The Kanawha River "Wrights"

ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY YEARS
OF WRIGHT'S ON THE RIVER
 
Alexander Wright left his east Virginia home sometime prior to 1818, and settled near Red House Shute; KanawhaCounty, West Virginia.  He was the son of Joseph Wright, who came to Virginia from England in 1750.  He was one of three sons.  Alexander was known as a skillful boatman, and his picturesque speech was unexcelled on the river.
Boating in the early 1800's was not a full time job, and boatmen were compelled to engage in farming or other endeavors to provide for their families.  Alexander lived on a farm.
Cargos on rafts, and flatboats during the early days were composed mostly of oil, salt, or moving plunder.  Boat and cargo floated down the Kanawha and Ohio Rivers as far as Cincinnati.  The cargo sold as well as boat, then the boatmen walked back to the Kanawha Valley to wait for the next load.
Family records indicate that Alexander (Alex) made the transition from flatboat to steamboat, and retained his reputation as one of the most skillful pilots on the rivers.  Family records do not tell what boats he worked on.
Alex married Matilda ???  They had five sons; they were William Penn (Penn) born 1818 in Kanawha County, Virginia (now Putman County, West Virginia), George P. born in 1824, James H. (Foxy Jim) born in 1835, Clayborne born in 1837 and Stapleton (Stape) born in 1839.
 
The Second Generation
William Penn (Penn) was born September 9, 1818 near Red House Shute, West Virginia and spent most of his life in that vicinity.  He and two brothers piloted Government boats on the Cumberland River during the Civil War.
He was married at least three times.  His first wife was Elmira Anderson-they married December 26, 1844.  His second wife was Rachel Newcomb-they married in 1859.  Rachel at this time was fifteen years old and Penn was forty.  He married for the third time on September 16, 1869 to Sarah Barnett.
  William Penn Wright, died on October 12, 1894-and was buried near his birthplace at Red House Shute, West Virginia.
Stapleton Crutchfield (Stape, Crutch) was born in 1839.  He married Lois Eretta Dudding on December 24, 1862 in Kanawha County.  They had five sons that became rivermen also.  They were; James S. (Rabbit), John William (Dock), Edward (Ed), Eugene(Gene) and Lemuel (Lem).
James H. (Foxy Jim) born in 1835 married Emmeline Dudding, sister of Stapes wife Lois.  They had six sons that served in various capacities on boats.  The sons were; John C., Henry Lorenzo, James F. (Frank), Major Anderson, Lewis Boston and Frederick P.
George P. -born in 1824, was known as far as the Mississippi River as a mild mannered man who did not indulge in profanity or alcohol.  He married Fannie Simms, and they had three sons who also made a career of steamboating.  They were; James Brady (Brady), George A. and Henry.
Clayborne (Claibourne)-was born in 1837.  There has been no documented information on him other than he moved to Mason County near Leon, West Virginia and him being a steamboat Captain.  He had no known sons to have followed the river.
 
The Third Generation
Children of William Penn Wright were; William A. (Billy) lived in Charleston, West Virginia and spent many years as captain on the U.S. Engineers boats, John R.-there is no information on John except, a note that said, "After a sucessful river career, John Wright died at Charleston, West Virginia," James C. (Shoofly) born January 5, 1884 to William Penn and Elmiria P. (Anderson) Wright.  He was one of the best known rivermen during his life span. He worked on over 235 boats, and as he said, "performed every job on a boat, but that of a chambermaid."  He had masters papers, but wouldn't run as captain because he didn't want the responsibility.  He kept all of his records and his diary in a black bag.  One time when going up town in Cincinnati he was knocked in the head and the bag stolen.  It was never recovered and all of his records were lost. Shoofly was married to Lengthy ??? and they had one son, Ernie.  They lived in Point Pleasant in their later years, and Shoofly died there on September 17, 1933 at the age of 79.   Their number four son Thomas C. (Tom) was born in 1864 to William Penn and his second wife Rachel Newcomb.  Tom like the other Wrights started working on the river at an early age.  He was cabin boy on the "TELEGRAPH" in 1881 for six months.  There is no record of any boats he worked on prior to his joining the Cambell Creek Coal Co.  He worked as a pilot on the "JOHN DANA" with his life-long friend E.A. Burnsides as was also master of the "ROBERT P. GILLHAM" until he was accidently killed.  According to Captain Ellis Mace in his book "River Steamboats and Steamboat Men."  He was master of the "ROBERT P. GILLHAM" until his death at Louisville, Kentucky.  He accompanied one of the crew, who was sick, to an ambulance that had been called to take the sick man to the hospital.  A policeman was assisting to get the sick man into the ambulance and by accident dropped his revolver.  Striking on the bolder wharf, it was discharged and Captain Wright was killed.  This was a great loss to the Kanawha River towboats.
Tom married Susan Watson, and they had three sons; Edwin, Dana and Loyal.  Susan died and Tom remarried a woman by the name of Mamie Erwin.  To them four sons were born, but only two Harold and Francis followed the river.
According to Captain Mace, William Penn was referred to as "The Daddy Of Them All".  He was one of the first pilots liscensed by the government for fresh water vessels.  His papers covered the Mississippi and its tributaries.  When asked by an examiner if he knew where all the rocks and stumps were his answer was "Contrive my picture!  No! And no other living, but I know where there are none" and he was given a license without further ado."
"He escaped injury and possible death when the boilers of the "BLUE RIDGE" blew up at Raccoon Island, near Gallipolis, Ohio, in the year of 1848.  He was asleep in the Texas Cabin, and was blown bodily into the river, alighting on his mattress or straw pad.  Afterward, he walked to his home, some forty miles away.
Children of James H. (Foxy Jim) Wright:
1.) John C. (Charles) was an engineer on steamboats
2.) Henry Lorenzo was a licensed captain who later served as a cook, because he did not want the responsibilities.
3.) James Franklin (Frank) served on the "JOE COOK", "CROZET", "T.B. KENDALL" and the "WESTERN."  He was the captain of the "GONDOLA" in 1908.
4.) Major Anderson held both captain and engineers licenses.  No documentation of any boats he served on.
5.) Lewis Boston was a steamboat cook.
6.) Frederick P. was a steamboat cook, he was known as one of the best on the river.
Children of Stapleton Wright and Lois Dudding:
1.) James S. (Rabitt-Jimmy) served as captain on West Virginia SandGravel Boats.
2.) John William (Dock) operated the ferry at Gallipolis, Ohio.
3.) Edward (Ed) was an engineer.
4.) Eugene (Gene) was a cook and watchman.
5.) Lemuel (Lem) was a cook.
Children of George P. Wright:
1.) James Brady (Brady) was a captain.
2.) George A. was a captain.
3.) Henry was a captain.