Old West & Native American Auction
Lot 1314a:
Description
Edward L. Wright was born in Southern Illinois in 1878. In 1887, his parents traveled to Oklahoma to participate in the government “Land Rush”. They settled in Guthrie where Wright joined the U.S. Cavalry at the beginning of the Spanish American War in 1898. A member of Troop D, 1st U.S. Volunteer Cavalry, he was trained in San Antonio, Texas, and then sent to Tampa, Florida. From Tampa, the Rough Riders were sent to Cuba. Wright served in 3 battles including Santiago, and San Juan Hill. After the war he toured with Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show where he reenacted the charge up San Juan Hill. He moved to Chicago where he married in 1920. He died in 1925 from a recurring disease which he had contracted in Cuba. One of his sons, Joseph C. Wright, would go on to serve as a career bomber pilot flying B-17’s in WW II and B-52’s in Korea and Viet Nam. Included in this grouping is a jacket, brown felt hat with broken crossed swords insignia, Span-Am canvas leggings, Span-Am rifle cartridge belt with brass US buckle, 2 Span-Am medals, copies of photos of Wright in formation, a picture of him with Tom Mix in Tampa Florida in 1908, and a picture of Wrights sons with Tom Mix in the 1930’s in Elgin IL. This grouping came directly from his son Joseph and has been on display at the Wild West Town Museum in Union, IL for over 30 years.
Look for the Krag rifle and ammunition, The McClellan saddle group and the Theodore Roosevelt items also in this auction.
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