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Americus Erastus "Tom" Wright (1858) and Malinda Evans of Cherokee Co, NCHome > Genealogy > Surnames > Wright > Families > Tom [Commentary] [Children] [Researcher List] [Register Report] [A Note about sources] [How to contact me] [Home] I (Marty Grant) am a Great Great Grandnephew of Tom Wright and Malinda Evans (by marriage) and a 3rd Great Grandnephew of Malinda Evans Wright by blood. Special thanks to my Grandmother Luella George Grant (deceased), my Great Grandmother Della Wright George (deceased), my Great Aunt Marynell George Lequire, Alton Wright, Toni Davidson and Susan Lonan and others for data shared on this family. Americus Erastus Wright was born 18 Mar 1858 in Cherokee Co, NC, presumably in the Rhodo area (Valleytown Township). He was home with his parents for the 1860 and 1870 census. He is a son of James S. Wright and Caroline Winfrey. Americus Erastus Wright was known by the nickname "Tom", and was listed on some records as "Thomas". I don't know how his parents came by his name. I don't know anyone else in the family before him with those names. On 5 Apr 1878, Tom Wright married Mary Malinda Evans in Cherokee Co, NC. "Lindy" was from Macon County, and was a daughter of Reuben P. Evans and Rebecca Fouts. Rebecca and her first husband Michael J. Waters were my ancestors. I'm also related to this Evans family. "Aunt Lindy" was my Aunt by her marriage to Tom Wright, and she was my Aunt by blood as a half sister of my ancestor Jacob Jackson Waters. The Evans family were of dark complexion, and often called "Black Dutch", and might possibly be Melungeon. See my Ethnic Origins page for more on that subject. Tom and Lindy lived in Valleytown Township of Cherokee County. They were listed on the 1880 census in Cherokee Co, NC next door to Tom's parents.
1880 CHEROKEE CO, NC Page House/Family # 44/ 44 -- VALLEYTOWN Twp WRIGHT THOMAS W M 22 HD M FARMER NC NC NC 1857/1858 WRIGHT MALINDA W F 24 WF M HOUSE NC NC NC 1855/1856 WRIGHT PALICE W F 1 D S NC NC NC 1878/1879 They were still in Cherokee Co, NC for the 1900 census, still in Valleytown Township, this time listed next door to Tom's sister Ivalee Wright Burchfield.
1900 CHEROKEE CO, NC Page House/Family # 13/ 13--VALLEYTOWN Twp WRIGHT THOMAS E HD W M MAR 1858 0 M 22 NC NC NC WRIGHT MALINDA WF W F OCT 1857 0 M 22 10 9 NC NC NC WRIGHT LEORA D W F OCT 1880 0 S NC NC NC WRIGHT TROY K S W M MAY 1885 0 S NC NC NC WRIGHT OSBURN S W M SEP 1887 0 S NC NC NC WRIGHT CLAUDE S W M SEP 1889 0 S NC NC NC WRIGHT ALLACE D W F MAR 1892 0 S NC NC NC WRIGHT BENNIS G D W F AUG 1894 0 S NC NC NC WRIGHT DREW D S W M NOV 1896 0 S NC NC NC WRIGHT EMMETT C S W M SEP 1898 0 S NC NC NC Tom and Lindy were still in Cherokee Co, NC, still in Valleytown Township for the 1910 census.
1910 CHEROKEE CO, NC House/Family # 459/ 459 -- VALLEYTOWN Twp WRIGHT AMERICUS E HD F W 52 M 32 NC NC NC 1857/1858 WRIGHT MALINDA WF F W 52 M 32 10 8 NC NC NC 1857/1858 WRIGHT OSBURN S M W 22 S NC NC NC 1887/1888 WRIGHT CLAUDE S M W 20 S NC NC NC 1889/1890 WRIGHT ALLACE D F W 18 S NC NC NC 1891/1892 WRIGHT BENNIE D F W 15 S NC NC NC 1894/1895 WRIGHT DREW S M W 13 S NC NC NC 1896/1897 WRIGHT EMMETT S M W 11 S NC NC NC 1898/1899 They were still in the Topton area for the 1920 census, listed near several of their married children.
1920 CHEROKEE CO, NC House/Family # 8/ 8 -- VALLEYTOWN-TOPTON Twp WRIGHT THOMAS HD R M W 61 M NC NC NC HOTELISH TAKES BORDERS 1858/1859 WRIGHT LYNDIA WF F W 62 M NC NC NC 1857/1858 WRIGHT BENNIE D F W 25 S NC NC NC 1894/1895 WRIGHT DREW S M W 23 S NC NC NC 1896/1897 WRIGHT EMMETT S M W 21 S NC NC NC 1898/1899 Lindy died on 9 Sep 1922 in Cherokee Co, NC. She is buried at the Valleytown Cemetery. Her death record lists her father as "Reuben Evans" and her mother as "Rebecca Fouts". Tom Wright died 7 Apr 1934 in Cherokee Co, NC. He is also buried at Valleytown Cemetery.
