John Wesley Wright

The Law Of Pine Mountain

John Wright, native of Letcher County, Kentucky, was generally known as "Bad" John Wright, also as "Devil John", descriptions that were warmly used by his neighbors and friends. These nicknames were also attributed to him by his enemies, but assuredly in 'not so warm' a manner. It was common knowledge that to have lawman John Wright tracking an outlaw was to have the Devil himself at their heels and though this was an attribute among those of good moral fiber, it made John an enemy of the more despicable. There were other nicknames associated with him, such as "The Tall Sycamore", and most frequently in Eastern Kentucky... "The Law Of Pine Mountain". Undeniably John Wright in essence was the law in Letcher and Pike and surrounding Counties. It was John Wright that the citizens of the county looked to when law and order needed to be enforced.

Court rooms came to peaceable order with Devil John's presence at the back of the courtroom, and his quiet word, "Your Honor, you can go along with proceedings now. I will be staying around for a while."

John B Wesley 'Devil John' Wright was born on the Kentucky River near Kona in Letcher County, Kentucky on May 17, 1844. John died January 30, 1931 at Horse Gap, Pound, Wise County, Virginia. A chapter of South Eastern Kentucky history exploded between those dates of 1844 and 1931, with wars and tribulations splitting open the very seams of family life of everyone living there.

John was the second child born to Joel Ellis and Eliza Agnes Bates Wright, which made him a grandson of two of Letcher County's most prominent pioneer families, the Joel Wright and John Wallis Bates families.

There are three men who must be mentioned when discussing the life of John Wright, Talton Hall, Claibourne Jones and Marshall Benton Taylor. Talton Hall, the son of Dave Hall of Floyd County, Kentucky, was "Devil John" Wright's best friend. Talt was wanted for numerous murders, but even though most of John's life was spent as a lawman, he made no attempt to arrest him. James Claibourne "Clabe" Jones of Beaver Creek held a long feud with "Devil John". Each had their own gang of men and would often raid the others home. There is an account of both men planning a raid for the same night and passing each other in the darkness. Marshall Benton Taylor, more commonly known as "The Red Fox," was a herb doctor and delivered many babies throughout the mountains. It is said that "Doc" Taylor also had a dark side and was the central figure in the murders of the Ira Mullins family. These murders which are referred to as "The Pound Gap Massacre," took place at a site known today as "Killing Rock," which is located just across the Kentucky state line in Wise County, Virginia.

Several books and numerous newspaper articles have been written about "Devil John" Wright. The character Devil Judd Tolliver, in the novel "The Trail of the Lonesome Pine" by John Fox, Jr., was based on the life of John Wright. "Devil John Wright of the Cumberland’s" is a history of John's life that was written by his son, William Troy "Chid" Wright. John had 31 children by several different women. At this time two marriage records have been located for John Wright. His first marriage to Martha "Mattie" Humphrey, (bond File #5869), dated l4 October l866, is on file at the Courthouse in Cynthiana, Kentucky and his second marriage was to Ellen Sanders, on September 8, 1924 at Water Gap in Floyd County, Kentucky.

John served as Sheriff of Wise County, Virginia and was at one time a Pinkerton Agent. It was from these many years as a lawman that he gained the nickname of "Devil John". It was said that when tracking an enemy or an outlaw, John never relented until he got his man... thus to be chased by John Wright was to have the Devil himself at your heels.' John joined the Civil War prior to his 17th birthday as a member of the Confederate Army and remained in the service throughout the war. Afterward, John and his Uncle Martin VanBuren Bates joined the Robinson Circus. John performed as a trick rider and sharp shooter and Martin as "The Kentucky Mountain Giant".

'Bad John' Wright Waits Death in Bed

Sources: 1.Abbrev: New York Times

Title: article, New York Times, New York, NY,, Name: Footnote Name: ShortFootnote Name: Bibliography Page: 1 Sep 1930, p. 30==

--- Famous Feudist and Mountain Peace Officer Has a Record of Thirty Killings.
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Unaware Son is Slain
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Friend of John Fox Jr., and One of His Characters, Was Foe of "Devil Anse" Hatfield.
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WHITESBURG, Ky., Aug. 31 (AP). -- "Bad John" Wright, former feudist, who in later years was respected as an intrepid mountain peace officer, lies at the point of death today at his home in Wise County, Va., near the Kentucky border, unaware that his son, Sam, met violent death yesterday in Pike County, KY.

"Bad John" earned the sobriquet by killing more than thirty men while s erving in positions of authority in the border counties of Virginia and Kentucky. All his killings were within the law, his friends hasten to tell, questioners, safe in the knowledge that the events of the famed Wright-Jones feud of forty years ago have long since been forgotten.

The border patrolman, whose age is estimated between 87 and 96 years, was an intimate friend of John Fox Jr., the novelist, and provided him with much material for his books dealing with mountain life. "Devil Jack Tolliver", one of the characters in the Fox novel "The Trail of the L onesome Pine," was a prototype of John Wright.

"Bad John's" admirers hasten to add, however, that "Bad John was not like 'Devil Jack'. 'Bad John' was not really bad, they say, citing his record as an enforcer of the law, whereas Fox's famed character was depicted as a bloodthirsty two-gun man of the hills who killed for the mere fun of it.

"Bad John" in later years became more familiarly known as "Uncle John," and has friends without number in Letcher and Pike Counties, Ky., and Wise County, Va. Sometimes he was called "the Tall Sycamore of the Elkhorn" because of his gigantic stature and his residence near Elkhorn Creek.

Until several days ago, when he was stricken ill, "Bad John" was active as a deputy sheriff of Wise County. He had previously served as sheriff, deputy and justice of the peace in the several counties he patrolled .

The officer was a deadly enemy of "Devil Anse" Hatfield, principal in the feud between the Hatfields and McCoys. "Bad John" was never able to capture "Devil Anse", who died with his boots off in ripe old age. William R. (Cap) Hatfield, son of "Devil Anse" and last survivor of the feud, also died with his boots off in Baltimore several days ago, and "Bad John" seems destined to pass to the great beyond in the same fashion.

"Bad John's" son, Sam Wright, was killed by Melvin Branham during a family quarrel in front of Sam's home in Pike County, Ky., yesterday. Branham also was shot to death, but the coroner's jury was unable to decide who killed him. The jury decided that Sam Wright was slain by Branham.
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