Izard Co., AR - Biographies - William M. Ray

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William M. Ray removed from his native State of Tennessee (he being a native of
Bedford County, born in 1828), to Independence County, Ark., in 1858, and
purchased and entered the land on which he is now residing, which comprises 360
acres, 100 acres being under cultivation. The tillable portion of his land he
devotee principally to cotton, corn and small grain, and the manner in which he
conducts his farm shows him to be well posted on all matters pertaining to the
work. He was reared, educated and married in his native State, the latter event
taking place in 1850, and being to Miss Nancy J. Holland, a daughter of William
Holland. Seven of their nine children survive: Alexander, Joseph R. George F.,
Sarah J., James, William M. and Dorinda. Mr. and Mrs. Ray are members of the
Christian Church, and he is an active member of the I. O. O. F. During the Civil
War he espoused the cause of the Confederacy, and served in the infantry and
cavalry for about six months during 1862. His parents, Alexander and Isabella
(Scott) Ray, were born in North Carolina and Tennessee, respectively, and were
married in the latter State, in 1816, to which State he came with his parents,
when near twenty-six years of age. He was badly crippled when about twenty years
of age by white swelling, but notwithstanding this drawback he became quite
well-to-do, and was the owner of 240 acres of land in Tennessee. Of the seven
children born to himself and wife, only one is now living, William M., our
subject. He died in Tennessee, July 30, 1856, his wife, who was a daughter of
John Scott, of Tennessee, dying at the age of thirty-five years.