Patrick County Virginia USGenWeb Archives Biographies.....Wright, Taylor October 21, 1877 - May 3, 1930
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Ron Martin cindyandron@bellsouth.net August 2, 2023, 6:32 pm

Author: Ron Martin

  Taylor Anderson Wright was born on October 21, 1877 to William Green Wright 
and Mary Virginia Temperance “Tempie” Bryant Wright in the Puppy Creek area of 
Patrick County, Virginia.  It should be noted that his draft registration for 
World War I states October 21, 1877 as his date of birth but his tombstone 
indicates his birth date as October 25, 1878.    The date on his registration 
appears to be more accurate as his sister Senora Catherine Wright was born on 
July 22, 1878 which is revealed on her death certificate.
  The long and winding road of his life had their humble beginnings like that of 
most rural children in that he worked on the family farm to help support and 
feed his large family which included his parents and eight siblings.  Based on 
the burial location of his parents, his childhood home and family farm were near 
the headwaters of Puppy Creek.
  On February 15, 1898, he married Lelia Jane Bryant, the daughter of John 
Wesley Bryant and Judith Ann Cox Bryant who lived just down the creek.  They 
were married by the Elder Perry Cahill, an Elder of the Primitive Baptist Church 
at the home of the bride’s parents.    Taylor and Lelia welcomed their first 
child, Pearlie Ada to the family one day after their first anniversary on 
February 16, 1898,
  He continued to farm after marriage but sometime after the turn of the 
century, he began to transition into carpentry work.   While his transition was 
taking place, their second daughter, Dovie was born to the couple in 1901.  Five 
years later, their first son Dewey J. was born in 1906. 
  Based on events that unfolded, he had become quite proficient in carpentry and 
in July 1909, he was contracted to build a dwelling for George Edward Philpott 
who lived in the small community of Philpott in Henry County, Virginia.  
Ironically enough, he became Taylor’s brother-in-law later in life upon his 
second marriage.
  Either during or just after construction of the Philpott home, Taylor and 
Lelia welcomed their second son Roy in August 1909.
  In April 1910, he was contracted to build the Dunkard Church at the location 
of the old Brammer School House.  There are unanswered questions about whether 
this church was the precursor to Goodwill Church of the Brethren which served 
the community for many years.
  The next decade brought a lot of change to the Wright family.  After Taylor 
completed the huge Dunkard church job, he was also contracted the build the 
first Union Primitive Baptist Church which was located near the Smith River in 
Dodson around April 1910.  
  It was a huge year in the Wright house in 1913 as their third son Aaron was 
born in April.  In August, Taylor purchased 7 ½ acres of property from W.A. Via 
and Martha Via on the waters of Puppy Creek.
  In 1915, their fourth son Erman was born.  Tragically in March 1917, Roy died 
of pneumonia and was buried near the homeplace.  Just over a year later in 
September, their first born, Pearlie passed away of chronic spinal muscular 
atrophy.   Their final child, Mamie Lucille was born in 1919.  During this 
period Taylor and his friend and future son-in-law Peter Martin built a barn for 
Jim Via in a return trip to the Philpott community to work.
  The next decade witnessed rapid change in the Wright family.  Lelia passed 
away around April 30, 1921.  At this time, the exact date and cause of death for 
Lelia has not been established although family documents indicate this April 
date.  A death certificate was not filed with the Commonwealth of Virginia which 
is consistent with many deaths during and before this era. It is thought that 
she was buried in the nearby Wright Cemetery but that is unconfirmed at this 
time.
 Some time thereafter, Taylor was contacted by Mary Elizabeth “Mollie” Craig 
Philpott, a widow that resided in Bassett to perform some improvements on her 
home.   He was referred by Percy Gibson who was Mollie’s brother-in-law.   
According to family accounts, Mollie was making lunch for people that worked in 
the nearby furniture factories to generate income for her family at the time.    
Some time thereafter Mollie and Taylor became a couple.
  Taylor began making plans for his marriage to Mollie and seemingly the first 
step was taken on February 6, 1922 when he sold the 7 ½ acres that he had 
purchased in 1913 to Peter Martin. 
  On May 13, 1922, just three months later, Taylor married Mollie Craig in Henry 
County, Virginia.   Six days later, Peter sold the 7 ½ acre tract that he 
purchased from Taylor just three months ago to his brother Charlie Bishop 
Martin.  Charlie did not record the deed in the Patrick County Circuit Court 
Clerk’s office for twenty-seven years.
  Seven months later on December 8, 1922, 44 year old Peter Martin married 
Taylor and Lelia’s 21 year old daughter, Dovie Wright in Henry County, Virginia.  
  Two years later on May 29, 1924, Mollie gave birth to their first son together 
Taylor Craig Wright.  After his birth, they moved to Roanoke VA and she gave 
birth to another son Cecil Wright.
  Just over a year later, Mollie passed away due to pneumonia that was caused by 
the flu.   She was buried in the Dave Craig Cemetery near her home in Bassett, 
Virginia.  After her death, her family offered to help with their two sons, 
Taylor and his brother Cecil.   Taylor went to live with Charles Elijah Moran 
and his aunt Minnie Alice Craig Moran who lived in Bassett.  Minnie was Mollie’s 
sister.   Annie Berta Craig Gibson, Mollie’s sister wrote to Taylor Wright and 
offered to keep Cecil and to bring his little bed until he could find him a 
home.   Both aunts raised Taylor Wright’s sons as they own and both sons 
actually took their “adopted” family’s name.
  Taylor quickly remarried eight months later on November 4, 1927, when he 
married Fannie Bett Stanley Underwood in Roanoke.  
  In the census records taken in Patrick County on April 2, 1930, two of the 
three kids born to Taylor and Lelia were residing with Peter and Dovie in their 
small four room house on the banks of Puppy Creek so evidently when Taylor 
married Mollie, two of his kids Erman and Mamie Lucille remained at their home 
living in Dodson with Peter and their sister Dovie as well as their two 
children, Jack and Bessie.  
  On May 3, 1930, 52-year old Taylor Anderson Wright succumbed due to pneumonia 
in Horsepasture in Henry County, Virginia.   It appears that perhaps Fannie and 
Taylor were separated because in the 1930 census which was taken prior to 
Taylor’s death, he was residing in Horsepasture with his brother Samuel and in 
the census that was taken in Roanoke, Virginia , Fannie was just living with her 
son.
  Taylor was buried beside his second wife Mollie in the Dave Craig Cemetery 
near their home in Bassett. 


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