Oral History: Gunfight at Reynolds Store
as Told by Lois Wright Tweedy
Lois Wright Tweedy has collected oral histories about the Bates family for over 40 years, traveling with her husband and her brother Orville Wright. She has the most extensive collection of files and pictures of any other person in the Bates family. She is a regular contributor to our magazine The Life & Times of the Martin Van Buren Bates: The Kentucky River Giant.
This story is about local politics with violence in Eastern Kentucky resulting from a struggle for the power and influence to control parts of Letcher County. It tells us about the serious nature of “school board politics”.
Background: Education in America in the Early 1900s
After the Civil War, education began rapidly changing throughout America. A number of major forces including the economy, industrialization, and the growth of the population produced numerous effects on education in the early 1900’s. Many Americans believed that education needed improvement. Laws were passed that children had to go to school. Only in the 20th century were young children no longer regularly expected to work alongside adults. By 1918 school attendance was not only compulsory but the school leaving age was raised from 12 to 14 years old.
In the period of 1900–20’s, education and the economic well-being of the nation began to be perceived as closely related. The workplace was changing and it seemed fairly apparent that the school system would need to provide adequate education and training to better prepare workers.
Immigration had a large impact on the American school system. Large numbers of foreigners were immigrating to US, with the majority coming from countries and ethnic groups that were not widely represented in America at the time. The numbers of immigrants were so great that about 75,000 immigrant children were denied an education because there was simply no more room, particularly in urban schools. To accommodate the immigrants and their children, (and help them to adjust to American society), urban school systems created special courses to teach English and provide instruction in American political and civic values. This process was known as Americanization. These changes in turn brought other effects.
The early 1900’s were times of drastic change for American school systems and their curriculum. The increasing number of people resulted in necessary changes to the school’s curriculum. The curriculum represented the core values of those governing the school systems. The rapidly growing number of children in school districts spurred the development of larger urban school systems. These newer districts valued expertise and efficiency over individuality and locality.
School administrators began introducing new curricula and vocational schools were created as a result of the growing bond between education and business. (e.g. the Smith/Hughes Act of 1917 provided funding for both vocational and agricultural education).
While these changes decreased the close ties between schools and their communities, it brought about a need for order, regularity, predictability and professionalism within school systems. And more jobs for school boards to control.
During the period 1900–1920 education in the US boomed because children could learn more and they didn’t have to work on farms, or in mines or factories. Many immigrant children went to school because of the immigration. Schools all over the country were filled with children. Colleges were getting bigger and were filled with students. Unfortunately, only the wealthy could go to colleges or universities.
Local School Politics in Eastern Kentucky
The expansion of the coal industry employment as well as road construction with railways and highways (automobiles and trucks became available) stimulated the need for additional housing, water, electric and sewer services for Eastern Kentucky. The coal companies built “coal towns” for their coal miner employees. Local politicians joined with these coal companies as they were pressured to meet these emerging social demands.
Most schools in Letcher County had a one room building with children (1st through 8th grade) put together into one class room. Requirements for a teacher were minimal. Local teachers were hired if they had completed a high school education (through the 12th grade). For example, Eastern Kentucky University (called Eastern State Normal School and Teachers College) Morehead State University (called Morehead State Normal School and Teachers College) or Berea College (called Foundation School) offered a teachers’ certificate that qualified individuals to teach in local school districts.
The town of Jenkins emerged from a small crossroads of less than 100 people in 1900 to a planned city in 1920 with hundreds of homes and other structures and a population of 4,707. This rapid growth produced significant pressure on towns and the county to invest in education and a rapid expansion of political interest in school boards who hire superintendents, principals and teachers.
There were very few political jobs within the county that produced viable power and influence over people’s lives that politicians desire. This pecking order of political positions remains very much the same as it is today.
The most powerful job was the county judge (and the magistrates) who controlled the county’s expenditures. But this influence was not very great because there were few actual employees in 1900–1920.
The county sheriff was powerful and a crucial center of influence because he collected taxes and had the power of “law and order” to arrest people. He hired his own deputies. Of course, the “leeway in doing his job” might mean looking the other way regarding certain criminal acts, or receiving money or other consideration for his actions (or non-actions).
The county jailer was also a position of power. His ability to treat people who are incarcerated (deciding what they ate, how they slept and with whom prisoners were in jail with) determined the fate of many individuals and families. To a degree, he held the power of life or death within his cells.
However, none of these elected positions compared to the actual raw power and influence of an elected school board with their ability to hire and fire; determine tax rates; decide when and where new construction would occur; and select who would build it.
