Chapter 2: The Wrights

I have traced my Wright family line back to Granville County, North Carolina, where Richard Wright and Elizabeth Phillips, my fourth great grandparents, were married. It appears the Wrights were probably located in Somerset County, MD prior to coming to Granville, NC, but I cannot confirm. One reason I believe this is that the Wrights traveled with a few other families in the late 1700s and early 1800s. They were: the Moores, the Phillips and the Bullocks. From there they migrated to Henry County, Tennessee.

As mentioned earlier, the oldest ancestors I have found are Richard and Elizabeth (nee Phillips) Wright. They are my fourth great grandparents. Both were from North Carolina and both were born in 1778. They were married on November 1, 1800 in Granville County, North Carolina. Elizabeth died in 1840 and Richard died in 1846, both in Henry County, Tennessee. The cemetery where they are buried in is called the “Wright Cemetery”. There are actually two “Wright Cemeteries” in Henry County. The one my direct ancestors are at is located 5 miles East of Paris, just off County Home Road and South of Sunny Side Church. On a side note, I met a very nice woman who lived in Paris, Henry County, Tennessee, who found their graves (as well as others) and took some pictures for me, the picture above being one of them.

Richard and Elizabeth had six children that I can trace: William (b. 1802), Mary (b. abt. 1803), James (b. 1812), Albert (abt. 1812), Nathan (abt. 1813) and Patsy Ann (abt. 1830). As you can see, with the gaps in the children, there were likely more children than what I have documented, which either died before adulthood or their accounts were lost through record gaps.

Of these children, only Nathan, the fifth documented child, and his wife Zirilda Emmaline (nee Wofford) moved out of state, to Eastland, Texas. Their move occurred sometime before 1880. Interestingly, this is the line the famed actress, Robin Wright (formally Robin Wright Penn) descends from.  Anyhow, the rest of the Richard and Elizabeth’s children apparently stayed in Henry County, Tennessee. Patsy Ann, the youngest documented child, seems to be a bit of a mystery. In 1850, she is living with her brother Nathan. In 1870 and 1880, Patsy Ann is living with her brother James, and in the 1880 census, she is listed as his sister, confirming the relationship.

My third great grandfather was William Wright, son of Richard and Elizabeth and was their first-born child. He married a woman named Sarah (nee unknown). They had the following children: James A (b. 1824) Louisa Jane (b. 1828) Martha A. (b. 1830) George Washington (b. 1833) Sarah Angeline (b. 1836) Thomas K. Porter (b. 1840) Mary Elizabeth (b. 1843) Ellen Phillips (1845) and Hester A. (b. 1849). For most of the children of William and Sarah, there is no record during the 1860 US federal census. I believe this is when most of them were in transit to other states. More on that in just a little bit.

One interesting note, although at least James A. was drafted by the Union, all three brothers, James A., George W. and Thomas K. P., enlisted in the CSA during the Civil War and, in fact enlisted on the same day, Sep 15th, 1863. They were assigned to 20th Regiment, Tennessee Cavalry (Russell's).

Apparently, by April 20, 1864, all three brothers were listed as “sick” and later on, all three were listed as “deserted” at one time or another.

George W. Wright (George Washington Wright)
Company B. Enlisted September 15, 1863 in Henry Co., TN, by Col. Greer for 3 years. Absent on roll for Feb/April 1864, "Sick Apr. 20, 1864". Absent on roll for May/June 1864, "Sick Apr. 20, 1864. At home without orders". Oath of allegiance at Nashville, TN, May 19, 1865; described as resident of Henry Co., TN; fair complexion, light hair, blue eyes, 5 ft. 9 in.; surrendered at Ft. Donelson, TN, May 15, 1865; "signs by mark".
On roll of prisoners surrendered at Citronelle, AL, May 4, 1865. Residence Henry Co. TN.
Source: Compiled Service Records[1]

J.A. Wright (James A. Wright)
Company B. Enlisted September 15, 1863 in Henry Co., TN, by Col. Greer for 3 years. Absent on roll for Feb/April 1864, "Sick Apr. 20, 1864". Absent on roll for May/June 1864, "Sick Apr. 20, 1864. At home without orders".
On report of absentees and deserters, Verona MS, Feb. 28, 1865. Residence Carroll Co. TN; probable whereabouts Carroll Co.; remarks "Deserted".
Source: Compiled Service Records1

J.K.P. Wright (Thomas K. P. Wright - "J" is a typo)
Company B. Enlisted September 15, 1863 in Henry Co., TN, by Col. Greer for 3 years. Absent on roll for Feb/April 1864, "Sick Apr. 20, 1864". Absent on roll for May/June 1864, "Sick Apr. 20, 1864. At home without orders".
On report of absentees and deserters, Verona MS, Feb. 28, 1865. Residence Carroll Co. TN; probable whereabouts Carroll Co.; remarks "Deserted".
Source: Compiled Service Records1

Of these three brothers, Thomas K. P. Wright stayed in Henry County, Tennessee. George W. Wright moved to Arkansas (but I believe he passed through Texas on his way, perhaps to visit his brother Nathan) and James A. Wright, my second great grandfather, who migrated to Cape Girardeau, Missouri. This migration appears to have occurred around the time just prior to the outbreak of the Civil War, as I can find none of them in the 1860 US Census. I will come back to these three in a bit.

