Individual Details

From "Our Heritage", Margaret Walker Freel, 1957, p 370 -
"The Wright family is of Irish descent. The first immigrant of the Wrights in America settled in the State of KY for a period. Later the family migrated to near present Oxford, N.C., then to Surry Co. To Aran Wright was born a son by name of James."

On 26 Jul 1977, Alton Wright interviewed and recorded my Great Grandmother Della Wright George (1896-1982). I've had a copy of the transcript since about 1980 or so. Della was a granddaughter of James S. Wright and Caroline C. Winfrey, and knew them. In the interview, she made this comment about James S. Wright and Caroline Winfrey:
"James Wright, 1813-1902, that was my grandfather. Grandfather was real old. Sat in a corner, had a walking stick--reach over and hit our toes. That's the only way he knew to play with us, you know. Grandmother, she's always the boss. My Daddy said she was--he was always on to her for being mean to Grandfather. She was a pretty rough old gal. Everybody thought she was. She was good."

Married Caroline C. Winfrey, about 1837, Surry, NC.

CENSUS:1850 Cherokee Co, NC # 915/915
James Wright, 37 Farmer $600 NC
Caroline, 27
Arabella 17
Martha 6
Alexander 4
Richard 1
James Cromwell 15
* James Cromwell/Crummell is a nephew, son of Rebecca Wright Cromwell/Crummell

1860 Cherokee Co, NC Valleytown Dist. Valley Town PO # 891/891
James S. Wright 45 Farmer $2200/530 b. Surry Co
Caroline 35
Orra 20
Alexander 12 , b. Cherokee Co
Richard 10
Laura 8
Emaline 6
Plutine 4
Americus 2
Ivlee 2/12
Jerry Rogers 22 farm laborer, b. Macon Co

James was too old to serve in the war, though based on family tradition he was a staunch Republican and Union supporter. His sons were too young to serve. After the war James became Postmaster because he was the only one in the area who hadn't committed "treason" against the United States during the war.

CENSUS:1870 Cherokee Co, NC Valleytown Twp, Valleytown PO # 20/20
James Wright, 56 Farmer $1000/300 NC
Caroline 46
Alexander 22
Richard 20
Laura 18
Rebecca 16
Plutina 14
Americus 12
Ivalee 10
Median 3

CENSUS:1880 Cherokee Co, NC Valleytown Township
James S. Wright W M 66 M Farmer, b. NC, parents b. NC
Caroline W F 57 Wife M Keeping House
Plutinie W F 23 Dau S At Home
Median W F 13 Dau S At Home

CENSUS:1900 Cherokee Co., NC Valleytown # 143/143
James S. Wright, head, b. Nov 1813, age 86, married 62 yrs, b. NC, parents b. NC
Caroline C. wife, b. Dec 1822, age 77, 17 children - 9 are living
Tinnie M. dau, b. Apr 1856, age 44
Larra B. Rogers, Lodger, b. May 1886, age 14

TOMBSTONE:Cherokee Co, NC Red Marble Cemetery "James S. WRIGHT 23 Nov 1813 - 9 May 1902"

Birth	23 Nov 1813	Surry County, North Carolina
Death	9 May 1902	Rhodo, Cherokee County, North Carolina

Father	Aaron Wright (1770 - 1825)
Mother	Mary Murphy (1771 - 1850)
Sibling	Daniel S. Wright (1793 - 1886)
Sibling	Sarah Wright (1796 - 1870)
Sibling	Mary Wright (1798 - 1866)
Sibling	Richard M. Wright (1800 - 1850)
Sibling	Mariah Minnie Wright (1802 - 1850)
Sibling	Zadock R Wright (1804 - 1880)
Sibling	Rebecca Wright (1806 - 1850)
Sibling	Aaron Burwell Wright (1811 - 1862)