Absolom  Francis Bray
History of Montana, 1894
US Genweb Montana Archives

Hon. A.F. Bray, one of the representative businessmen of Butte 
City was born in Cornwall England, October 21, 1854, of ancestry 
established in that country from time immemorial.  His parents 
were Absalom Francis and Jane Bray who had six children.  The 
occupation of the family was that of farming and in their 
religious relations they were members of the Methodist Church.

The subject of this sketch, named after his father was educated 
in his native town, served a number of years learning the dry-goods 
business and in 1876 came to America to attend the Centennial 
Exposition.  After spending the most of his money he decided to 
cast his fortune in this country, the land of opportunity.  
First he was employed on a railroad in Texas at $1.25 a day; 
then for nine years he was employed in the construction of 
levees in Mississippi as a contractor for the Government, and 
finally in 1885 after a year's sickness and the loss of 
considerable money, he came to Butte, with only $2,200 and 
opened a small grocery store on upper Main Street where 
Murray's bank now stands.  After following the business there 
for a year, he purchased the stock of goods owned by 
Craddock and Company and moved down Main Street to a 
point opposite the post office, where his trade increased 
under his management. About a year after opening business 
at this point he purchased the stock and business of E.J. 
Maul and Company and continued to prosper for another year, 
when on account of ill health he sold out and spent a year 
at Oakland California.

Returning to Butte he bought out Battiger and Company and 
opened out at the northeast corner of Wyoming and Park 
Streets, naming his establishment the Butte Cash Grocery 
and here he is now conducting a successful business.  He 
owns most of the stock and his wife the remainder.  The 
place is one of the best for such a store in the whole 
city.  His business has grown to large dimensions and 
besides he has a branch store at Centreville.  The total 
amount of stock in the two establishments at present is 
over $100,000.  His is a close buyer and an excellent 
judge of goods.  In addition to his retail trade he also 
sells at wholesale and the territory of his operations 
in the latter capacity extending out for 300 miles or 
more.  He also owns some mine interests.  He has erected 
a fine residence at 303 West Granite Street.

Mr. Bray was married October 9, 1856 to Miss Nellie 
Copeland, daughter of John Wesley Copeland, a native of 
Illinois and they have two children: Absalom F. and 
Nellie.

USGenWeb Project NOTICE: 
In keeping with our policy of providing free information on 
the internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as
long as this message remains on all copied 
material. These electronic pages may not be reproduced in 
any format forprofit, nor for commercial presentation by any other organization. 

Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for 
purposes other than as stated above, must obtain express writtenpermission from the author, or the submitter and from 
the listed USGenWeb Project archivist.