Milton Wright (1829 - 1917)
Intellectual and Religious
As a boy, Milton was an avid reader. Despite
long hours working on the family farm, he studied a wide range
of subjects and prided himself on his efforts to improve himself
and to train his mind to think. Drawn to a religious life
as a young man, Milton joined a Midwestern Protestant sect
called the Church of the United Brethren in Christ in 1846
more because of its stand on such political and moral issues
as slavery, alcohol, and Freemasonry, rather than its theology.
Milton (front row, center) at a United Brethren convention, circa 1900.
The Power of the Pen
Milton became an itinerant minister and one of the most outspoken members of the church, rising quickly within the church hierarchy. He fought against a liberalization of United Brethren doctrine on many issues. In 1869 he was appointed to the influential post of editor of the Religious Telescope, a weekly newspaper that carried official church views across the nation. He was ultimately elected a bishop in 1877.
A social reformer, Milton believed in equal opportunity for all. Both Milton and Susan benefited from parents who encouraged broad intellectual pursuits. They carried on this tradition with their own children.
Go to Susan Wright >>
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