From the Killeen Daily paper (we think) July 1942. Clipping from cousin Norvell Wright.
"The death of W. J. "Uncle Billy" Wright at Okay last Sunday morning marks
the passing from that section of the last of the early pioneer settlers of
that section. Uncle Billy was 84-years old and had lived on the same land
for 74 years. Funeral services were conducted at the Okay church Monday
afternoon and interment was make in the Copperas Cove cemetery. Cole-Law of
Killeen was in charge of the funeral arrangements.
Uncle Billy came to Okay when only three settlers lived in that section. He
was then only a small boy. His father, the late James Lewis Wright, came
with his family to that section 76 years ago and pre-empted the land on
which he and his family settled and it has been the Wright family seat
since. Upon the death of his father, Uncle Billy bought the interest of the
other heirs and has owned the property since.
Up until a few days before his death, Uncle Billy was able to be up and
about and delighted in recalling events of the early days. He remembered
clearly the long trek by ox-team from their former home in Alabama. They
were nearly four months making the journey, camping wherever night overtook
them and killing game along the route for food. He grew awfully tired of
the camp life of the trail on the trip and never again took any interest in
camping out.
One of the stories he delighted in telling was the manner in which he earned
his first piece of property-a horse and saddle. He worked a whole year
helping a neighbor make a crop to earn this prized possession.
Through the years Uncle Billy has contributed to the community life about
him. He has been an honored and respected citizen and enjoyed the good will
and esteem of his neighbors.
In 1877 he married Miss Sara Jane Johnson and to this union ten children
were born. Five of these are living today. They are Harvey of Sweetwater;
Mrs. Addie Speer of Copperas Cove; Mrs. Mamie Kimzey of Fort Worth; Troy of
Rochester, and Cordie of Okay. One child of this marriage, Thomas, died in
infancy. Others were Robert; Mrs. Maudie Davis; Mrs. E. Ridling; and Mrs.
Montgomery who passed away only two months ago.
His first wife passed away in 1899 and in 1903 Mr. Wright married Mrs.
Mattie Medart Stovall. Four children were born to this union, all of whom
living today. They are Mrs. Charlie Hold of Killeen, Mrs. Fay Foster of
Okay; Guy of Kempner; Jay of Hico; and his step-son, Ernest Stovall ofKilleen.
The Wright home is one of the oldest houses in the Okay section. It is not
the original house built by James Lewis Wright 68 years ago, but it contains
much of the original timber as the original structure was torn down and much
of the heavy lumber was used in building the present house. The timber for
this lumber was cut on the mountain back of the Wright home and carted to
Round Rock where it was sawed and hauled back.
Mr. Wright was a farmer most of his life. He had early ambitions of being a
cattleman and for several days rode herd as a cowboy. In the days just
following the Civil War wild cattle roamed this region and these mavericks
were roped and branded by anyone and the foundation of many big ranches
started in this manner. The elder Wright (James Lewis) was a conscientious
man and considered branding these cattle was something close to rustling and
would not permit his son to participate in the general practice. So the
young man became a farmer instead of a cattleman.
The passing of Mr. Wright not only removes one of the early pioneers of that
region but takes from the community a man of high esteem and a Christian
gentleman who was a good neighbor and friend who will be greatly missed."
(I thought all of our family would enjoy reading this article. Cousin Norvell Wright said he had a paper from the US Government giving him first option to buy back the Wright property that is now part of Fort Hood. This property will probably never be up for sell. I met an archeologist who said he was part of a survey team that mapped Fort Hood and labeled all the original owners of the land. He said he remembered the Wright name. So we should go to Fort Hood and ask to see this map and locate this property.)
The above was sent to me from Barbara Reed
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