In Memoriam

Rev. Christopher Columbus Wright, called Chris, was one of the six sons of Rev. Henry Dawson Wright and Martha Ann (Jacks) Wright, who were married Sep 22, 1847 in Sabine Parish, Louisiana. Rev. Henry Wright made the move from Louisiana to Texas with his family abt 1852 close to the time his father and family were moving to Sumpter, Trinity County, Texas. Rev. Henry Wright and Martha (Jacks) Wright moved to Newton County, near Kirbyville, Texas, where their third child Christopher Columbus Wright was born November 23, 1852.

In 1860 Rev. Henry Wright's home stead was about 160 acres of vacant land in the Burke area of Angelina Co, TX. Rev. John Ryan dedicated his new house, and began home meetings, at which time a revival began in the area. There were 19 charter members in 1866 when they joined together to found a church. Rev. Henry Dawson, a Methodist-Episcopal minister, was appointed the first Pastor of Ryan Chapel Methodist Episcopal Church South that year and served until his death. The church quickly grew to about 250 members and through the years four churches sprang forth from Ryan Chapel Methodist Church South.

Christopher Wright's mother Martha Ann (Jacks) Wright died in 1870 when Christopher was a young man. His father's close brother Rev. Isaac Edward Wright died Jan 20, 1873 at age 36 years 7 months. Rev. Henry Dawson Wright married Nancy Stone Murphy, a widow with one daughter, and they had two children. Rev. Henry Dawson Wright died in late 1877, age 49, and was buried between his 1st wife Martha "Marthie" Ann (Jacks) Wright and brother Rev. Isaac Edward Wright, died Jan 20, 1873, in Ryan Chapel Cemetery. Issac's grave is completely covered with cracked cement with his name worn off in 2013, as is his young sons buried immediately below him, Robert Henry Wright who died October 9, 1873.

Rev. Christopher "Chris" Wright was a farmer and a preacher. He married Martha Rebecca Ellisor, a daughter to Confederate Army veteran Joshua M. Ellison Co K 22 Tex Infantry, CSA, and Lucy Ann Chaffin. Lucy Ann Chaffin: b Nov 19, 1839 Clinton IL - d Sep 11, 1908. Joshua M. Ellison: b 1832 Dallas, AL - d 1876 TX. Christopher Wright and Martha Ellisor married Feb 19, 1879, in Houston County, Texas where Martha lived with her parents until her marriage. Christopher Wright was a Mason, and Martha Rebecca belonged to the Easter Star order. They lived a full life together, raising their eleven children, working hard, and faithfully attending church services with their children.

They were the parents of children:

1. Frederick "Fred" Augustus Wright: b Jan 2, 1880 Houston Co., TX - d Aug 25, 1935 Angelina Co., TX. Marr Fannie H. Chaffin Oct 14, 1908 Anderson Co., TX. Fannie Chaffin: b Apr 4, 1891 Rusk, Cherokee Co., TX - d May 21, 1986 Smith Co., TX. Both Ryan Chapel Cemetery, Angelina Co., TX.

2. Edna Wright: b Jan 24, 1883 Houston Co., TX - d May 14, 1955 Lufkin, Angelina Co., TX. Two sisters married two brothers. Edna married Charles Norval Pence (Farmer). Charles Norval Pence: b Dec 8, 1877 Robertson Co., TX - d Feb 19, 1965 Lufkin, Angelina Co., TX. Both Ryan Chapel Cemetery, Angelina County, TX. Edna's sister Minnie Lee Wright married William Oscar Pence, born 1880, Charles Norval Pence's brother. Minnie Lee (Wright) Ryan Chapel Cemetery.

3. Floyd Benjamin Wright: (Farmer) b Aug 18, 1884 Anderson County, TX - d Aug 13, 1968 TX Angelina Co., TX. Age 83 years. Marr Gussie Lee Stoval: b Dec 31, 1897 Angelina Co., TX - d Jun 25, 1989 Angelina Co., TX. Age 91 years. Both Ryan Chapel Cemetery, Angelina County, TX.

4. James Monroe Wright: (Farmer) b May 5, 1886 Grapeland, Houston Co., TX - d July 11, 1963 Edgewood, Van Zandt Co., TX. Marr his 1st cousin Rev. John Lawrence Wright's widow Neatie Cordelia (Sanders) Wright. John Lawrence Wright who died at age 26, was a son of Rev. John Wesley Wright and Elizabeth "Lizzie" Louise Tiller. James and Neatie Wright buried Mount Hope Cemetery, Cherokee Co., TX. Rev. John Lawrence Wright Ryan Chapel Cemetery, Angelina County, TX.

5. Rev. John William Wright:(Presbyterian Clergy) b July 4, 1889 Burke, Angelina Co, TX - d Feb 11, 1961 Farmington, San Juan Co., New Mexico. Resided in Wichita Falls, TX in 1930. Pastor of Presbyterian Church, Superior, Arizona from April 1948 - May 31, 1951. Resided in Superior, Arizona (near Phoenix) in May, 1952, at age 62 years where he was pastor of a Presbyterian Church. Resided in Farmington, San Juan Co., NM in 1961. Married Zemma Alice Pickel in 1911 in Texas. Zemma Pickel was a daughter of Joel Henry Pickel, an Englishman, and Jennett Josephine McKim. Zemma's mother Jennett died when she was about 3 months. Zemma was raised by her step grandfather, Rev. Ruben Courtney,who lived in Angelina Co. for several years and her maternal grandmother, Georgie Ann Courtney, mother of Jennett Courtney. John and Zemma Wright had two children: Edith "Merle" Wright, and John Jeffie Wright. Rev. John and Zemma Wright buried Greenlawn Cemetery, Farmington, San Juan County, NM. Son John Jeffie Wright and wife Laurena Lea Wright, and some grandchildren buried Greenlawn Cemetery, Farmington, San Juan Co., NM. Edith Merle (Wright) Wormser: b Mar 24, 1902 Burke, Angelina Co, TX - d May 31, 1999 San Antonio, Bexar Co, TX. Burial unknown.

