Biographical Sketch of John Reynolds Ray, Dent County, Missouri

>From "History of Laclede, Camden, Dallas, Webster, Wright, Texas, 
Pulaski, Phelps and Dent Counties, Missouri" The Goodspeed Publishing
Company, 1889.
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John Reynolds Ray, watch maker, jeweler and dealer in general merchan-
dise at Salem, was born in Henderson county, Tenn., in 1843, and is the
son of James H. and Elizabeth (Wallace) Ray, and grandson of Robert 
Ray.  James H. Ray was born in Orange County, N. C., in 1812, and was 
of Irish descent.  When young he went to Henderson County, West Tenn.,
with his father, and was here married.  In 1846 he immigrated to Dent
county, Mo., and located one-half mile north of Salem, where he resided
until 1852, when he settled four miles west of the county seat. He died
in 1883.  The mother is yet living.  She was born in Orange County, 
N. C., in 1818, and is now residing on the old home place.  They were
the parents of twelve children, nine of whom are now living.  John R.
Ray was the fifth child in the order of birth, and was only three years
of age when he came with his parents to Dent county, Mo.  He was reared
in this county, and February 25, 1864, he enlisted in Company E, One
Hundred and Twenty-second Regiment Illinois Infantry, and was discharg-
ed November 4, 1865, at Vicksburg, Miss. In the fight at Tupelo, Miss.,
he was wounded in the right hand.  He was also in the battles of 
Nashville and Fort Blakely.  He received his primary education in the
common schools of Dent county, and after the war attended the public
schools in Salem.  In 1866 he entered the teacher's profession, and
followed this ten terms, all in Dent county, his lowest wages being $30
per month and the highest $40 per month, his terms being all four 
months each.  He met with good success, never teaching in a district
but what he was offered the same school a second time, four schools two
terms each.  November 11, 1868, he married Miss Jane Dill, a native of
Wayne county, Tenn., born in 1842, and the daughter of Alfred Dill.  To
this union were born two children: Lolo and Bennie.  Mr. Ray followed
farming until February, 1874, and then worked at the carpenter's trade
until 1877.  He then commenced working at the watch maker's and jeweler
business, and in 1885 added groceries.  In 1887 he added dry goods,
and at present carries a good stock of each, being one of the leading
business men of Salem.  He is a Democrat in politics; was a member of
the city council two years, and was city clerk one year.  He is a 
member of the Masonic fraternity, and he and wife and children are
members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, he having been a 
member for ten years, and for nine years has been a member of the
official board.

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