Fayette County, West Virginia Biography of WILLIAM E. WRIGHT This file was submitted by Valerie Crook, E-mail address: The submitter does not have a connection to the subject of this sketch. This file may be freely copied by individuals and non-profit organizations for their private use. All other rights reserved. Any other use, including publication, storage in a retrieval system, or transmission by electronic, mechanical, or other means requires the written approval of the file's author. This file is part of the WVGenWeb Archives. If you arrived here inside a frame or from a link from somewhere else, our front door is at http://www.usgwarchives.net/wv/wvfiles.htm The History of West Virginia, Old and New Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc., Chicago and New York, Volume III, pg. 474 WILLIAM E. WRIGHT. There are, unquestionably, in- dividuals of natural force found in every prosperous city who, by reason of their inherent ability, by the use of their brains and the soundness of their judgment, attain dis- tinction and acquire authority. They are men who in- dustriously work for an end, and in helping them- selves add to the sum of comfort and happiness for all about them. These resourceful men are the depend- ence of the whole social fabric, for their efforts not only bring into being the substantial industries that support commerce, but conduct them along the safe and sane chan- nels which assure public prosperity and general content- ment. In the class referred to is found William E. Wright, of Charleston, president of the Indian Run Coal Company and of the Indian Run Collieries Company. Mr. Wright was born March 23, 1878, at Fayetteville, West Virginia, where he received a public school education, and when little more than a lad commenced his experience with coal concerns. He was first employed by the Winifrede Coal Company, and later by the Kanawha and Hocking Coal and Coke Company, and then became identified with the organization of the Indian Run Coal Company, a sell- ing organization, and the Indian Run Collieries Company, with mines on Armstrong Creek, Fayette County, producing the best high-grade steam and gas coal. This company has five different tipples working on 7,600 acres of land, its production being 750,000 tons annually. The company is now about two years old, having taken over this property from the Black Betsey Coal Company, which had operated on Armstrong Creek for twenty years, and the Elkhorn- Piney Coal Company, located on the same creek. The Indian Run Coal Company and the Indian Run Collieries Company were organized by Mr. Wright and S. G. Smith, who are the principal owners, the latter being the treasurer of both com- panies, with F. O. Harris, of Cannelton, West Virginia, act- ing as general manager. The capital is $1,000,000. For twelve years the Indian Run Coal Company has handled the output of various Kanawha and New River coal com- panies, as also that of the Indian Run Collieries Company. The entire output thus handled amounts to approximately 2,500,000 tons annually. The Armstrong Creek coal is the best by-product coal in the United States, and the Pow- wellton seam is found only on Armstrong and Paint creeks, and on Morris Creek. Mr. Wright has maintained his office at Charleston for the past twelve years, and enjoys an excellent reputation among business men of his city. He has various other in- terests and is a stockholder in a number of banks and other concerns, and as a citizen is notably public-spirited, being a friend and supporter of all movements which promise to advance the public welfare. In politics he is a republican, and his religious connection is with the First Methodist Episcopal Church. He likewise is affiliated with several fraternal orders and is a member of the Rotary Club In 1905 Mr. Wright was united in marriage with Miss Flossie M. Henley, of St. Albans, West Virginia, daughter of the late Capt. C. W. Henley, of that place, a well-known and highly respected citizen of his community. Four chil- dren have been born to this union: Charles Ermen, Paul Henley, William E. and Frances Josephine, the first two of whom are attending the Charleston High School.