| Birth Date: Mar. 17, 1870 | Birth Date: Jan. 24, 1860 | |
| Death Date: Mar. 30, 1946 | Death Date: Oct. 19, 1929 |
Samuel William Isaac Wright was born Jan. 24, 1860 in the parish of Caddo, LA to Samuel A. Wright and Lucy Melvana Newton Wright. His father, S.A. Wright, entered the Confederate Army soon after the Civil War began. He was a casualty and is buried in Confederate Cemetery at Granada, Miss. So Samuel William Wright could not remember ever seeing his father. He and his young widowed mother lived with her father, Isaac Newton. As a child, he drove a mule hitched to a piece of machinery to press cotton bales. When a youth, he helped on the grandfather's plantation. when a young man, he worked in a dry good store in Fayetteville, Ark. to pay his way through school.
His mother had married and moved to Collin Co., TX. In the summer of 1886 Sam came to visit his mother and her second family. He met Martha Jane (Mattie) Thornton, daughter of S.D. and Laura Brazzie Thornton. He was a Confederate veteran from Missouri and Laura, a native of Louisiana. Martha Jane and Samuel married at Nevada, TX, Nov. 3, 1886.
In Nov. 1887 Mr.and Mrs. S.W. Wright arrived on the Plains in a covered wagon. They spent their first night in Crosby Co. camped at the Rock House with the Hank Smith family. Thus began a friendship that lasted till death. They were accompanied by her parents, Mr. and Mrs. S.D. Thornton, her brother, James Gordon (Jim), her three younger sisters, Elida, Una and Ida and the Temple Ellis family.
They built a 16 foot square room with a shed room or lean-to across the west, an east porch and a half dugout. Here they established a home and family.
Their first child, a son, Willis Eugene, was born July 19, 1888. In the next 19 years eight daughters and another son were added to the family. The second son was their fourth child. He died at the age of six weeks and is buried in Estacado cemetery.
Sam broke the sod and planted crops but supplemented his income by freighting from Amarillo and Colorado City, brining supplies for local businesses. Among his customers were Stringfellow-Humes General Merchandise of Estacado and later Witt of Emma. He built up a herd of cattle and purchased more land.
He worked diligently for better roads, schools and churches for the area.
He was trustee of Farmer School many years. He served on the first jury that convened in Crosby Co. after it was separated from the larger district and established its own local government. during the ensuing years, he did much jury duty. He always helped hold the elections. He and a Mr. Eddy were the first to plant cotton in Farmer community in 1904. He hauled this cotton to the nearest gin which was in Lockney.
Mattie led the life of pioneer women. Industrious and resourceful, she reared her children, helped to nurse sick neighbors, always striving to make a better more attractive home and community. Many a lovely school teacher enjoyed the hospitality of the home. Many travelers were welcomed.
Several of the Wright family have served their country in time of war. during World War I, their son-in-law, Hugh Foster, and B. F. Priddy and A.C. Powell who later became sons-in-law, served. Six grandsons served in World War II, one Elmer Caldwell, made the supreme sacrifice. There were three grandsons and one great grandson in the Korean Police Action; one grandson and six grandsons in the Vietnam Conflict.
The Wright children reached adulthood and established homes and families of their own. As of May 1977, Willis, Flora and Evelyn are deceased. Lucy Wright Caldwell and Alice Wright Morrow live in Amarillo. Beaulah Wright Foster, Ida Wright Priddy, Ada Wright Powell and Lillian Wright Ross live at Ralls.
Eleven days before their 40th wedding anniversary. Samuel William Isaac Wright died Oct. 19, 1929. Martha Jane died of a heart attack Saturday, March 30, 1946. Both are buried in the Ralls Cemetery. Truly they lived in a house by the side of the road and were friends to many.
Source: "A History of Crosby County 1876-1977" published by Crosby County Historical Commission 1978
Family younger years
Family Photo in later yearsServices Held For Mrs. Wright, Crosby Pioneer
Funeral services were conducted at 2:30 p.m. Monday in the First Baptist church for Mrs. Mattie J. Wright, 76. Mrs. Wright, a pioneer resident of Crosby county, died Saturday afternoon at the home of Mrs. Ada Powell, a daughter.Mrs. Wright, who was in good health, died unexpectedly while sitting in a chair. She came to Crosby county from Collin county in 1888. She was a charter member of the First Baptist church organized in Crosby county, in her home.
She is survived by one son, W.E. Wright of Corpus Christi; seven daughers, Mrs. C.D. Calwell of Roy, N.M., Mrs. C.T. Miller of Amarillo, Mrs. W.P. Nittler of Hale Center, Mrs. W.J. Ross of Daugherty, Mrs. Hugh Foster, Mrs. Buril Priddy and Mrs. Ada Powell, all of Ralls; one sister, Mrs. Lida Elliott of Estanchia, N.M.; 32 grandchildren and twelve great grandchildren.
Rev. James Abernathy, pastor of the Ralls Baptist church, conducted the services and was assisted by Rev. Boel Bryant pastor of the Ralls Methodist church.
Pallbearers were Cecil Foster, Carl Miller, Jerold Powell, Clarence Wright, Fishburn White, Alton Dendy, Buddy Bear and Harold Easley.
Burial was in Ralls cemetery under direction of Marr Funeral Home.
Ralls Banner, 1946
Record provided by Ralls Historical Museum
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