Center of Jenkins. [Aerial View] (Printed verso reads: “Located in the heart of the Elkhorn Coal District of Southeastern Kentucky, Jenkins, a city of 10,000 people, had enjoyed for years the reputation of being one of the most beautiful mining towns in the country. Until recently it was a company owned and totally controlled town. Jenkins citizens now own their homes, businesses, churches, and schools. This view shows only the central business section. (The town is 8 miles long and is strung out along the narrow valleys.)”
With the population changes forcing Eastern Kentucky communities to respond, school boards emerged as a new source of major political influence. School board members provided guidance but little else. In fact they did nothing, except influence other people to do their bidding within a complex structure where few could be held accountable. With that power, they could control who else got elected and the outcomes of major decisions facing their community.
Consequently, school boards became an emerging center of power and influence over most people’s lives in Eastern Kentucky. And politicians saw many opportunities for controlling and practicing their profession.
Samuel J. Wright & Martha Jane Reynolds
Sam “Kinky Haired” Wright, (born December 10, 1859 died August 7, 1921), was the son of Joel Wright and Eliza Agnes Bates Wright (sister to Martin Van Buren Bates) born March 7, 1819 died February 1, 1892.
Samuel J. Wright married Martha Jane Reynolds September 4, 1880. Their four children were; Wesley, William Henry, Washy and Essie. When the first two children, Wesley and William Henry, were born so close together, Martha Jane said, “If I keep this up there’s going to be lots of little Wrights running around here.” It was 171/2 years before another son -”Washy” (Samuel Washington) and daughter (Essie Blain) were born.
Their earlier years were told by their daughter, Essie Wright Quillen, the wife of Willie Quillen.
Sam had extremely curly hair and Essie (Sam’s daughter) said “He was called Kinky Haired Sam to distinguish him from so many other Sam Wrights.”
“Martha Jane Reynolds Wright was well educated for a woman of her day. She was an excellent reader and could write some. I remember saying that so many things she did showed she was way ahead of her time.
“Orthodontist was unheard of then and I was her only daughter and I had my front tooth that was badly crooked. Every night she would twist that front tooth with her little fingers; she was a tiny woman, and I’d cry. She’d say, ‘I’ve got to get that tooth better’ and would hold it till her fingers give out. It’s barely noticeable and we all think our mothers are wonderful but I’m so proud of my mother who was so far ahead of her time.”
Essie gave us copies of the old Wrights and descendants, given to her by her mother and told us,
“My great grandfather, Joel came from North Carolina about 1815 with his wife, Susannah to Virginia. They reared a large family, Joel, James, Samuel, a babe in Susannah’s arms when they moved from Virginia to Kentucky, Andrew, John, William “Bill, Margaret “Peggy”, Elizabeth “Betsy, Susan, Sidney and Annie.
To own lots of land all you had to do was lay a patent, have the land surveyed and you owned it. Joel owned miles of land and as his children married he gave them farms and they stayed nearby.
When Sam was 12 years old his father, (Joel) was kicked in the head by a horse and killed (1873). Joel had bought a young horse that was unruly and when he slapped him with the reins the horse kicked him In the head. They took him in his home and he lived for three days. This was many years ago and there were no doctors in the mountains. His family came and after a while in the discussion by his bed a question came up about a woman who had recently married. And Joel spoke her name for them. It is not remembered her name, the last word ever spoken by Joel.
Martin Van Buren Bates, (Sam’s uncle and a wealthy man) persuaded Eliza Agnes Bates Wright to let her baby son, Sam go to Seville, Ohio in Medina County and go to school there. (Here in the mountains there were few schools and most children had to work on farms and barely got by only). Eliza Agnes made a big sacrifice letting Sam go with her brother. Sam used the 6th reader and received an excellent education.
“Kinky Haired” Sam became very wealthy, one of the wealthiest in that part of the country. Sam’s place was a popular place to be out in the country. He had a grist mill, saw mill, store, post office and blacksmith shop. When they came there they could get anything they wanted. It was a rare occasion when no one was there.
In 1890 Sam and Martha Jane Reynolds Wright built a new house is still standing today. The house had 10 rooms with hit-and-miss rugs that were woven on a loom by Martha Jane. It was in this house that Eliza Agnes Bates Wright (Sam’s mother) died.
“They were all standing around the bed and she started naming the loved ones who had already died.
Martha Jane “chilled” and ran for Paw, (Sam) who was being relieved for a few hours and was asleep in the other room. “Soon after, she fell peacefully asleep.”
Sam owned a grist mill and a saw mill at Millstone and a saw mill at Wright’s Hollow below No. 4 Jenkins. That’s why it was called Wright’s Hollow. Lots of timber and lumber was sawed there in 1910–1911. Many of Sam’s relatives were working for him.
Two of Sam’s world famous closest relatives, “Big Brother” Bates and Sam’s brother, “Bad John” Wright came often to visit. They had traveled together with the Robinson Circus, but they were just family in Sam and Martha Jane’s home.