As for the rest of the siblings, all the girls seemed to have stayed in Tennessee, most in Henry County. Louisa Jane Wright married John Cooper Lewis, and Martha A. Wright married Robert C. Moore. Both were living in District 17 of Henry County with their husbands, dwelling 2051 and dwelling 2026 respectively. Sarah Angeline Wright married a man named John Cannon Potts. They were living in Madison County, Tennessee in 1860. Mary Elizabeth Wright married James H. Turbeville. They were living in District 7 of Henry County, dwelling 680, in 1860. Now James H. Turbeville was the younger brother of Benjamin F. Turbeville, who married Sarah Wright, my 3^rd great grandmother, in 1852, just a couple of years after her first husband, William Wright had passed away. He passed in June 1850, right before the federal census. There will be more on Benjamin later. He certainly seemed to be a character, if not a scoundrel. Interesting note, other researchers have said the Turbeville family as a whole were characters and always seemed to be in court for one reason or another, although I personally haven’t found that information, nor have I looked to substantiate it.

One final note on Benjamin and Sarah in 1860. They were also living in District 17 in Henry County, dwelling 2022. That is just five doors down from their daughter Martha A. and husband Robert C. Moore. Now when I say just five doors down, don’t think of it in the context of suburban Southern California in the twenty-first century. Each dwelling could have consisted of archers of land or, one dwelling could be built on the back lot of another.

Rounding up the remaining children of William and Sarah Wright were Ellen Phillips Wright and Hester A. Wright. In 1860 both are living with their mother Sarah and new husband, Benjamin F. Turbeville. Sadly, Ellen died in August of 1866 in Henry County at the young age of twenty-one, cause unknown. Hester A. Wright eventually married a man named James Oswald Stem in 1871. They moved to Benton County, Tennessee.

James Benjamin Wright

All right, back to the three brothers, Thomas K. Porter Wright eventually took care of his mother Sarah, after William died and after her second marriage to Benjamin F. Turbeville, failed, (I haven’t forgotten about Benji, I will still get to him). George Washington Wright married Mary E. Turbeville, daughter of Benjamin, and they moved to Arkansas, known by some as the “Georgetown Wrights”. Some, mistakenly state this family as originating from Texas but, as stated earlier, they actually migrated from Tennessee, through Texas, and finally ending up in Arkansas. This family was in Tennessee in 1870 and in Texas by 1880. George and Mary had the following documented children: Thomas Wright (b. 1869), James Benjamin Wright (b. 1860), Sarah R. Wright (b. 1863), Richard Philip Wright (b. 1868), and George C. Wright (b. 1871). Mary passed away around 1873 and George remarried a woman named Martha A. Hayes around the same year. They had the following children documented

Richard Phillip Wright

children: John W. (b. 1874) and Mattie M. (b. 1879).

<Incomplete: Add story about Benjamin Turbeville>[MW1] 

James A. Wright, my 2^nd great grandfather, the first-born son of William Wright, married a woman named Angeline Cooper Moore. They had the following children:  Mary Alice Wright, b. 1851, William James Wright, b. 1854, Martha Elizabeth Wright, b. 1859, Robert Carroll Wright, b. 1861, Percilla Angeline Wright, b. 1865, Thomas Peter Wright, b. 1866, Charles Price Wright, b. 1869 and Cora L Wright, b. 1875.

James A. Wright passed away December 30, 1883, at the age of 59 of Dysentery. It is a horrible way to die.

Charles Price Wright

James and Angeline’s seventh child was Charles Price Wright (AKA C.P.). He was my great grandfather. Unfortunately, he passed away just thirteen months after I was born, on November 19, 1961. However, he did live a good long life, living a full 92 years of age. From all the stories I was told, he was also quite the character. An avid Democrat, (apparently I come from a very long line of Democrats, my brother Kevin and I being some of the first in our family to move over to the “Other Side” and embrace conservative thought, although my Uncle Clyde, my dad’s brother, being the very first that I know of. I also found out that my brother Steve, a diehard Democrat and union guy, had become a Reagan Democrat, and then a Republican. I did not know this until years after he had passed[MW2] ).

