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Wright, John Wesley

Wright, John Wesley[1, 2]

Male 1844 - 1931  (86 years)

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  • Name Wright, John Wesley 
    Nickname Bad John 
    Birth 17 Apr 1844  Letcher, Kentucky, United States Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Male 
    Military 1862  Virginia, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  [3
    as a Confederate soldier (CSA) 
    Military 1863–1865  [4
    as a private, Co. B, 22nd Ohio Infantry (USA) 
    Census 1880  Linefork, Letcher, Kentucky, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  [5
    Census 1890  Letcher, Kentucky, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  [4
    Misc 1 Sep 1920  [6
    was the subject of a premature speculation of death in a New York Times article 
    • 'Bad John' Wright Waits Death in Bed

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      Famous Feudist and Mountain Peace Officer Has a Record of Thirty Killings.
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      Unaware Son is Slain
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      Friend of John Fox Jr., and One of His Characters, Was Foe of "Devil Anse" Hatfield.
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      WHITESBURG, Ky., Aug. 31 (AP). -- "Bad John" Wright, former feudist, who in later years was respected as an intrepid mountain peace officer, lies at the point of death today at his home in Wise County, Va., near the Kentucky border, unaware that his son, Sam, met violent death yesterday in Pike County, KY.

      "Bad John" earned the sobriquet by killing more than thirty men while serving in positions of authority in the border counties of Virginia and Kentucky. All his killings were within the law, his friends hasten to tell, questioners, safe in the knowledge that the events of the famed Wright-Jones feud of forty years ago have long since been forgotten.

      The border patrolman, whose age is estimated between 87 and 96 years, was an intimate friend of John Fox Jr., the novelist, and provided him with much material for his books dealing with mountain life. "Devil Jack Tolliver", one of the characters in the Fox novel "The Trail of the Lonesome Pine," was a prototype of John Wright.

      "Bad John's" admirers hasten to add, however, that "Bad John was not like 'Devil Jack'. 'Bad John' was not really bad, they say, citing his record as an enfofrcer of the law, whereas Fox's famed character was depicted as a bloodthirsty two-gun man of the hills who killed for the mere fun of it.

      "Bad John" in later years became more familiarly known as "Uncle John," and has friends without number in Letcher and Pike Counties, Ky., and Wise County, Va. Sometimes he was called "the Tall Sycamore of the Elkhorn" because of his gigantic stature and his residence near Elkhorn Creek.

      Until several days ago, when he was stricken ill, "Bad John" was active as a deputy sheriff of Wise County. He had previously sedrved as sheriff, deputy and justice of the peace in the several counties he patrolled.

      The officer was a deadly enemy of "Devil Anse" Hatfield, principal in the feud between the Hatfields and McCoys. "Bad John" was never able to capture "Devil Anse", who died with his boots off in ripe old age. William R. (Cap) Hatfield, son of "Devil Anse" and last survivor of the feud, also died with his boots off in Baltimore several days ago, and "Bad John" seems destined to pass to the great beyond in the same fashion.

      "Bad John's" son, Sam Wright, was killed by Melvin Branham during a family quarrel in front of Sam's home in Pike County, Ky., yesterday. Branham also was shot to death, but the coroner's jury was unable to decide who killed him. The jury decided that Sam Wright was slain by Branham.
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    Death 30 Jan 1931  Wise, Virginia, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  [7
    Burial John Wright Cemetery, Pound, Wise, Virginia, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  [8
    Person ID I6059  Pioneers of the Appalachian Highlands
    Last Modified 4 Jul 2021 

    Father Wright, Joel E.,   b. 7 Jul 1817, Lebanon, Russell, Virginia, United States Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 24 Aug 1879, Letcher, Kentucky, United States Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 62 years) 
    Mother Bates, Eliza Agnes,   b. 7 Mar 1819, Virginia, United States Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 1 Feb 1892, Perry, Kentucky, United States Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 72 years) 
    Marriage 1840  Perry (Now Letcher), Kentucky, United States Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Family ID F2146  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family 1 Austin, Margaret Jane,   b. 30 Jun 1844   d. 30 May 1914 (Age 69 years) 
    Children 
     1. Wright, Mahala Elizabeth,   b. 7 Dec 1865, Virginia, United States Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 1899 (Age 33 years)
    +2. Austin, Mack Jessee,   b. 26 Nov 1872, Wise, Virginia, United States Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 28 Mar 1930, Greenbrier, West Virginia, United States Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 57 years)
    Family ID F105522  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 12 Mar 2024 

