Saturday afternoons to watch the brothers fly.
They were joined by other Daytonians and, in
Helen's words, "They never flew very high, and
the frequent, unexpected landings caused great
theater at 1:30.
If you are a flood survivor and wish to attend the
performance and reception, please call Marcia L.
Graeff, The Miami Conservancy District, 937-2231271.
^ ROZ YOUNG is a columnist, author, historianand lifelong
Dayton-area resident.