From Proud Heritage, Volume I by DCPA, currently out of print.
Prior and Julia Ann Pickett Wright, both natives of Barren County, Kentucky, left their farm home near the Warren County line, arriving in Texas in time to appear on the 1855 Tax Rolls of Dallas County. A bond for their marriage was made 18 March 1850. Prior, born 1 May 1831, was almost 19 at the time. Julia Ann, born 2 February 1834, had just become 16. The marriage bond was signed by Prior and B. S. (Robert) Pickett, her father. For a time after their marriage Prior and Julia lived with his parents, Jacob and Lydia Priest Wright. Prior’s half sister, Nancy Wright (daughter of Jacob and Rachel Lair, his first wife), had come to Dallas County, Texas in 1853 with her husband, William Huffhines, her second cousin.
In 1854 Prior was the agent for Robert (B.S.) Pickett’s Kentucky land. Before leaving for Texas Prior and Julia became the parents of a son, John Marshall, and a child who died somewhere along the route to Dallas County. They came to join other members of the Pickett family who had settled earlier in the Duck Creek area, which later became Garland. Andrew Thomas Pickett, Julia Ann’s half-brother, owned 140 acres in the John Casey Survey lying on the west side of what is now Shiloh between Belt Line and Apollo Roads. On 28 February 1859 Prior bought the north 70 acres from his brother in-law, for which it has been reported he paid $25.00 and a milch cow. The deed shows a consideration of $105 “to me in hand paid.”
Prior, some of his relatives and neighbors, sold oats to the Confederate States during the Civil War for 35¢ per bushel. Over the years Prior bought and sold other tracts of land, keeping as his homestead the Shiloh Apollo Road farm. Much of the plowing must have been by oxen for on 14 May 1867 Prior bought six “work” steers from C. B. Hodges. In the fall 1881 or spring of 1882 John Porter Wright came from Barren County to visit his Uncle Prior, Aunt Julia and his first cousins. He stayed and a year later was joined by his parents, brothers and sisters. Marshall Wright, before his marriage to Elizabeth Virginia Beckham, lived with his grandfather George Wright, brother of William Wright who married Fanny Campbell.
On 29 August 1884 Prior Wright deeded one acre at the corner of Apollo and Shiloh Roads to Dallas County et al. On this site was built the Shiloh School where many of the Wright and Pickett children received their education. Two of Prior’s and Julia’s grand-daughters, Julia Bethel and Julia Coldwell, were teachers there at the turn of the century. In recent years the building was used as a second-hand auto parts business.
Julia Ann died 13 January 1886 when her youngest son, George, was 11 years old. She was buried in Big Springs Cemetery. Prior married Mrs. Mary C. (Molly) Cody in Denton County on 18 December 1890. Her grand children lived with them in 1900 and 1910.
The Picketts and Wrights were Baptists by birth for several generations. The Big Springs Baptist Church, founded 15 August 1874, appointed John M. Wright, Prior’s oldest son, as pastor in 1888. At a church conference held in September 1889, the church “received by letter Bro. Pryor Wright,” who became one of the most faithful members, often serving as Church Moderator.
To distinguish him from his son, Prior Sr. was affectionately called “Uncle Prior.” He died 10 June 1910 and was buried beside Julia Ann in the Big Spring Cemetery.
Julia Ann Pickett was a daughter of Robert Samuel Pickett and his second wife, Permelia Carpenter, sister of his first wife, Margaret Carpenter. Prior and Julia Ann had the following children, all buried in Big Spring Cemetery, as are many of their descendants:
1) John Marshall (16 March 1852 – 24 July 1915) married 13 September 1877 Edna E. Bass (16 April 1861 – 26 January 1890). Their children were: Mrs. Hershel B. (Julia M.) Hamilton, Mrs. Horace (Edna Armenta) Bennett and Mrs. Samuel Brown (Lydia Alice) Guy. After the death of Edna, John Marshall married Flora Kate Carlisle (26 September 1862 – 24 July 1939). Their children were Marshall Edward, Mrs. Malcolm (Flora Fishe) Broadfoot, Anna Ruth married Anthony Ellett and Fred McWilliams, Mrs. Victor (Kate L.) Killman, Mrs. Harry T. (Elizabeth ) Box, and John Marshall Wright, Jr. John Marshall was a prominent Baptist minister, a leader in education, the head of a girl’s school and active in orphanage work. He died in the Baptist sanitarium in Dallas.
2) Mary Elizabeth (December 1855 – 20 May 1926) married 2 October 1873 to Joseph B. Hill. Widowed by 1900, she operated a rented farm near her father “Uncle Prior” Wright. She died at the home of her oldest child, Joseph Ed, in Dallas. Her other children were Mrs. Andrew (Annie) Gant; Walter E., who moved to Shamrock, Texas; Claud M. who died in 1901 when 17; and Mary N. McFarlin.
3) Jacob B. ‘Jake’ (10 January 1858 – 26 October 1935) married 6 December 1881 Susan Josephine Coldwell, the sister of Volney Coldwell. She was born 14 July 1858 and died 8 January 1941 on their farm on the Dallas-Collin County line in the Shiloh community. He served 32 years as Sunday School Superintendent of the Murphy Baptist Church and was active in civil affairs. They had no children.
4) Capernia Ann (26 November 1859 – 4 December 1899) married 23 January 1881 Volney Coldwell (12 January 1851 – 15 February 1923). Volney was born in Tennessee and came to Dallas when but 4 years old. They owned a farm on Big Spring Creek north of Garland. A Mason, he rarely missed a meeting, riding his horse to town regardless of the weather. Their children were Nathaniel H. who died at age of 2, Mrs. James W. (Julia Ann) Campbell, John P., Mrs. Robert Porter (Sallie) Myers, Mrs. John Preston (Mary D.) Bryan, and Ben Wright Coldwell. In 1902 Volney married Mrs. Ada Martin. They had one son, Joseph Meshaw, who died when 4 months old. Volney moved into Garland in his retirement.
5) Lydia Frances (1862 – 1888) married Simpson Bethel (1853 – 1900). Their children were Julia E., a school teacher who never married, Robert R., and Mary Lou who died when 2 years old. Simpson was a member in 1895 of the first Commercial Club in Garland. He remarried in 1890 and had six children.
6) Permelia Donia (6 May 1866 – 21 October 1897) married Robert A. Carlton (1861 – 14 July 1928). Bob was a farmer. Their three children were Mrs. Joe I. (Bernice E.) Hudnall, Mrs. John (Minnie L.) Boyd and Prof. George Arthur Wright of Waco.
7) Prior Jr. (7 January 1872 – 16 March 1922) married 22 January 1895 Hattie Shuffler (14 August 1874 – only date). Prior was a farmer near Sachse. The family contracted influenza, the wife and daughter recovering. Their only child, Lora E., married a Mr. Williams.
8) George Wilburn (8 April 1874 – 14 June 1938) married 7 April 1911 Laura S. Broad (23 February 1874 – 6 October 1959). They farmed in Collin County, Dallas County and Oklahoma. They returned to the Shiloh community to take care of his brother, Jake. George remained there until his death three years later. Their children were Mrs. Mildred Ricketts, Mrs. Nell Bryan, Mrs. Mary George Darnell, and Sidney Wright. A child, Josephine, born in 1902 died in 1903.
Many of these descendants still live in the Garland-Richardson area.
By E. E. Jackson, Richardson