    Family 2 Austin, Surrilda,   b. 24 Sep 1837, Virginia, United States Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 17 Feb 1896 (Age 58 years) 
    Unmarried Parents
    • This was a common-law relationship.
    Children 
    +1. Wright, Enoch Franklin,   b. 17 Mar 1869, Letcher, Kentucky, United States Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 5 Aug 1952, Wise, Virginia, United States Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 83 years)
    +2. Wright, James Martin,   b. 29 May 1872, Virginia, United States Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 1 Oct 1950, Pound, Wise, Virginia, United States Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 78 years)
    Family ID F6129  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 12 Mar 2024 

    Family 3 Harman, Alice Lee,   b. 8 Apr 1878   d. Yes, date unknown 
    Children 
    +1. Wright, Frank Wampler,   b. 1 Aug 1894, Kentucky, United States Find all individuals with events at this locationd. Feb 1968, New Iberia, Iberia, Louisiana, United States Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 73 years)
     2. Wright, Bertha,   b. 26 Jan 1896, Letcher, Letcher, Kentucky, United States Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 29 Jan 1974, Pound, Wise, Virginia, United States Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 78 years)
     3. Wright, William Troy,   b. 5 Aug 1897   d. 19 Apr 1985, Pound, Wise, Virginia, United States Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 87 years)
     4. Wright, Conrad W.,   b. 10 Sep 1899, Wise, Virginia, United States Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 1903, Wise, Virginia, United States Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 3 years)
     5. Wright, Elizabeth,   b. 8 Oct 1901   d. 1902 (Age 0 years)
     6. Wright, Clarence Willard,   b. 24 Sep 1903, Kentucky, United States Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 10 Oct 1979, Norton, Norton (City), Virginia, United States Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 76 years)
     7. Wright, Chester A.,   b. 10 Oct 1905, Kentucky, United States Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 1905
     8. Wright, Carlos Ray,   b. 1907
     9. Wright, Maude Belle,   b. 27 Aug 1909   d. 28 Mar 1988, Montgomery, Virginia, United States Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 78 years)
     10. Wright, Charles Roe,   b. 7 Feb 1912, Pound, Wise, Virginia, United States Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 17 Mar 1982, Bedford, Virginia, United States Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 70 years)
     11. Wright, Kedrick C.,   b. 1915   d. 1983, Richmond, Henrico, Virginia, United States Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 68 years)
    Family ID F6121  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 12 Mar 2024 

    Family 4 Humphreys, Martha,   b. 11 Mar 1843, Cynthiana, Harrison, Kentucky, United States Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 12 Mar 1924, Letcher, Kentucky, United States Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 81 years)  [9, 10
    Marriage License 13 Oct 1866  Harrison, Kentucky, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  [10
    Marriage 14 Oct 1866  Cynthiana, Harrison, Kentucky, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  [9
    Children 
    +1. Wright, James Henderson,   b. 23 May 1865, Cynthiana, Harrison, Kentucky, United States Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 3 Aug 1928, Cromona, Letcher, Kentucky, United States Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 63 years)
    +2. Wright, John Phillip,   b. 7 Jan 1875, Letcher, Kentucky, United States Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 12 Sep 1898 (Age 23 years)
    Family ID F2694  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 12 Mar 2024 

