Better known as:
"John M" "Tall Sycamore of the Elkhorn" "Bad John M" Wright "Devil John" Wright 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. John was a grandson of Joel Martin Wright and also John Wallis Bates - two of Letcher County's pioneer families. He was the great grandson of William Payne Johnson.. He was the son of Joel E. and Eliza Agnes Bates Wright. John served as Sheriff of Wise Co., VA, and was at one time a Pinkerton Agent. It was from these years as a lawman the John was given the nickname of "Devil John". 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 Confederate Army in the Civil War prior to his 17th birthday. He remained in the service throughout the war. After the war John and his Uncle Martin Van 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 have to be mentioned when discussing the life of John Wright: Talton Hall, son of Dave Hall from Floyd Co., was the best friend of "Devil John." 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 had a life long feud with "Devil John." Each had their own gang of men and would often raid the others" home. There is a story of both planning a raid for the same time and on the way passing each other in the dark. Marshall Benton Taylor, more commonly known as "The Red Fox," was a herb doctor and delivered many babies throughout the mountains. Marshall 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 at a site known today as "Killing Rock," which is located in Wise Co., VA just across the KY state line. 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 John Wright. :Devil John Wright of the Cumberlands" is a complete history of his life written by his son, William T. "Chid" Wright. John had 35 children by several different women. At this time the only marriage record that has been found is one for John & Martha "Mattie" Humphrey dated l4 Oct l866 (Cynthiana, KY Courthouse File #5869). It has been reported that he married Ellen Sanders shortly before he was baptized in July l929.
Martha "Mattie" Humphrey Serilda Austin Margaret Austin * Mary Bentley Ellen Sanders Alice Harmon India Harmon *
Children of John & Mattie: l. James Henderson b May l870 d 3 Aug l928 m/l Laura Whitaker m/2 Cora Fleming Mullins 2. Johnny Philip b l9 Aug l875 d. l2 Sep l898 m Mary C. Reynolds 3. Joel b l870
Children of John & Serilda Austin: 4. Enoch F. b l7 Feb l869 d 5 Aug l952 m Louisa Warwick 5. James Martin b 29 May l872 d l Oct l950 m Alice Johnson
Children of John & Mary Bentley: 6. Flora Custus b 27 Apr l876 m Emmet Cantrell 7. Liza b 29 Jun l878 m Sam Vanover 8. Alice 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 b l6 Feb l884 m/l Wade Ratliff m/2 James Bryant l1. Samuel Preston b 25 Oct l888 m Mahala Branham l2. Myrtle b Sept l892 d Jan l922 m Charles Meeks l3. John Jr. died in infancy
Children of John & Ellen Sanders l4. Joel E. b 29 Jun l883 m Mary Reynolds l5. Daniel S. b 23 May l885 d 23 May l964 m Melvina Mullins l6. Healtha b 2 May l887 d l939 m Ben Mullins l7. Joel"Ira"E. b l2 Jun l889 d Feb 1955 m Martha Vermillion
Children of John & Alice Harmon: l8. Frank Wampler b l Aug l894 m Bertha Adams l9. Bertha b 26 Jan l896 d 3l Jan l974 m Willie Church 20. William Troy b 5 Aug l897 d l9 Apr l985 m Belle Maynard 21. Conrad W. b l0 Sep l899 d l903 22. Mallie ca 1900 23. Elizabeth b 8 Oct l90l d l902 24. Clarence b 24 Sep l903 d l0 Oct l979 m Alta Mullins 25. Chester A. b l0 Oct l905 died in infancy 26. Carlous Ray b 26 May l907 m Ida Rutherford 27. Maudie Belle b 27 Aug l909 d l987 m Orville Bevins 28. Charles Roe b 7 Feb l9l2 m Belvia Gibson 29. Kedrick C. b 7 Aug l9l5 d Jun l983 m Eleda Robinette
Children of John & India Harmon: 30. Virgie b Sept l895 d age l4/l5 31. Alma b ca l904 32. Jennie 33. Rausy V. b l898
Children of John & Margaret J. Austin: 34. Mahala E. b ca l866 35. Mack Jesse b ca l872 *The information on these two women and their children came from interviews with a number of elderly Letcher County, KY residents.
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