Joseph 'Joe" H. Wright
Joseph 'Joe" H. Wright was born in Orange County, Florida on July 26th, 1893. ( There are several documents that state this evening's honorees birth year as 1892 but we are going with what his military marker records which also aligns with Mr. Wrights obituary. )
** Interesting events that occurred around the World during Mr. Wrights birth year of 1893 included.
• At some point between February 11th and February 19th, 1893 the White Star Line SS Naronic ( The same company that built the Titanic ) sinks without a trace in heavy seas on the Liverpool–New York transatlantic passage. For this voyage to New York, Naronic had a crew of 50, plus 24 cattlemen to attend to the ship's primary cargo, livestock. The ship's fate is a mystery that remains unsolved to this day.
• On March 4th, 1893 Grover Cleveland is sworn in as the 24th President of the United States.
• On April 8th, 1893 the first recorded college basketball game is played in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, between the Geneva College Covenanters and the New Brighton YMCA.
• On May 23rd, 1893 Mahatma Gandhi arrives in South Africa, where he will live until 1914, lead non-violent protests on behalf of Indian immigrants in the South African Republic, and generally have a deeper experience of such activities during these years.
• On June 20th, 1893 Lizzie Borden is acquitted of murdering her Father and Stepmother in Fall River, Massachusetts the year prior in 1892.
• On September 21st, 1893 in Springfield, Massachusetts, brothers Charles and Frank Duryea drive the first ever successful gas powered motor vehicle in the United States.
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Mr. Wrights earliest beginnings are mostly a mystery that include unknown curiosities regarding his parents, siblings, or past descendants. Through Census records we learn that he does not complete primary school with some documents stating his education ended at some point during Grammar School and others through the eighth grade. Additionally we later learn that he had a Sister who has mentioned in his obituary
On June 5th, 1917 Joseph enlisted to serve his country during the First World War although at the time he sought an exemption because Mr. Wright was caring for his Mother. The exemption was not granted.
** On October 1st, 1917 the 124th Regiment was reorganized and redesignated as the 124th Infantry and assigned to the 31st Division. The unit was organized from the National Guardsmen of Alabama, Florida, and Georgia. The division deployed to France in September of 1918, arriving weeks before the Armistice of November 11th that ended the war. In France, it was reduced to a cadre and most of its troops were used to provide replacements for units already in France.
** For reasons we know not and accuracy purposes Joseph was honorably discharged on February 11th of 1918 hence he did not go overseas.
In 1923 this evening's honoree would marry South Dakota native Anna Biessener with whom he would have four children. Chronologically they welcome Hilda Mary, Herbert Nicholas, Leona Anna, and Joseph Wright Jr.
Joseph the senior supports his family for the majority of his life in the field of cigar making and lives a very quiet existence in the city of Tampa, Florida.
For reasons we know not, Mr. Wright would lose his life on Tuesday May 23rd, 1950. He was fifty six.
Joseph H. Wright. Beloved Husband, Father, patriotic Veteran of the Dirst World War.