ChildrenTom Wright and Lindy Evans had 10 children. These are well documented by the census, birth and death records and personal family knowledge. Osburn Long "Auz" Wright (1887) Palice Wright was born 28 Dec 1878 in Cherokee Co, NC (date proven by Delayed Birth Certificate). I've seen her name spelled different ways, so I'm not sure of the correct spelling. Palice was with her parents for the 1880 census. She married Samuel Carver Franks on 1 Mar 1900 in Cherokee Co, NC. They may have moved to Swain County afterwards, for they had a daughter who was born and died in Almond, Swain Co, NC on 31 May 1914.
Leora Wright was born 3 Oct 1880 in Cherokee Co, NC. She was home with her parents for the 1900 census. She died on 31 Jul 1901 and is buried at Red Marble Baptist Church Cemetery. Her tombstone says "Leona" instead of "Leora". The tombstone also says she is a child of "A.E. and M.M. Wright".
Walton Wright was born 3 Feb 1883 and died 30 Sep 1886. He is buried at Red Marble.
Troy Kenneth Wright was born May 1885 in Cherokee Co, NC. He was home with his parents for the 1900 census. He married Lula M. Sherrill in Graham Co, NC on 30 Jul 1907. Lula was a granddaughter of my Aunt Louisa George Harrison Colvard. Lula was a child of Ute Sherrill and Mary C. Harrison. Troy and Lula were listed on the 1910 census in Cherokee Co, NC, in Valleytown Township.
1910 CHEROKEE CO, NC House/Family # 465/ 465 -- VALLEYTOWN Twp WRIGHT KENNETH T HD M W 24 M 2 NC NC NC 1885/1886 WRIGHT LAURA M WF F W 22 M 2 2 2 NC NC NC 1887/1888 WRIGHT PAUL S M W 5 S NC NC NC 1904/1905 WRIGHT ALMA D F W 2 S NC NC NC 1907/1908 Lula Sherrill Wright died on 28 Oct 1918 in Cherokee Co, NC. Her death record shows her parents as Ute Sherrill and Mary Harrison. I don't know where Lula was buried. Troy was listed on the 1920 census in Cherokee Co, NC, a widower with his children. He was next door to his parents.
1920 CHEROKEE CO, NC House/Family # 9/ 9 -- VALLEYTOWN-TOPTON Twp WRIGHT TROY HD R M W 35 W NC NC NC TELEGRAPH OPERA 1884/1885 WRIGHT PAUL S M W 15 S NC NC NC 1904/1905 WRIGHT MILDRED D F W 11 S NC NC NC 1908/1909 WRIGHT GERALD S M W 8 S NC NC NC 1911/1912 WRIGHT RUBY D F W 7 S NC NC NC 1912/1913 WRIGHT RAY S M W 3 S NC NC NC 1916/1917 Troy married sometime circa 1920/21 to Bessie Louella Panther in Cherokee Co, NC. Troy died in 1955 and is buried at Valleytown Cemetery. Bessie died in 1989 and is buried at the same place.
Osburn Long "Auz" Wright was born 26 Sep 1887 in Cherokee Co, NC. He was home with his parents for the 1900 and 1910 census. Auz accidentally killed his uncle Aaron Alexander Wright in October 1907 (he died 21 Oct 1907, the day after being shot). Apparently Auz Wright was fighting with Arthur Postell, and went to hit Postell with his gun. It went off and shot A.A. Wright who just happened to be walking by on the rail road tracks. I don't know if Auz got into any legal trouble over this, but I know the family was pretty upset with him. My Great Great Uncle Luther Crisp said in a 1977 interview with Alton Wright had this to say about Auz and his brother Emmett:
Topton was a pretty rough place in those days, alot like the old west, all the younger men (and some of the older ones) carried pistols and knives everywhere they went. One of my cousins told me how the Sheriff of Cherokee County said he wouldn't go to Topton in those days. (I don't know which Sheriff might have said that). Auz Wright married Myrtle Rowland on 15 May 1918 in Macon County, NC. They probably lived in Macon County. I didn't find them on the 1920 census in Cherokee County, so they were probably in Macon, which I haven't checked yet. Auz Wright died on 10 Sep 1921 in Macon Co, NC. He is buried at Valleytown Cemetery in Andrews, Cherokee Co, NC. I don't recall how he died, but I have a vague memory of my grandmother telling me about him being shot and killed by one of his own cousins. I could be wrong about that though. I'll look into it some more.