Once when “Big Brother” Bates (the Giant), was visiting more than 50 people came to see him. It used to be that when people came to your house you did not let them leave without inviting them to eat. Martha Jane went into the kitchen and prepared to cook. It required a lot of food for that many people way out in the country.
“Big Uncle” came in there and said now Martha you are not going to cook for this crowd. It ain’t right. I’ll dismiss them. Martha Jane said we can’t make them mad. Big Uncle told her he wouldn’t make them mad. He went out on the porch and said.
“Now folks, I know you’ve all come here just to see me today. Now it’s getting about time for us to separate. I want all of you to look at me good.”
He turned around, and then he walked across the porch so they can look at him good and then he said,
“Now you are all dismissed”.
They all got on their horses and went on. If anyone got mad we never knew. As long as she lived Martha Jane laughed about “Big Uncle” saying “now you are dismissed”.
When “Big Brother” Bates, visited Martha Jane had him lay his hand and boot on two pieces of cloth and later embroidered them. Today they are prized possessions. Sam and Martha Jane went to his funeral in 1919 in Seville, Ohio. Sam had always been a special person to him and on his death Big Uncle bequeathed $4,000 to him. (Present day value of $4000 is $57,300).
“Bad John” Wright (Sam’s brother) who became a legend, lived in Virginia but often came to visit Sam and Martha Jane. At night, he would say, “Martha, would you bake me a little pat of corn bread for breakfast?” She always fixed biscuits for her family every morning while lots of people had them on Sunday morning. “Bad John had biscuits at his house but preferred his corn bread.
A few times Sam gave Martha Jane a reason to be jealous and she’d tell him, “You may be a John but I’ll never be a “Mattie.” (Mattie was Bad John Wright’s wife — who was aware of his numerous affairs with other women) More than a few times Sam would “leave for quite a while.” Once or twice he felt Martha Jane may have had a friend that was a bit too friendly so “he watched for evidence” as well.
The Gunfight at “Morg” Reynolds’ Store in Neon, Kentucky
The following is written as it was told to us.
One Sunday morning, August 7, 1921, Kinky Haired Sam Wright was killed by Dabner “Dabber” Bentley and Dabber Bentley was killed by Sam Wright.
Sam Wright and Dabber Bentley got into it over a school election.
Will Wright said, “Sam Wright was Sheriff and Dabber Bentley, it was said, he wanted the job. A lot of others were shooting there.”
Cynda Strunk, (daughter of Shade Bentley) said,
“I had just walked up to the car and was talking to Aunt Cora Adkins in the car and Dabber Bentley came up behind me. I didn’t hear what he said and I looked around at him and Uncle Sam walked over to the end of the car and said, “I beg your pardon, Dabber, I beg your pardon.”
Because I was talking to Aunt Cora, I didn’t hear what Dabber said. They began shooting each other right there beside me: Dabber here in front and Uncle Sam in back. Lord, that liked to scared me to death, honey.
Dabber came and fell right where I was standing. I got away from near him, and Uncle Sam went around the car and there was a plank in that swamp for people to walk across. I got on that plank and Uncle Sam was on the plank and I couldn’t go. I thought “What will I do?”
Uncle Sam’s hand was almost shot off and I looked at Dabber. Dabber had pretty, long wavy hair and he had fallen with his hair in his face and I looked at Uncle Sam. He took aim at Dabber like you would a dog and Dabber said, Oh, don’t shoot me anymore. You’ve killed me now.”
I got off that plank and ran. Uncle Sam was running right after me and bullets were coming every way now other people were shooting from this way and that way.
When we got to the end of the plank I turned right and he went to Morgan “Morg” Reynolds’ grocery store.
They said Sam said, ‘Reload my gun’ and they did. Morg owned the store and said ‘put a man in the back and a man in the front with a high power rifle and don’t let them come in.’ When he went in the store and they reloaded his gun, Doc Bentley came to him and Uncle Sam said, ‘Doc Bentley, will you take me up in your home?’ And he said, “I sure will.”
He took him to the old drug store where he lived upstairs. Doc Bentley stayed with him awhile. Aunt Martha Jane got up there but I didn’t get up there to see him. They said Uncle Sam said,
“Has Dabber passed away?”
Dabber was in the operating room at Fleming Hospital. Dabber kissed all his folks and told them
“If Uncle Sam lives not to bother him.”
Dabber died.
Uncle Sam lived one hour and died about twenty minutes before Dabber.
Uncle John (Devil John) came over and he said, “Why in the hell didn’t anybody tell me. I wish I’d been here. I’d told him.” (Uncle John wasn’t a Christian then.)
