Dan De Quille
Dan De Quille, born William Wright in 1829, was a notable journalist and humorist, recognized for his contributions to American literature alongside his contemporary Mark Twain. Growing up in a farming family in Ohio, De Quille had limited formal education but was an avid reader, which fueled his self-education. After moving to Iowa, he took on familial responsibilities after the death of his father. His journey took a decisive turn when he traveled to California during the gold rush, where he began writing under the pseudonym Dan De Quille while prospecting for gold.
By 1860, he had relocated to Virginia City, Nevada, where he became a prominent writer for the local newspaper, the Enterprise. De Quille gained popularity for his humorous tales and parodic "science" stories, often collaborating with Twain. Despite his literary success, his relationship with Twain was complex, marked by periods of bitterness and personal struggles, including excessive drinking. He is best remembered for his 1876 work, "The Big Bonanza," which documented the discovery and history of the Comstock Silver Lode. Throughout his life, De Quille remained committed to writing, publishing numerous articles and stories while serving on editorial teams at various newspapers.
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Dan De Quille
- Born: May 29, 1829
- Birthplace: Near Frederickstown, Ohio
- Died: March 16, 1898
- Place of death: Nevada
Biography
Dan De Quille, a journalist and humorist often associated with his friend Mark Twain, was the pseudonym of William Wright, who was born in 1829. De Quille was the first of nine children born to Paxson and Lucinda Markley Wright, farmers who lived near Fredericktown, Ohio. His formal education was sparse but reading was important in his family, and as a boy De Quille educated himself through books. In 1847 the Wright family moved to a farm outside present-day West Liberty, Iowa, and shortly after the move, Paxson Wright died. After his father’s death, eighteen-year-old De Quille became responsible for his mother and siblings. In 1853, De Quille married Carolyn Coleman and moved to his own farm. The couple quickly had five children, and two daughters and one son survived into adulthood.
Four years into his marriage, De Quille traveled to California, intending to join the gold prospectors, and by 1859 his younger brother Hank had joined him there. Until the early 1860’s, the brothers worked gold mines throughout northern California, the western Nevada territory, and the Sierra Nevada mountain range. It was during these ventures that the elder brother began submitting stories to newspapers under the name Dan De Quille. He did not have much luck in gold mining, but he did find success with his articles and stories which depicted, often humorously, the people and places of his travels.
While continuing to prospect, De Quille followed the news of abundant silver and gold unearthed in the Comstock Lode in 1860, moving to Virginia City, one of the communities rapidly established around the Comstock by men seeking fortunes. Mark Twain had also landed in Virginia City after little success as a prospector, and soon both men were working at the newspaper Enterprise. De Quille abandoned prospecting for full-time writing in 1861. Though he returned to his family in West Liberty, Iowa, briefly during 1862 and again near the end of his life, De Quille lived in Virginia City for most of his life after 1860. The dynamics of his relationships with his family are unclear, but it is probable that he continued to support them financially, even from a distance, and his wife lived with him briefly at different times over the years, as did his two daughters.
De Quille quickly established himself as one of the foremost writers of humorous tales, and in addition to publishing elsewhere he penned news pieces and columns for the Enterprise for thirty years. He wrote a wide range of stories and novellas, and he became known particularly for his parodic “science” stories; both Twain and De Quille enjoyed publishing their hoaxes in the newspaper and watching the readers’ responses. The two writers fed off each other’s energy and talents, exchanging stories and living together as roommates for a time. However, as Twain’s career took off over the years, De Quille sometimes became bitter, and during those times he drank excessively, hurting his own career. Nevertheless, he did achieve his own successes and is perhaps best remembered for his 1876 book, The Big Bonanza: An Authentic Account of the Discovery, History, and Working of the World Renowned Comstock Silver Lode of Nevada. The first printing included the words “History of” at the beginning of the title, but the title was shortened to the better-known version with a subsequent printing in 1876. In later years, De Quille continued to publish articles, stories, and sketches and to serve on the editorial staff of newspapers.