Biography of Roy T. Wright - Mercer Co. WV

The History of West Virginia, Old and New
Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc.,
Chicago and New York, Volume II
pg 94 +95

Roy T. Wright, general manager of the Pawama and Algonquin mines, vice 
president of the Bank of Matoaka and president of the Wright Drug Company, 
came into this district in 1902 as a member of the First Engineering Corps 
for the Pocahontas Coal & Coke Company, and his initiative and ability have 
since advanced him to a leading place in the affairs of this part of Mercer 
County.

He was born near Princeton, that county, July 24, 1882, son of E. C. and Mary 
S. (Ellis) Wright, the former a native of Wythe County, Virginia, and the 
latter of Monroe County, West Virginia.  E. C. Wright came to Mercer County 
in 1866 with his father, Thomas Wright, who settled on a farm near Princeton 
and spent the rest of his life as a farmer and cattle raiser.  Thomas Wright 
was a veteran of the Confederate army.  He was killed by accident while 
working in the timber at the age of eighty-four.  E. C. Wright followed 
farming for many years, but since 1907 has been a resident of Matoaka and is 
in business as a funeral director.  He is a Methodist, much interested in 
Sunday School work, is affiliated with the Masons, Knights of Pythias, 
Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Moose and other societies and is a 
democrat.  His family consists of two sons and three daughters, the other
son 
L. A. Wright being in charge of the Wright Drug Company.

Roy T. Wright acquired his early education at Princeton, finishing school at 
the age of eighteen, after which he spent a year on the farm.  His first 
connection with the coal industry was in the service of the Sagamore Coal 
Company on Crane Creek, following which he went with the Pocahontas Coal and 
Coke Company, and since his first work at Matoaka he has enjoyed increasing 
responsibilities, serving as superintendent, manager and engineer, and has 
been connected with the Winonah, Hiawatha, and Smokeless companies the 
Springton Colliery Company, and since 1918 has been in active charge of the 
coal properties above mentioned and has other interests in the coal industry 
as well.  Besides the Bank of Matoaka and the Wright Drug Company he is 
manager of the Matoaka Electric & Power Company, is president of the Mercer 
Hardware & Furniture Company, president of the Matoaka Insurance Agency.

Mr. Wright in 1900 married Miss Mary Harriet McClaugherty, who was born at 
Princeton, daughter of James McClaugherty.  They have three children:  
Bernice, a student in the Martha Washington College at Abingdon; Harry and 
Agnes, both in high school.  The family are Methodists, and Mr. Wright is 
affiliated with the Elks and Knights of Pythias, is a Scottish Rite Mason
and 
a member of the Mercer County Country Club.


Submitted by PJSTON@aol.com

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