Cynda Strunk continues;
My folks lived at Whitaker’s and heard I was shot. I’d come over to see Uncle Booker . I ran on the railroad tracks to let them I wasn’t hurt.
Children… I was scared to death. My baby was a year old and I was eighteen when he was born.”
Monroe and others told the same story. He added, “Morg Reynolds made Myra and the girls go upstairs when Sam Wright came into the store. Sam Wright was the Town Marshall and his son-in-law, Willie Quillen was the Police Judge.
In those days you couldn’t learn much about the school elections. In the town they had board sidewalks and it was about 30 yards to the store. When Elmer and Lloyd Venters heard about the killings they said, “Lord, have mercy.”
Ciller Huston told us her version of the story about Sam Wright and Dabber;
Uncle Sam was a small man and dark. He wasn’t hateful like some people talk about and he was honest. Uncle Sam was the law and Dabber was my step-brother, the son of my mother after she left my father, Denton Huston.
There was a racket raised over the school election. As the law Uncle Sam tried; he went to my mother and she told him, “Sam, you’re going to get killed.” And he said, “Yes, I know. We’re dying, both of us.”
When Uncle Sam and Dabber saw each other Uncle Sam said, “Stand back.” And neither one got back.
He killed Dabber and Dabber killed him.
Dabber was taken to the Fleming Hospital and Uncle Sam wouldn’t let them take him cause Dabber was there. Doc D. V. Bentley took him to his home.
Uncle John (Devil John) was upset over Dabber killing Uncle Sam but I never heard any trouble over it.
Mae Burke and her husband, Blair Adkins, now living in Florida, told about the close call his mother’s brother, Fred and his family had when Sam Wright and Dabber killed each other.
“Uncle Fred Blair and Aunt Cora were in a model T Ford, 1921–1923, with their two youngest boys, about a year apart, in front. Fred, Jr. was in her arms and the new baby, Bennie was nearby. Glen was five years old and in back. Uncle Fred knew both Sam and Dabner and they came up to talk with him and I guess they saw each other and started shooting each other right there through the car. The Winchesters started popping and people took to their houses.
The Bentleys and Wrights had had frictions for quite a while. The one in Fleming must have been Dabner Bentley for he asked about Sam Wright and was told, “He just died and Dabner said, “Thank God, I can die now.” And he died.
Mae Burke Adkins said,
“Sam was in trouble with the Reynolds and left and came back, his mother was still living and everything was worked out and this happened.”
Blair said,
“Oh, it was never worked out with people up there. They’re still killing. The Civil War caused that with them, the mountain people never forget. They are good people.”
Mae added, “There are wonderful, lovely people living there.”
Excerpt of an article from the August 8, 1921 Lexington Herald.
QUARREL OVER PRIMARY RACE STARTS FIGHT.
Both Fall After First Volley.
Bodies Riddled With Bullets.
Aged Victim Was Survivor of Feud Wars.
Whitesburg, Ky., August 7. — Trouble resulting from yesterdays primary election caused a double tragedy at Neon, Letcher County, this afternoon when Sam J. Wright, policeman of Neon, and Alvin Bentley, resident of Neon, were fatally injured in a pistol duel on the street. Words were exchanged between the two opposing candidates who had been defeated. According to witnesses both the men then drew revolvers and opened fire. Several shots were exchanged, both falling mortally wounded, each shot several times. Both died within a few minutes. Wright, who is a brother of John W. Wright, was about 70 years old. He was one of the best known men of old feud days. He is survived by his wife and several grown children. Bentley was about 40 years old. He is survived by his wife and three children.
Reports from Neon indicate further trouble. Members of the Wright and Bentley families are said to be arming.
End of excerpt.
Acknowledgements
We gratefully acknowledge the excellent documentation provided by the Wright Family Website for adding important historical details.
If you want to learn about how schools have changed over the past 100 years read this from Mental Floss.
Also read about the High School Movement in the United States.
About Lois Wright Tweedy
Lois Wright Tweedy has collected oral histories about the Bates family for over 40 years, traveled with her husband and her brother Orville Wright. She has the most extensive collection of files and pictures of any other person in the Bates family. She is a regular contributor to our online magazine found on Medium: The Life & Times of the Martin Van Buren Bates: The Kentucky River Giant.
About Ira J. Bates
Ira is the Editor of The Life & Times of the Martin Van Buren Bates: The Kentucky River Giant found on Medium. If you are interested in contributing articles for our magazine please contact and follow Ira at Medium.
If you are a Bates Cousin,
Join us on FaceBook at Collecting Cousins: The Kentucky River Giant and network with other family members.
Enjoy This Article?
Then please recommend us to others by clicking the heart below.
Want to share a Response?
Please give us you reactions and comments. Your responses will inspire us to tell more stories.