Claude McFadden Wright was born 27 Sep 1889 in Cherokee Co, NC. He was home with his parents for the 1900 and 1910 census. He married Harriett Holloway sometime before 1918 in Cherokee Co, NC. They were listed two houses from his parents on the 1920 census.
1920 CHEROKEE CO, NC House/Family # 10/ 10 -- VALLEYTOWN-TOPTON Twp WRIGHT CLAUD HD M W 30 M NC NC NC NONE 1889/1890 WRIGHT HARRIET WF F W 25 M NC NC NC 1894/1895 WRIGHT LEORA D F W 2 S NC NC NC 1917/1918 WRIGHT MILDRED D F W 1 S NC NC NC 1918/1919 Claude died 2 Sep 1959 and is buried at Valleytown Cemetery. Harriett died 4 Mar 1973 and is also buried at Valleytown. Alice Wright was born 21 Mar 1892 in Cherokee Co, NC. She was home with her parents for the 1900 and 1910 census. She married Allen Dewitt Murray sometime after 1910. Alice died 22 Apr 1976 and Allen died 7 Jun 1978. Both are buried at Valleytown Cemetery. Bennis G. Wright was born August 1894 in Cherokee Co, NC. She was home with her parents for the 1900, 1910 and 1920 census. I don't know if she ever married. Drew Deweese Wright was born 10 Nov 1896 in Cherokee Co, NC (date per Delayed Birth Certificate). Drew was home with his parents for the 1900, 1910 and 1920 census. Sometime after 1920, he married Carrie Lorene Rose, presumably in Cherokee Co, NC. Drew died in 1957, and Carrie in 1990. Both are buried at Valleytown. Emmett C. Wright was born 3 Sep 1898 in Cherokee Co, NC. He was home with his parents for the 1900, 1910 and 1920 census. Emmett died 19 Feb 1927 in Cherokee Co, NC and is buried at Valleytown Cemetery. Researcher ListPersons researching this family (click here for data on how to get on or off of this list): Register Report1. Americus Erastus "Tom"1 Wright, born 18 Mar 1858 in Rhodo, Cherokee Co, NC; died 7 Apr 1934 in Cherokee Co, NC; buried in Valleytown Cem, Cherokee Co, NC, son of James S Wright and Caroline C Winfrey. He married on 5 Apr 1878 in Cherokee Co, NC Mary Malinda L Evans, born 2 Oct 1857 in Macon Co, NC; died 9 Sep 1922 in Cherokee Co, NC; buried in Valleytown Cem, Cherokee Co, NC, daughter of Reubin P Evans and Rebecca Fouts.
Children of Americus Erastus "Tom" Wright and Mary Malinda L Evans were as follows: + 2 i Palice2 Wright, born 28 Dec 1878 in Cherokee Co, NC. She married Samuel Carver Franks. 3 ii Leora2 Wright, born 3 Oct 1880 in Cherokee Co, NC; died 31 Jul 1901 in Cherokee Co, NC; buried in Red Marble Cem, Cherokee Co, NC. 4 iii Walton2 Wright, born 3 Feb 1883 in Cherokee Co, NC; died 30 Sep 1886 in Cherokee Co, NC; buried in Red Marble Cem, Cherokee Co, NC. + 5 iv Troy Kenneth2 Wright, born May 1885 in Cherokee Co, NC; died 1955 in Cherokee Co, NC; buried in Valleytown Cem, Cherokee Co, NC. He married (1) Lula M Sherrill; (2) Bessie Louella Panther. 6 v Osburn Long "Auz"2 Wright, born 26 Sep 1887 in Cherokee Co, NC; died 10 Sep 1921 in Macon Co, NC; buried in Valleytown Cem, Cherokee Co, NC. He married on 15 May 1918 in Macon Co, NC Myrtle Rowland, born 1896/97 in Macon Co, NC, daughter of Luther Rowland. + 7 vi Claude McFadden2 Wright, born 27 Sep 1889 in Cherokee Co, NC; died 2 Sep 1959 in Cherokee Co, NC; buried in Valleytown Cem, Cherokee Co, NC. He married Harriett Holloway. 8 vii Alice2 Wright, born 21 Mar 1892 in Cherokee Co, NC; died 22 Apr 1976 in Cherokee Co, NC; buried in Valleytown Cem, Cherokee Co, NC. She married in 1910/20 in Cherokee Co, NC Allen Dewitt Murray, born 25 Aug 1891 in Cherokee Co, NC; died 7 Jun 1978 in Cherokee Co, NC; buried in Valleytown Cem, Cherokee Co, NC. 9 viii Bennis G2 Wright, born Aug 1894 in Cherokee Co, NC. + 10 ix Drew Deweese2 Wright, born 10 Nov 1896 in Cherokee Co, NC; died 1957 in Cherokee Co, NC; buried in Valleytown Cem, Cherokee Co, NC. He married Carrie Lorene Rose. 11 x Emmett C2 Wright, born 3 Sep 1898 in Cherokee Co, NC; died 19 Feb 1927 in Cherokee Co, NC; buried in Valleytown Cem, Cherokee Co, NC.
