Genealogy gives us a little window into the past:  into “our past.”  The blood of these strong folks who came before us now runs through our veins.  For me, it’s fascinating to research the family tree and sometimes find information that provides a small glimpse into their lives… these sometimes very illusive, mysterious family members long since gone.

What were they like?  What did they do every day?  What were their struggles?  Due to the period of time they walked this earth, life was most likely much harder than it is for us.  Regardless, I know that they laughed, they cried and they loved much as we do now. They had their joys and their sorrows.

This post honors one of those families:  William Jackson (John) “Jack” Wright (son of Ardell Wright and Martha) and his beautiful bride, Sarah Frances Thomason (daughter of Montgomery L “Tobe” Thomason and Mary Mexico Harper).

This will be the first of many genealogy related posts.  And as I learn more about each of these individuals or families, I will return to that post to add the new information.  So check back from time to time!  Now, lets get to know Jack and Sarah!

William Jackson (John) “Jack” Wright

Birth:  09 Jan 1876 in Woodville, Jackson Co. Alabama
Death: 27 Jan 1949 in Memphis, Shelby Co., Tennessee

Sarah Frances Thomason

Birth: 17 Mar 1882 in Woodville, Jackson Co. Alabama
Death: Dec 03 1966 in Memphis, Shelby Co., Tennessee

Jack & Sarah’s Children:

William Herbert “Hub” Wright     1902 – 1971

Nathan Delmar Wright     1902 – 1976

Gladys Marie Wright      1906 – 1945

Odie Milburn Wright     1907 – 1959

Verbon Robert Wright     1909 – 1988

Ruby Blanche Wright     1910 – 1965

Orville David Wright     1913 – 1965

Raybon Talmadge Wright     1915 – 1990

Wendell Clyde Wright     1915 – 1957

Mary Idell Wright   1922 – 1971

Kenneth Wright   1925 –        

(Jake Wright  –        ?)

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Folks, We Have A Mystery… Help Us Solve It!

There are two pairs of Jack & Sarah Wright’s children whose birth dates seem unusually close together.  William, b. 27 Aug 1902, and Nathan, b. 20 Dec 1902. These dates are verified by the SS Death Index.  The second pair of children: Raybon (Abe), b. 16 Feb 1915, and Wendell, b. 15 Dec 1915.

Jack & Sarah were married on the 6th of March, 1898 in Jackson Co, Alabama by the Rev. David Derrick.

Jack has been rather hard to find.  Below is the 1880 Census record which proves why genealogy research can be an extremely challenging experience. (Our very own Louis found this census record, using his master research skills!)

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BELOW:

William Jackson “Jack” Wright’s World War I Draft Registration Card

1917-1918  –  Jackson Co., Alabama Records

(L to R) Gladys Marie, Sarah Frances Thomason, Verbon, Odie, William Jackson “Jack,” William “Hub” and Nathan Delmar Wright

Sarah Frances Thomason Wright in her later years.

Still a very pretty lady!

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William Jackson “Jack” Wright’s Certificate of Death

Sarah’s Certificate of Death

The Wright Family

The Story of Woodville and Community AlbumBy John Robert Kennamer, Sr.

The Wrights came from South Carolina to East Tennessee to Southeast Kentucky, then came to Madison County before settling in Jackson County, Alabama. Old Isom Wright settled at Wright’s Spring in Wright’s Cove, about twenty years before the Indians were removed to the Indian Territory.

All his salt, ammunition and farming supplies were bought at Hunstsville[.] He had two brothers and a sister who settled near Aspel.

Children of Old Isom Wright: (1) John Wright m. Charlotty Hill, a granddaughter of Hans Kennamer. The Post Office records show John Wright was appointed Postmaster at Woodville, August 5, 1867, and served until the office was discontinued Feb. 14, 1870. He and wife “Lottie” lived in Wood’s Cove. Children: (a) Nancy Wright m. Asap Kennamer. (b) Martha Wright m. Wade Cline. They went to Texas in a wagon. (a) Isham A. Wright m. Margaret Susan Thomas. Children: John Will, Silas S., Martha, Joseph W., Robert I., Charles David (Dea), Nannie A., Emmer A. Ida Dellar and Bentley M. Wright.

(2) (Particular) James Wright m. Harriett Hill. He made guns for the pioneers. Fifteen children were born to this union. They emigrated to Texas before there were any railroads. Many of their children died on the road.

(3) Jacob Cline married a daughter of Old Isom Wright. They went to Texas.

(4) Martha Wright m. Sampson Wilder, Jr. They also went to Texas.

There were other Wrights in Marshall, Madison, and Jackson Counties. William (Bill) Wright m. Amanda Jane Manning. He lived to be 87 years old; died in Peter’s Cove where he is buried. One of his sons, Delbert Wright m. Ethel Ashburn. They live in Peter’s Cove. There is another family of Wrights only slightly related to William Wright. Jack Wright was a cripple—made shoes for my father and others. He worked in Woodville a few years. His brother, Andill Wright lived on my father’s farm many years. He married Martha Smith. Children (1) David Wright (1872-1946) m. Susie Paseur, (2) W. J. (Jack) Wright m. Sarah Thomason, (3) Margaret, (4) Eliza Wright m. George Woody.

