Patrick County Virginia USGenWeb Archives Biographies.....Wright, James Jackson October 11, 1868 - April 4, 1937
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Ron Martin cindyandron@bellsouth.net August 13, 2023, 9:03 am

Author: Ron Martin

  James Jackson (J.J.) Wright was born on October 11, 1868, the first son of 
Nash Jefferson Wright and Nancy “Nannie” Jane Via Wright in the Dodson community 
of Patrick County, Virginia.  He came from a large and prominent family in the 
community as he had one brother, four sisters, a half-sister, and two half-
brothers.
  In October, 1885, his mother Nannie prematurely ended her life as she 
committed suicide by hanging.   She is buried in the Wright Cemetery in Dodson.
  On April 8, 1890, J.J. married Martha E. Helms, the daughter of George Turner 
Helms and Martha Matilda Via Helms.   They had a son that was born in 1893 and 
died the same year.  That union lasted just over five years when Martha died on 
July 21, 1895.   
  Just over six months after her death on February 5, 1896, J.J. married Cassie 
Susan Ross, the attractive daughter of Charles Foster Ross and Frances Ruth Jane 
“Fannie” Jamison.  
  They immediately embarked upon a family and while the first two children 
passed away very quickly after birth, Nellie Jennings Wright was born on March 
13, 1899.   
  Sometime during this time, he began running a store and became the postmaster 
in Dodson as it was revealed in the 1900 census.  Evidently he had taken over 
from the first postmaster John R. Foster.  
  The post office in Dodson was established in November, 1885 about a mile south 
of the Smith River on what is now known as Union Bridge Road and Foster served 
as the first postmaster.   In fact, the building while unused still stands today 
(2023) as a testimony of a time and era long gone.
  Over the next dozen years, the Wright’s continued their family as they had one 
son and three daughters that were born.  Several of their children were very 
successful as Nellie who never married went on to become the assistant director 
of nursing at Roanoke Memorial Hospital.  Mary Ella who also never married was a 
teacher and librarian in Roanoke and Frank went on to own a furniture store in 
Salem.
  Over the next few decades, J.J. continued to run the little store in Dodson as 
well as taking an active part in the Democratic party in Patrick County.  Based 
on the society news in The Enterprise, they were very active in the social scene 
in that area as much was written about their visitations to family and friends 
as this aspect of journalism became more prevalent as the 20th century unfolded.
  Unfortunately Wright passed away on Sunday, April 4, 1937 at his home in 
Dodson of a cerebral apoplexy (stroke).   He passed away around 2 AM according 
to the Calendar Record of Events 1909-1959 which was written by the Elder James 
Goode Lane Hash.  His funeral was held on Monday, April 5 at his home and 
interment was at the High Street Cemetery in Rocky Mount, Virginia.


Additional Comments:
The photo attached to this bio was obtained from Ancestry.  

Photo: http://www.usgwarchives.net/va/patrick/photos/bios/wright23nbs.jpg

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/patrick/bios/wright23nbs.txt

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