Wright, Daniel Edward
Title
Wright, Daniel Edward
Last Name
Wright
First and Middle Name
Daniel Edward
Biographical Text
Daniel Edward Wright was born on November 18th, 1883 in Frederick County, Winchester, Virginia to the parents of Samuel B. Wright and Elizabeth Millenger. He attended VPI (Virginia Tech), where he participated in multiple clubs: Secretary Lee Literary Society, Class and All-Class Football Team, and the Exchange Editor (a student publication). After graduating from VPI, he married Grace Y. Wright and together they had two children, Daniel Edward Wright Jr. and Grace Wright. He was then hired by the U.S. government to be a municipal/civil engineer for the Panama Canal. He traveled often, according to passenger records he visited his family at least once a year, who were living at Bunker Hill, WV. Outbreak of war called Wright home, though according to his draft card he wished to be exempt from service. However, he was denied and served initially as a Captain in the Chemical Warfare unit. At wars end, he left the service with the title of Colonel. He returned home and lived with his wife and children at their home, the Daniel Wright Homestead. He died on November 10th, 1962 and was buried in Clear Brook VA at the Hopewell Friends Burial Ground.
Hometown
Winchester, Virginia
County and/or State
Frederick County
Birth Date
November 18th, 1883
Birthplace
Winchester, Virginia
Death Date
November 10th, 1962
Cause of Death
N/A
Place of Death
Martinsburg
Berkeley County, West Virginia
Buried: Clear Brook Frederick County, Virginia
Hopewell Friends Burial Ground
Berkeley County, West Virginia
Buried: Clear Brook Frederick County, Virginia
Hopewell Friends Burial Ground
Parents
Father: Samuel B. Wright
Mother: Elizabeth Millenger
Mother: Elizabeth Millenger
Siblings
N/A
Spouse(s)
Grace Y. Wright
Children
Son: Daniel Edward Wright Jr.
Daughter: Grace Wright Foley
Daughter: Grace Wright Foley
VPI Graduating Class
1904
Undergraduate Major
N/A
Graduated
Yes
Service Branch
Reserve Officers
Unit
Chemical Warfare Service
Rank
Captain
Retired Rank
Colonel
Military Events
Draft Card filled on September 1918 (age 34)
Requested exemption - denied
Requested exemption - denied
Occupation
Worked as a municipal/civil engineer for the U.S. government
Assigned to work at the Panama Canal while living at Balboa Heights C.Z. (canal zone)
Assigned to work at the Panama Canal while living at Balboa Heights C.Z. (canal zone)
Additional Notes
Working required Daniel to travel often to/from Panama to the U.S.
Multiple trips from Panama to New York have been documented on Passenger Lists:
1909, 1914, 1915, 1916, 1917, 1918, (drafted), 1923
Multiple trips from Panama to New York have been documented on Passenger Lists:
1909, 1914, 1915, 1916, 1917, 1918, (drafted), 1923
Files
Collection
Citation
“Wright, Daniel Edward,” VPI in World War I, accessed November 23, 2024, https://vpiworldwarone.lib.vt.edu/items/show/698.
Comments (if you have information about a veteran or would like to talk about a veteran, also email the project director Daniel Newcomb at danieln1@vt.edu with your information or question)