Anyway, the story goes that when C.P. would be in the restroom conducting business, he would often be heard shouting “Come on Ike! Get out of there!” I will leave the rest to the reader’s own imagination.[MW3] 

C.P. was a livestock broker. I don’t know much more than that and don’t know if there is anyone else around who would have any more info that what I have. Nevertheless, from every account that I ever heard, he was loved and admired by all.

C.P. Wright married Henrietta P. Green. They had the following children: William Guy [2](b. 1891), Clyde Anthony [3](b. 1900), Laura Opal (b. 1903), Ona Pearl (1906) and Daisy Theola (1909).

C.P. Wright died of phenomena at the age of 92. He lived a very good, long life.

William Guy, AKA “Guy” married Nellie Irene R. Morton and had the following children: May Irene (b. 1914), Robert R. (b. 1919), Gene Dale (b. 1922), Anna G. (b. 1926) and Marie Louise (b. 1935).

Clyde Anthony Wright

Clyde Anthony Wright, my grandfather, married Helena Agnes Hohler. From every account I have ever hear, from aunts and uncles, he was a great man and was love by everyone who ever know him. He was an electrician by trade. He was very successful by all accounts. His health took a turn for the worst from a work accident. Apparently, one day while working on some high-rise electrical lighting poles at some local stadium, he somehow passed out, fell, and was caught by his safety harness. He was left hanging for many hours, being held by the harness on his mid-lower back. His wife, my grandmother, called many people, wondering what had happened to him, since he had not been heard from for many hours. One of the people she had called (I don’t know who) went looking for him and found him hanging from the safety harness, hanging in midair, unconscious.

After the accident Clyde’s health deteriorated. Major problems with his back. Fluid would drain out through an abscess in his leg. Some thought it was cancer. He did have his spine fused together in his lower back, using a part of a bone from his leg. Ultimately, the doctors told him he needed to move to warmer climate. Arizona! So the boys (Clyde and my dad), with the help of their father, build a trailer to house their dad on the long trip to Tempe, Arizona. They called it the “Spirit of Cape Girardeau”. More on this story can be found in my Uncle Clyde’s book titled, “My Journey Through Life”.

Clyde Anthony and Helen Agnes Wright had the following children: Clyde William (b. 1922), Joseph Charles (b. 1923), Eloise Ann (b. 1924) and Evelyn Helen (b. 1926).

<Incomplete> [MW4] 

<Incomplete

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Clyde’s cause of death is really unknown. The death certificate states he died of tuberculosis of the hip. Doubt that was the real cause. Perhaps some type of cancer.

Laura Opal “Opal” married Sherman Smith. I have no record of any children being born to them. From my records and family traditions, she was well educated, receiving her Masters from S.E. Missouri State university. She taught at Teachers College in Texas for a while. I also know she lived in Phoenix, AZ.

Ona Pearl “Ona” never married and stayed in Cape her whole life. She was kind of the matriarch of the family, although I did not meet her more than a handful of times in my whole life. From what I remember she was very well educated and extremely well respected in the city of Cape. It seemed like everyone knew her.

Daisy Theola “Theola” married twice. First to a Herbert Shadowen(s). I do not know what became of him or how the marriage dissolved. Second she married a Howard L. Schafer. They adopted a daughter named Sandy. Ironically, Theola is buried next to her sister, Ona, and not with either husband. Again, I am not sure as to why this is. I do know the sisters were very close.

Next generation down is my grandfather, Clyde Anthony Wright. Now my uncle, Clyde William Wright, made it very clear, as his aunt Ona did before him, that Anthony was not his birth name but rather his baptismal name, which he took on his deathbed. You see, Clyde was born and raised as a Methodist. My grandmother was Catholic. He converted and was baptized on his deathbed out of love for his wife.

To the right is C.P. with my dad and  my oldest two brothers, Steve and Tim, in 1952. I believe C.P. had both his legs amputated towards the end of his life. I cannot remember if he was diabetic or if it was due to other reasons.

Cape Girardeau is where my father was born. He was a fourth generation Missourian.

My Father died April 10^th, 2002, of lung cancer.

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[1] This information found on the University of Mississippi’s website but as of the writing of this book, is no longer working. http://home.olemiss.edu/~cmprice/cavalry/bio_w.html)

[2] Went only by Guy

[3] His Birth name was Clyde Wright. No middle name. Anthony was his baptismal name. He was baptized Catholic shortly before his death, for his wife Helen. I received this information from my Uncle Clyde, Clyde Anthony’s son. I believe my Uncle Clyde received this information from his Aunt Ona.

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 [MW1]Consider adding story about Benjamin Turbeville or removing earlier references about the story to come.

 [MW2]Consider removing or moving to a different location.

 [MW3]Consider removing.

 [MW4]Story incomplete. Consider revising.