When W.C. Wright’s wife, Rhey, passed away in 1968, he went to live with Leola and her husband in Pendleton.
W.C. Wright penned several wonderful poems that found their way to the Daily Reporter, thanks to Leola, along with stories about the area and letters to the editor.
Though W.C. Wright passed away in 1970, his poem “Defeat” turned out to be one of his most prophetic works.
In the poem, a grandfather, who once played and talked with his children and grandchildren, feels defeated by the television for his family’s attention.
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What would W.C. Wright say about computers, cell phones and tablets?
W.C. Wright and the twins were actively involved in genealogy and supporters of the Rev. John Corbly Descendants Association, W.C.’s triple great-grandfather.
According to the their genealogy research, the Rev. John Corbly began 30 Regular Baptist churches in Pennsylvania and was once imprisoned and beaten for his new way of preaching.
His second wife, Elizabeth Tyler, and he had five children, but she and the three youngest were massacred by American Indians on May 10, 1782. (For more information, check out the association’s web page: http://johncorblydescendants.org/?page_id=13)
W.C. Wright wrote the first and second edition of “Life and Times of Rev. John Corbly and Genealogy.”
Two months before his death, W.C. Wright attended the Corbly reunion in Pennsylvania on June 28, 1970.
Leola continued her father’s work and published seven genealogy books about the Wright and Corbly family.
The twins acquired five authentic coats of arms, or family crests, from overseas.
W.C. Wright’s book, “Echoes of the Past,” was made possible by the twins in 1972, and printed by Burton Printing Division in Anderson.
After Leota was widowed in 2003, she moved in with Leola and Ray on State Street in Pendleton.
They would sit together on the front porch swing when the weather would allow. They continued to plan McKay School Reunions until most of the classmates had passed away.
Leola played the organ at the Pendleton Baptist church.
The preacher would pick them up and drive them to church because neither one of them drove; their husbands had always driven the cars.
After Leola’s death in 2013, Leota stayed at the Pendleton house and became the last living student of the McKay School and the oldest living student who graduated from the Westland School.
Though Leota recently sold the house in Pendleton after a severe fall, she is very happy with the new family that moved into the home with twin girls who also enjoy sitting on the porch swing to play, talk and watch the world go by.
Leota is still very bright, perky and a good conversationalist who enjoys company. Even though she cannot venture outdoors like she used to at her niece’s house and play the organ at church, her preacher, friends and family visit regularly.
She reads her Bible every day and looks forward to her 99th birthday.
If invited, this little researcher would consider it a great honor to bring the No. 99 balloons to the party of such a neat lady.
Rebecca Crowe is president of the Hancock County Historical Society and a librarian at Fortville-Vernon Township Public Library. Send comments to [email protected].