    Family 5 Bentley, Mary Ann,   b. 19 Mar 1853, Letcher, Kentucky, United States Find all individuals with events at this locationd. Aft 1900, Kentucky, United States Find all individuals with events at this location (Age > 48 years) 
    Marriage 24 Sep 1896  Letcher, Letcher, Kentucky, United States Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Unmarried Parents
    • This was a common-law relationship.
    Notes 
    • Mary Bentley and Bad John Wright never married.
    Children 
     1. Bentley, Flora Custis,   b. 22 Apr 1876   d. Yes, date unknown
    +2. Wright, Elizabeth,   b. 29 Jul 1879, Pike, Kentucky, United States Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 26 Jan 1929, East Jenkins, Letcher, Kentucky, United States Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 49 years)
     3. Wright, Alice,   b. 23 Sep 1881   d. 1886, Kentucky, United States Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 4 years)
    +4. Wright, Esther,   b. 16 Feb 1884   d. 20 Oct 1987, Letcher, Kentucky, United States Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 103 years)
    +5. Wright, Mary Elizabeth,   b. 10 Jun 1886, Letcher, Kentucky, United States Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 25 May 1971 (Age 84 years)
    +6. Wright, Samuel Preston,   b. 25 Oct 1888, Letcher, Kentucky, United States Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 30 Aug 1930, Pike, Kentucky, United States Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 41 years)
     7. Wright, Hiram John,   b. Abt 1893, Kentucky, United States Find all individuals with events at this locationd. Abt 1893 (Age ~ 0 years)
     8. Wright, Myrtle,   b. 4 Jul 1896, Kentucky, United States Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 20 Jan 1925, Norton, Wise, Virginia, United States Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 28 years)
    Family ID F147024  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 12 Mar 2024 

    Family 6 Sanders, Ellen,   b. 28 Mar 1863, Pike, Kentucky, United States Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 10 Mar 1948, Wise, Virginia, United States Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 84 years) 
    Marriage 8 Sep 1924 
    Children 
     1. Wright, Joel Ellis,   b. 29 Jun 1883, Letcher, Kentucky, United States Find all individuals with events at this locationd. Apr 1968, Jenkins, Letcher, Kentucky, United States Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 84 years)
    +2. Wright, Daniel S.,   b. 23 May 1885   d. 23 May 1964 (Age 79 years)
     3. Wright, Healthy,   b. 2 May 1887, Kentucky, United States Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 22 Nov 1939, Wise, Virginia, United States Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 52 years)
     4. Wright, Ira J. E.,   b. 12 Jun 1889   d. 7 Feb 1955, Wayne, West Virginia, United States Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 65 years)
    Family ID F6120  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 12 Mar 2024 

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsBirth - 17 Apr 1844 - Letcher, Kentucky, United States Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMilitary - as a Confederate soldier (CSA) - 1862 - Virginia, United States Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMarriage License - 13 Oct 1866 - Harrison, Kentucky, United States Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMarriage - 14 Oct 1866 - Cynthiana, Harrison, Kentucky, United States Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsCensus - 1880 - Linefork, Letcher, Kentucky, United States Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsCensus - 1890 - Letcher, Kentucky, United States Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMarriage - 24 Sep 1896 - Letcher, Letcher, Kentucky, United States Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsDeath - 30 Jan 1931 - Wise, Virginia, United States Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth 
    Pin Legend Address Cemetery Populated Place Township Parish City County/Shire State/Province Country Region Not Set

  • Photos
    'Devil' John Wright (1844-1931)
    "Devil" John Wright (1844-1931)

  • Sources 
    1. [S23798] John Wesley Wright in entry for Frank Wright and Bertha Adams, "Kentucky, County Marriages, 1797-1954".

    2. [S23799] John W. Wright in entry for James H. Wright, "Kentucky Death Records, 1911-1962".

    3. [S184406] John W Wright, "United States Civil War Records of Confederate Nonregiment Soldiers, 1861-1865".

    4. [S184405] John W Wright, "United States Census of Union Veterans and Widows of the Civil War, 1890".

    5. [S23797] John Wright, "United States Census, 1880".

    6. [S582] New York Times, 1 Sep 1930, p. 30.

    7. [S184404] John W Wright, "Virginia, Death Certificates, 1912-1987".

    8. [S44609] John Wesley Wright, "Find A Grave Index".

    9. [S23793] Martha Humphrey, "Kentucky, County Marriages, 1797-1954".

    10. [S23796] John Wright, "Kentucky, County Marriages, 1797-1954".