Published by East Alabama Publishing Co., Inc.

Lanett, Alabama · West Point, Georgia

1950   –    pp. 298-9

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The Wrights in North Alabama

JACKSON COUNTY SENTINEL, SCOTTSBORO, ALABAMA, DECEMBER 2, 1947

Gleanings of History and Genealogy

BY JOHN R. KENNAMER, SR.

The Wrights in North Alabama

The first record we have of any Wright in this part of the state is John Wright, Captain of the Militia in Madison County, Mississippi Territory, now Alabama, Dec. 4, 1816. John Wright married Sarah Moon, Sept. 20, 1820 in Madison County, Alabama. What relation he was, if any, to the three brothers and their sister who settled Wright’s Cove and Aspel before this county and state were organized December 13 and 14, 1819 respectively, I do not know. These Wrights came from South Carolina to East Tennessee to Southeast Kentucky, where they lived a few years near Sampson Wilder. St., then came to Madison County before settling in Jackson County.

Old Isom Wright settled at Wright’s Spring in Wright’s Cove, about twenty years before the Indians were removed to Indian Territory. All his salt, ammunition and farming supplies were bought at Huntsville.

His brother, “Old Bucky” Buchanan Wright settled just across the cedar ridge west of Aspel. Another brother whose name I do not have settled at a spring on the side of the mountain near the old stage road from Huntsville to Belletente, of between Woodville and Aspel. His home was burned when the Indians were being removed west 1836-38.

His daughter married John Giddeon. All this branch of the family moved west years ago.

Brooks Smith, Sr., married first a sister, whose name I do not have, of these Wright brothers. Children of Old Isom Wright: (1) James Wright married Harriet Hill born about 1809. James was called “Particular Jim”. He made guns for the pioneers. Fifteen children were born to this union. They moved west.

(2) John Wright married Charlotte Hill (called Lottie). They lived in Woods Cove.

Jacob Cline married a daughter. They went to Texas.

Sampson Wilder, Jr., married Martha Wright and they went to Texas.

“Old Bucky” Wright’s children: (1) Calvin Wright who married Ann Shook, daughter of Milburn Shook. Children were (a) Buchanan. (b) Minas, (c) Laura married Tom Huggins. They moved west. Minas Wright married Mary Woodall, youngest daughter of Dr. Presley Woodall and wife Demaris Busby. Buchanan Wright married Bell Lindsay. Children: Effie Wright married Moke Walls. Jane Wright married Porter Walls. Elmer Wright married Mamie Watson. Oakland Wright—single. Barton Wright died in 1944. Calvin or Cal Wright had two brothers; one went west years ago. The other brothers died young, leaving 3 children who were reared by Cal. One boy was named Wiley Wright, another one was named Cam Wright.

There are other Wrights in Jackson County. David Wright said: “My grandfather Wright came from Virginia and settled in Paint Rock bend in Madison County, Alabama. He had been married twice before his death.[”]

Elijah Whitaker later owned the homestead. Children were: (1) William or Bill Wright; (2) Jack or John Wright, (3) Ardil Wright, and (4) Elizabeth or Bettie who married Jeff Tate. Children of Bill Wright were Ardil, Joe, Pleas, and Jeff Wright. These all lived in Humpton, which is in Marshall County near Butler’s Mill.

Jack Wright was a crippled man, who was a shoe cobbler. He made shoes for my father’s family. He worked at Woodville a few years and was serving as Postmaster at Woodville when this office was discontinued early in 1870 for a few months.

Ardil married Martha Smith, daughter of Ambrose Smith. The latter lived at the place later known as the Joel Barclay place. He had two sons—Bud and Andy Smith. Ardil Wright lived on my father’s farm many years. His children were (1) David Wright, born June 9, 1872 and died Jan. 22, 1946 and married Susie Paseur. David was a true friend of the writer.

(2) Jack Wright married Sarah Thomason. They reside at Glen, Miss.

(3) Margaret Wright. (4) Eliza Wright married George Woody, now deceased. His widow lives in Chattanooga.

John Wright was related to those Wrights just mentioned as living in Marshall County. He could have been a son of John Wright who married Sarah Moon in Madison County. He married Martha Fletcher who was a sister to Amanda Fletcher, who was the wife of James Whitaker. John Wright and his family went north to escape the horrors of the Civil War; returned after this conflict was ended.

Children: (1) Governor Wright married Sis Finley. (2) Robert or Bob Wright married Laura Wallace, daughter of F. M. Wallace, minister of the Church of Christ. (3) David Wright. (4) William or Bill Wright married Amanda Jane Manning, sister of Mart and Joe Manning. William lived to be 87 years old—dying about 4 years ago—buried in Peter’s Cove. Children: (a) Ed Wright married Lillian Blanton. (b) Carrie Wright who married John Peters. (c) Mart Wright who married Della Brewer. (d) Delbert Wright married Ethel Ashburn. They reside in Peters Cove. (e) Daisy Wright married Jess Hall.

Sarah’s Parents:

Montgomery L “Tobe” Thomason and Mary Mexico Harper

Montgomery “Tobe” Thomason and his wife, Mary Mexico Harper Thomason pictured above with their grandchildren, Granville and Beatrice Lewis.