Generation 2
2. Palice2 Wright (Americus Erastus "Tom"1), born 28 Dec 1878 in Cherokee Co, NC. She married on 1 Mar 1900 in Cherokee Co, NC Samuel Carver Franks.
Children of Palice Wright and Samuel Carver Franks were as follows: 12 i Infant3 Franks, born 31 May 1914 in Almond, Swain Co, NC; died 31 May 1914 in Almond, Swain Co, NC; buried 1 Jun 1914 in Davis Cem.
5. Troy Kenneth2 Wright (Americus Erastus "Tom"1), born May 1885 in Cherokee Co, NC; died 1955 in Cherokee Co, NC; buried in Valleytown Cem, Cherokee Co, NC. He married (1) on 30 Jul 1907 in Graham Co, NC Lula M Sherrill, born Feb 1887 in Graham Co, NC; died 28 Oct 1918 in Cherokee Co, NC, daughter of Ute Sherrill and Mary C Harrison; (2) abt 1920/21 in Cherokee Co, NC Bessie Louella Panther, born 22 Mar 1897 in Swain Co, NC; died 1989 in Cherokee Co, NC; buried in Valleytown Cem, Cherokee Co, NC, daughter of Alfred Pinkney Panther and Martha Elizabeth Gibby.
Children of Troy Kenneth Wright and Lula M Sherrill were as follows: 13 i Paul3 Wright, born 1904/05 in Cherokee Co, NC. 14 ii Alma Hildred3 Wright, born 12 Apr 1908 in Cherokee Co, NC. 15 iii Gerald3 Wright, born in Cherokee Co, NC. 16 iv Mary Ruby3 Wright, born in Cherokee Co, NC. 17 v Ray3 Wright, born in Cherokee Co, NC.
Children of Troy Kenneth Wright and Bessie Louella Panther were as follows: + 18 i Lionel Benton3 Wright, born 1921; died 1986. He married (1) Lois Queen; (2) Doris Mae Johnson. 19 ii June Evelyn3 Wright, born. 20 iii Jim Morrison3 Wright, died Infant.
7. Claude McFadden2 Wright (Americus Erastus "Tom"1), born 27 Sep 1889 in Cherokee Co, NC; died 2 Sep 1959 in Cherokee Co, NC; buried in Valleytown Cem, Cherokee Co, NC. He married in 1910/20 in Cherokee Co, NC Harriett Holloway, born 24 Dec 1894 in Cherokee Co, NC; died 4 Mar 1973 in Cherokee Co, NC; buried in Valleytown Cem, Cherokee Co, NC.
Children of Claude McFadden Wright and Harriett Holloway were as follows: + 21 i Leora3 Wright, born 1917/18 in Cherokee Co, NC; died 26 Jan 1992 in Waynesville, Haywood Co, NC; buried in Graham Co, NC. She married Jack J Holder. 22 ii Mildred3 Wright, born in Cherokee Co, NC. 23 iii Wendell3 Wright, born in Cherokee Co, NC. 24 iv Doris3 Wright. She married Floyd Cothern, son of (---) Cothern and Ollie Mae West.
10. Drew Deweese2 Wright (Americus Erastus "Tom"1), born 10 Nov 1896 in Cherokee Co, NC; died 1957 in Cherokee Co, NC; buried in Valleytown Cem, Cherokee Co, NC. He married aft 1920 in Cherokee Co, NC Carrie Lorene Rose, born 1905 in Cherokee Co, NC; died 1990 in Cherokee Co, NC; buried in Valleytown Cem, Cherokee Co, NC, daughter of James Holland Rose and Mary Miranda Cable.
Children of Drew Deweese Wright and Carrie Lorene Rose were as follows: + 25 i Mary Azalea3 Wright. She married (1) (---) Bean; (2) (---) Butler.
Last Updated January 16, 2006
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