17 April 1844 - 30 January 1931
One of the most colorful men in Eastern Kentucky history was a man known as "Devil" (or "Bad") John Wright. He was also known as "The Tall Sycamore of the Elkhorn." His parents were Joel Ellis and Eliza Agnes (Bates) Wright, which made him a grandson of two of Letcher County's most prominent pioneer families, the Joel Martin Wright and John Wallis Bates families. John served as Sheriff of Wise County, Virginia and was at one time a Pinkerton Agent. It was from these many years as a lawman that he gained the nickname of "Devil John". It was said that when tracking an enemy or an outlaw, John never relented until he got his man... thus to be chased by John Wright was to have the 'Devil himself at your heels.' John joined the Civil War prior to his 17th birthday as a member of the Confederate Army and remained in the service throughout the war. Afterward, John and his Uncle Martin an Buren Bates joined the Robinson Circus. John performed as a trick rider and sharp shooter and Martin as "The Kentucky Mountain Giant".
There are three men who must be mentioned when discussing the life of John Wright, Talton Hall, Claborne Jones and Marshall Benton Taylor. Talton Hall, the son of Dave Hall of Floyd County, Kentucky, was "Devil John" Wright's best friend. Talt was wanted for numerous murders, but even though most of John's life was spent as a lawman, he made no attempt to arrest him. Claborne Jones of Beaver Creek maintained a life long feud with "Devil John." Each had their own gang of men and would often raid the others home. There is an account of both men planning a raid for the same night and passing each other in the darkness. Marshall Benton Taylor, more commonly known as "The Red Fox," was a herb doctor and delivered many babies throughout the mountains. It is said that "Doc" Taylor also had a dark side and was the central figure in the murders of the Ira Mullins family. These murders which are referred to as "The Pound Gap Massacre," took place at a site known today as "Killing Rock," which is located just across the Kentucky state line in Wise County, Virginia.
Several books and numerous newspaper articles have been written about "Devil John" Wright. The character Devil Judd Tolliver, in the novel "The Trail of the Lonesome Pine" by John Fox, Jr., was based on the life of John Wright. "Devil John Wright of the Cumberlands" is a history f John's life that was written by his son, William Troy "Chid" Wright. John had 31 children by several different women. At this time the only marriage record that has been located is for John Wright and Martha "Mattie" Humphrey. The marriage bond ( File #5869 ), dated l4 October l866 discovered at the Courthouse in Cynthiana, Kentucky. It is reported that he married Ellen Sanders shortly before he was baptized in July l929.
Please read the other sections
for a more detailed account of each these men.
The
material on this website is copyrighted © 2001 by Nancy Wright Bays, Patty May
Brashear.
John
always kept and rode good horses.
"Devil John"
Wright's Gun
Martha "Mattie" Humphrey
Serilda Austin
Margaret Austin
Mary Bentley
Ellen Sanders
Alice Harmon
Children of John & Mattie Humphrey 
l. James Henderson Wright, b. 23 May l865, d. 3 Aug l928 m/l Laura Belle Whitaker, m/2 Cora Fleming Mullins
2. Johnny Philip Wright, b. l9 Aug l875, d. l2 Sep l898, m /1Mary Chaney Reynolds, m/2 Alice M Johnson
3. Joel Wright, b l870
Children of John & Serilda Austin:
4. Enoch F. Wright, b. l7 Feb l869, d. 5 Aug l952 ,m. Louisa Warwick
5. James Martin Wright, b. 29 May l872 , d .l Oct l950, m. Alice M. Johnson
Children of John & Mary Bentley:
6. Flora Custus Wright, b. 27 Apr l876, m. Emmet Cantrell
7. Liza Wright. b. 29 Jun l878, m. Sam Vanover
8. Alice Wright, b. 25 Oct l88l, m/l Allen Burton, m/2 John Houston
9. Elizabeth b l0 Aug l885 d 25 May l97l m Riley Mullins
10. Easter Wright, b. l6 Feb l884, m/l Wade Ratliff, m/2 James Bryant
l1. Samuel Preston Wright, b. 25 Oct l888, m Mahala Branham
l2. Myrtle Wright, b. Sept l892, d. Jan l922, m Charles Meeks
l3. John Wright Jr., died in infancy
Children of John & Ellen Sanders
l4. Joel E. Wright, b. 29 Jun l883, m Mary Reynolds
l5. Daniel S. Wright, b. 23 May l885, d. 23 May l964, m. Melvina Mullins
l6. Healtha Wright, b. 2 May l887 , d. l939 , m Ben Mullins
l7. Joel "Ira" E. Wright, b. l2 Jun l889, d. Feb 1955, m. Martha Vermillion
Children of John & Alice Lee Harmon:
l8. Frank Wampler Wright, b. l Aug l894, m. Bertha Adams
l9. Bertha Wright, b. 26 Jan l896, d. 3l Jan l974, m. Willie Church
20. William Troy Wright, b. 5 Aug l897, d. l9 Apr l985, m. Belle Maynard
21. Conrad W. Wright, b. l0 Sep l899, d. l903
22. Mallie Wright, b. about 1900
23. Elizabeth Wright, b. 8 Oct l90, d. l902
24. Clarence Wright, b. 24 Sep l903, d. l0 Oct l979, m. Alta Mullins
25. Chester A. Wright, b. l0 Oct l905, d. in infancy
26. Carlous Ray Wright, b. 26 May l907, m. Ida Rutherford
27. Maudie Belle Wright, b. 27 Aug l909, d. l987, m. Orville Bevins
28. Charles Roe Wright, b. 7 Feb l9l2, m. Belvia Gibson
29. Kedrick C. Wright, b. 7 Aug l9l5, d. Jun l983 , m. Eleda Robinette
Children of John & Margaret J. Austin:
30. Mahala E. Wright, b. about l866
31. Mack Jesse WRight, b. about l872
"Devil John" Wright
Back
to Wright Family Matters
Get your own Free Home Page