Rev. John William Wright and his sister Mary had a headstone placed for their Grandfather Rev. Henry Dawson Wright in Ryan Cemetery late 1950s before they died. They inquired through a letter to some family members of their Grandmother's name which they did not remember from childhood when their Father mentioned it. Someone gave them the incorrect name of Sarah Wright, so they had a headstone placed with the wrong name. Their Grandmother was Martha Ann Jacks, 1st wife to Grandfather Rev. Henry Dawson Wright. The family will place a correct headstone in memory of Martha Ann Jacks Wright.

6. Minnie Lee Wright: b Feb 5, 1881 TX - d Mar 26, 1914. Minnie died from complications of childbirth four days after son son Oscar Lee Pence was born. Oscar was Minnie and William Oscar Pence's seventh child. Oscar Lee Pence died at age 21 years and was laid to rest beside his mother in Ryan Chapel Cemetery where they share a double headstone. Widower William Oscar Pence later married (2)wife Elvira Tabitha Wright. She was Minnie'a 2nd cousin. They had four children. William & Elvira Pence both buried Plainview Cemetery, Madison County, TX. Minnie's sister Edna Wright married William Oscar Pence's brother, Charles Norval Pence, both Ryan Chapel Cemetery.

1910 US Census Justice Precinct 4, Angelina, TX: (Farmer) William Pence Head of Household, age 30 y; Wife: Minnie L. Pence age 29 y; Child: John J. Pence age 7y; Child: Francis M. Pence age 5y; Child: Jewell G. Pence age 4m.

7. Robert Luther Wright: b Sep 9, 1892 Angelina County, TX - d Apr 19, 1955 Rusk, Cherokee Co., TX. City of Rusk employee. Age 62 years. Marr Margaret Ethel (maiden name unknown): b Feb 16, 1903 - d July 12, 1985. Both buried Salem Cemetery, Rusk, Cherokee County, TX.

8. Mary Iris Wright: b Mar 9, 1894 Angelina County, TX - d Aug 2, 1962 Trinidad, Los Animas Co., Colorado. Marr Damon Carson Nichols. Damon Nichols b Jan 20, 1894, Jimtown, OK - d Nov 23, 1950 Harlingen, Cameron Co., TX. Damon's parents: William Lewis Nichols and Ellen E. Nichols.

Damon Nichols and wife Mary Wright Nichols answered their calling to the ministry, being with the Salvation Army in 1930 US Census. They served with the Salvation Army during over 30 years in their lifetimes, and are both buried at Restland Memorial Park, Dallas, Dallas County, Texas. The Salvation Army has a section with several graves including theirs honoring dedicated lives of service. Verified both burials there with Restland Memorial Park by phone conversation with staff representative, and there are now pictures on their memorials thanks to John Hughes in 2013. Salvation Army placed headstones denoting their faith and service.

9. Rev. Henry Dawson "Huey" Wright: b Jan 8, 1898 Angelina Co., TX - d May 21, 1957 El Paso, El Paso Co., TX. Methodist Clergy. Military Service: US Navy RF Seaman 2D Jun 2, 1918 - Sep 30, 1921. World War l. Married Jeffie R. Wright. Pastored in Oklahoma and Texas. Buried Fort Bliss National Cemetery, El Paso, El Paso Co., TX. 1930 US Census Terral, Oklahoma. Henry: Head. Henry: 30 years of age. Married. Jeffie: 26 years of age. Henry married age 22. Jeffie married age 17. Daughter Melba L. 3 years of age. Occupation: Preacher.

Phone conversation with Fort Bliss National Cemetery staff representative verified that Jeffie Wright (maiden name unknown) was eligible for burial by her husband, but was not buried there. Her burial is unknown. Their daughter Melba Wright (#117266947) married Wildfred Schumacher (#38096248), a World War II US NAVY veteran who served in the Phillipines. They resided in Las Cruses, New Mexico where he owned an automobile dealership; they were devout Christians, very active in their Episcopal Church and civic affairs, were highly regarded in their community, married 62 years. Children Private. Both Masonic Cemetery, Las Cruses, Dona Ana County, New Mexico.

10. Christopher Columbus Wright Jr.: (Farmer) resided in Grapeland, TX. b Sep 12, 1900 TX - d Nov 17, 1969 Palestine, Anderson Co., TX; Marr Kate L. Ellisor. Kate Ellisor b Dec 25, 1903 Houston Co., TX - d May 14, 1992 TX. Kate daughter of John William Ellisor (b 1870 Houston Co., TX - d 1972 Houston Co., TX) and Eunice Ann Clark (b 1883 Houston Co., TX - d 1969 Anderson Co., TX). Christopher and Kate Wright both Parker Cemetery, Houston County, TX.

11. Etta Ethel Wright: (#122518281) b Sep 30, 1902 Diboll, Angelina Co., TX - d May 15, 1976 Texas City, Galveston Co., TX. Died from effects of diabetes. Was in Autumn Hills Nursing Home, Texas City, TX. Buried Galveston Memorial Park, Hitchcock, Galveston Co., TX. Marr Gilbert William Uebersetzig. Gilbert Uebersetzig: (#47005712) b Dec 8, 1899 Hadley, Murray Co., MN - d Apr 3, 1992 Hall Co., TX. Military Service: World War II S4 US Coast Guard. Fairview Cemetery (North Section) Memphis, Hall Co., TX.