![]() It was from these many years as a lawman that he gained the nickname of "Devil John". John served as Sheriff of Wise County, Virginia and was at one time a Pinkerton Agent. His first marriage to Martha "Mattie" Humphrey, (bond File #5869), dated l4 October l866, is on file at the Courthouse in Cynthiana, Kentucky and his second marriage was to Ellen Sanders, on Septemat Water Gap in Floyd County, Kentucky. At this time two marriage records have been located for John Wright. John had 31 children by several different women. "Devil John Wright of the Cumberland’s" is a history of John's life that was written by his son, William Troy "Chid" 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. Several books and numerous newspaper articles have been written about "Devil John" Wright. 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. It is said that "Doc" Taylor also had a dark side and was the central figure in the murders of the Ira Mullins family. Marshall Benton Taylor, more commonly known as "The Red Fox," was a herb doctor and delivered many babies throughout the mountains. There is an account of both men planning a raid for the same night and passing each other in the darkness. Each had their own gang of men and would often raid the others home. James Claibourne "Clabe" Jones of Beaver Creek held a long feud with "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. Talton Hall, the son of Dave Hall of Floyd County, Kentucky, was "Devil John" Wright's best friend. ![]() There are three men who must be mentioned when discussing the life of John Wright, Talton Hall, Claibourne Jones and Marshall Benton Taylor. John was the second child born to Joel Ellis and Eliza Agnes Bates Wright, which made him a grandson of two of Letcher County's most prominent pioneer families, the Joel Wright and John Wallis Bates families. ![]() A chapter of South Eastern Kentucky history exploded between those dates of 18, with wars and tribulations splitting open the very seams of family life of everyone living there. John died Januat Horse Gap, Pound, Wise County, Virginia. John B Wesley 'Devil John' Wright was born on the Kentucky River near Kona in Letcher County, Kentucky on May 17, 1844. It was John Wright that the citizens of the county looked to when law and order needed to be enforced.Ĭourt rooms came to peaceable order with Devil John's presence at the back of the courtroom, and his quiet word, "Your Honor, you can go along with proceedings now. Undeniably John Wright in essence was the law in Letcher and Pike and surrounding Counties. There were other nicknames associated with him, such as "The Tall Sycamore", and most frequently in Eastern Kentucky. It was common knowledge that to have lawman John Wright tracking an outlaw was to have the Devil himself at their heels and though this was an attribute among those of good moral fiber, it made John an enemy of the more despicable. These nicknames were also attributed to him by his enemies, but assuredly in 'not so warm' a manner. John Wright, native of Letcher County, Kentucky, was generally known as "Bad" John Wright, also as "Devil John", descriptions that were warmly used by his neighbors and friends. Marshal in the late 1800's in Letcher County, Kentucky, and Southwest Virginia. Wright William Jesse Wright Sarah Potter John Wesley “Devil John” Wright and Joel Marlen Wright « less Wright « lessīrother of Sarah Potter Joel Martin Wright Samuel J Wright Susan Wright Solomon 'Saul' Wright and 12 others William Jesse Wright Joel Martin Wright, III John Wright Sam Wright Joel Martin Wright Solomon H Wright Susan Venters Samuel J. Wright Carlous Ray Wright Maudie Belle Bevins Charles R. Wright Wiiliam Troy Wright Mallie Wright Elizabeth Wright Clarence Wright Chester A. Frank Wampler Wright Bertha Church Conrad W. Wright Joel Wright James Henderson Wright John Philip Wright Flora Custis Cantrell Eliza Vanover Alice Wright Mary Elizabeth Mullins Esther Wright Samuel Preston Wright Myrtle Meeks John Wright, Jr. Wright Mack Jesse Wright and 25 others Mahala E. Wright Martha Wright Alice Lee Wright and 1 other and Unknown Wright « lessįather of Joel E. Husband of Surilda Wright Ellen Wright Margaret J. Son of Joel Ellis Wright and Elizabeth Agnes Wright Pound, Wise County, Virginia, United States Horse Gap, Pound, Wise County, Virginia, United States On the Kentucky River, near Kona, Letcher County, Kentucky, United States
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