Knox-Lincoln-Kennebec County ME Archives History .....Material For MC 1618 June 19, 2006 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/me/mefiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Bill Boggess willam-boggess@webt.net June 20, 2006, 5:32 am Book Title: Date: June 19, 2006 To: Special Collections, University of Arkansas From: William (Bill) S Boggess Subject:VIRGINIA LAFAYETTE (DAVIS) GRAY (1834ME-1886AR) Reference: M C 1618, materials received summer 2005 consisting of: 1)- Original copy 1863-1865 diary, published 1983 in Arkansas Historical Quarterly, 2)- original and transcribed copy of diary 1867-1872, "The Diverting History of Little Tarley Gray", first five years of Union Pacific Railroad vice-chairman Carl Raymond GRAY's life, and 3)- Scrpitural Album, contaning art work of Virginia and others.                ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Sent were items pertaining to Virginia Davis Gray, which enhamce existing materials and enlighten those researching M C 1618; Included were images, Virginia (Jeanie to family, Virgie to Fayetteville friends) as a young and older women, her studio in new (1875) University Hall (Old Main) according to her letter, Fayetteville, October 1875, her family, her tombstone, her family's obituaries, and copy of Hattie E Williams', "OUR NEIGHBORS --- THE GRAYS" published May 1958, in FLASHBACK, a publication of Washington County Historical Society. The following information was gathered, in part, from thirty-nine letters written by Virginia to family members between 1857 (age 23) to 1886 (age 52), ten in Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan in file of Raymond C DAVIS, her brother and University of Michigan's Librarian, 1877-1905, along with thirty maintained by her g,g,g,niece, B..... H... of Dover, New Hampshire, who graciously transcribed and distributed seven known copies in 2005 --- DEMANDING --- they remain private and unpublished. Also are notations from Virginia's 1867-1872 transcribed 242 page diary about son Carl Raymond GRAT, with another 845 pages of her writings of him, 1872 to 1874, begging to be transcribed in files at Arkansas History Commission, Little Rock, donated by Farrar Clinton Newbury, who was president of "Woodman of the World", president of Board of Regents for University of Omaha (NE) 1949 (home of Carl R. Gray & family, president Union Pacific RR, 1920-1938), and was a prolific writer, who returned to Arkdelphia in retirement, a permanent member of Arkansas Historical Association, died 31 July 1968, buried in Arkdelphia.          <>----------<>----------<>       Virginia LaFayette (Davis) GRAY was fourth born child to mariner Captain George Davis' union with Catherine Young, Thursday, 19 June 1834, on Davis Point, Cushing, Lincoln county, Maine (becoming Knox county 1 April 1860). Her family was traced to Mayflower passenger, Reverend William Brewster, via membership #1 of Nebraska Society of Mayflower Descendants, and General No. 5384 of son Carl Raymond GRAY, vice-chairman of Union Pacific Railroad, who University of Arkansas honored in 1929 with an honorary LL D degree. Carl was also "Trustee" of Colby College, where his father graduated in 1855.       Captain George DAVIS often took his children with him on his world-wide passages. Virginia to Europe aboard Bark Diana in 1857, older two of his three sons for two year trip around the world aboard 443 ton, s/v Hampton 1849/51, laying over in San Francisco, February 1850 during the 'Gold Rush' days, see "Reminiscences of a Voyage Around the World", published 1869 by Raymond C DAVIS.       Virginia, at age 23, wed Oliver Crosby GRAY, age 27, of Minneapolis, Minnesota, Friday, 28 May 1858, in Cushing, Maine by Robert Gay, Justice of the Peace, moving to Monticello, Wright county, Minnesota (first of three letters from Monticello, Minnesota 14 July 1858 --- many historians have this wrong including University of Arkansas, --- as Monticello, Arkansas) -- where her husband was principal of the Monticello Academy. They returned to Minneapolis (letter 21 August 1859) where son Clyde Leslie was born Saturday, 19 February 1859, and were she had taught drawing & painting according to her Holly Springs, Mississippi written (one of three) letter dated 22 January 1860.       They, because of the lack of available money in Minnesota, moved to affluent Marshall county, Mississippi, eight miles to Byhalia, same to Holly Springs, for school year 1859/60, teaching one year, housed on a plantation whose overseer, Wells, had three daughters, one a red-head and sixteen slaves. This plantation was near; "...the famous Martin Mission of the Presbyterian Church was established on the road [old"Pidgeon Roost Road"?] about 1824 or 1825.; The site of the Mission is about six miles northwest of Holly Springs. Even in those early days, travelers sometimes detoured by the holly springs for the fine water and excellent camping site.".       The Grays then moved to Princeton, Dallas county, Arkansas, she following Oliver by stage with a sick son with stage getting lost for one night (first of four letters, from Princeton 20 August 1860). They both taught at Princeton Female Academy, school year 1860/61, when son, Clyde Leslie, died Thursday, 4 April 1861, Oliver enlisted with Colonel Solon Borland, M D, in what became the famous 3rd Arkansas Calvary Regiment of the Confederate States Army Monday, 29 July 1861, Virginia remaining in Princeton where she wrote her 1863-1865 dairy, published 1983 in Arkansas Historical Quarterly. Oliver was captured by Federal troops Saturday, 16 November 1864, imprisoned until exchanged Thursday, 2 March, 1865 home in Princeton Monday, 1 April1865.       The GRAYs remained in Princeton, at Princeton Female Academy, she birthing second son, Carl Raymond GRAY, morning of Saturday, 28 September 1867.       Oliver became employed by Masonic St Johns' College in Little Rock and as engaged in opening it for school year 1867/68, following use during the war as a hospital, serving as its president his last three of seven years. Virginia, removing with son, later in November (from diary), to Little Rock, Pulaski county, birthing daughter Ethel Davis, Tuesday, 5 December 1871 (letter, 15 December 1871).       The GRAYs then moved to Fayetteville, Washington county, Arkansas (letter 22 September 1874) for school year 1874/75, where both were teachers at Arkansas Industrial University, she "drawing, painting", he "civil engineering, mathematics etc." (its first classes were held February 1872), she till 1881.       The GRAY's lived on third floor of a hotel with neighbor, fellow teacher Mary Gorton and her student sister (letter, October 1875) before buying their homestead on Dickson street at Gregg avenue (letter 24 February 1878).       Virginia gave the University's Board her painting of University Hall (Old Main) & grounds (now missing), so recorded with resolution to her, on page 91, 18 June 1877 Board Records.       The GRAYs parted with easterly portion (letter 30 January 1881) of their July 1877 purchased homestead from Colonel LaFayette GREGG, to the Frisco RR, where now sets the "Historic" Frisco station (third structure) where son Carl paid $5/month to learn telegraphy. Virginia died from cancer, 1:30 Tuesday afternoon, 17 August 1886, with family near, discovered December 1885 (letter, Fayetteville, 31 March 1886). Local newspaper wrote:             "As a demonstration of sorrow and respect for the burial of Mrs Gray on Wednesday the business houses very fitly closed their doors. An act which was right." Virginia's obituary stating;                 "She was a most estimable lady, a loving Christian wife and mother. No lady had more friends in Fayetteville than Mrs Gray."       Virginia Davis GRAY was laid to rest in lot 144 of old Masonic now "Historic" Evergreen cemetery, Fayetteville, Arkansas, --- later joined by her husband Colonel Oliver Crosby GRAY, granddaughter Virginia and daughter, Ethel Davis. First son, Clyde Leslie, in Princeton cemetery, Princeton, Arkansas along side her father Captain George Davis, second son, Carl Raymond, is buried at Druid Ridge cemetery, Baltimore, Maryland and her mother and paternal grandparents at Davis cemetery, Cushing, Maine. Compiled by Bill Boggess, raised at Carthage, Missouri(ah). author of: "The Story of Two ARKANSAS Pioneer School Teachers" and "The Grays From Maine", on file at libraries in Little Rock, Arkansas and the University of Arkansas. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/me/knox/history/other/material3ms.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/mefiles/ File size: 8.7 Kb