My Genealogy Hound

Capt. Hiram Vardeman Gray (deceased). The above name is familiar to all the old citizens of Independence County, for it was borne by a man who was honest and upright, and whose life was without reproach in his intercourse with his fellowmen. Capt. Gray was born on the 22d of April, 1822, in Graves County, Ky., and was the son of Capt. Gil-son and Rachel (Hodge) Gray, natives of North Carolina, who were among the early settlers of Graves County, Ky. The father was a captain in the War of 1812. In their family were five children. George M., a school teacher by profession, who went to Illinois in 1849, was elected and served two years as sheriff of Massac County. Later he represented a senatorial district in the Illinois legislature. In 1857 he contracted consumption and died at the age of thirty-nine years. Gilson, farmer and youngest son, on hearing that his brother Hiram had enlisted in the war, came to the home of his brother, and then, learning that the latter was at Helena, joined him there. He was his brother’s nurse, remaining as such till his death, which occurred in Memphis in 1876, at the age of forty-eight years. Celia was the wife of Luke Ogden, a farmer of Kentucky, and her death occurred in 1852, at about thirty years of age. Malenia was the wife of Tillman H. Steele, a soldier of the Mexican War, and a farmer. She and her husband came to Arkansas in 1854, and here her death occurred in 1867, at the age of forty years. Capt. Hiram V. Gray was reared as all other farmers’ boys, but was left an orphan when but a lad, and he and his brothers and sisters were left to look out for themselves. As might be supposed, his educational advantages were not of the best, but being naturally of a studious turn of mind he improved spare moments and became an average scholar. His early life on the farm gave him a strong constitution physically, and made him a practical, sensible man, and fitted him in an admirable manner for the public life he was destined to live. During his early manhood he followed agricultural pursuits, and in 1840 was married to Miss Mahala Sweeny, a daughter of David Sweeny, who was a school teacher and a native of Tennessee. After his marriage Capt. Gray lived in Kentucky and tilled the soil until 1852, when he came to Arkansas, and at first stopped in White County. Not being pleased with the country, he started to return to his native State, but when he reached Black River Township, and became acquainted with some of the people, he concluded to settle there. He at first entered eighty acres of land, which he improved, and later bought 400 acres of J. N. Tunstill, which he added to this tract. He erected good buildings on the same and cleared forty acres of the land. Subsequently he bought 160 acres about four miles from the first, which was woodland. In 1854 he was elected to the office of constable, which office included the duties of deputy sheriff, in which capacity he served, having been re-elected twice, until the breaking out of the war, in 1861. Being a strong Union man and his politics well known, he found plenty of opportunities to argue his opinions. In the spring of 1862, while in Batesville, he was asked under what flag he would fight, and made this answer: “I will be found under the stars and stripes, battling for God and liberty;” upon which he was struck by a citizen and surrounded by 100 others, one of whom had a rope to hang him. Being a highly respected Mason, some of the members of that order interfered in his behalf, and this saved his life. Later, in May, 1862, Mr. Gray organized a company of 100 men, and, on the 24th of June, he joined Curtis’ army at Batesville, and was mustered in at Jacksonport. From there he went to Helena, where he remained stationed to await orders. While lying there one-half of his command, unused to malarial atmosphere, sickened and died. Capt. Gray, himself, took sick with measles, and after sixty of his men had died, he and the remnant of his command were sent to Benton Barracks, St. Louis, for their health. Capt. Gray was sent to the Fifth Military Hospital, and, notwithstanding that he was attended by the best medical skill that could be procured, and the most careful nursing, he continued to decline until December 2, 1862, when death came to his release. At present there are but eleven of his company of 100 men living, seven in Independence County. In this brief memoir it is impossible to do justice to the person whose memory it is designed to commemorate. His memory is perpetuated in Independence County by having his name given to the G. A. R. Post at Sulphur Rock, No. 33. His premature death left Mrs. Gray a widow with six children in the country of the enemy, and in the midst of the greatest fratricidal contest the world has ever known. Her oldest child was twenty years of age and the youngest six. Mrs. Gray soon lost all her property, and was so harassed by the soldiers that she had to take refuge in another State, going to St. Louis in the spring of 1863. In 1864 she moved to Illinois, and, after a short residence in that State, moved to Potosi, Washington County, Mo., where she met Gen. Price’s army, and was robbed of her all. Thus she was left entirely without funds, and, to add to her trouble, her eldest son was taken prisoner. However, on account of physical disability, and at the instance of some of his friends in the Confederate ranks, young Gray was released after a short time and allowed to return to his home. The subsequent trials of Mrs. Gray would fill volumes, and this continued until the close of the war, or in the fall of 1865. They then returned to their home in Arkansas, to find that the ruthless hand of war had taken everything movable away, the house alone remaining. Here she passed the remainder of her days, her death occurring on the 14th of October, 1884, at the age of sixty years. She was the widow of Capt. Gray, at her death, never having married again, and devoted her life to her children. Capt. Gray and wife were both Christians, he having received the ordinance of baptism on his death-bed. Mrs. Gray had been for forty years a member of the Baptist Church. They were the parents of seven children: Henry C., born in August, 1841, was reared to farm life, was unmarried, and when the war broke out joined his father’s company. He was one of the unfortunates who died at Helena, his death occurring in August, 1862; Sally A. was born August 2, 1851, and died at Potosi, Mo., on the 30th of December, 1864; William C. was born on the 2d of December, 1842, in Marshall County, Ky., and was reared to farm life. His education was limited, but through his own efforts he is a good practical scholar. He came with his father to this State in 1852, and his career up to 1865 has been given. On the 31st of January, 1867, he married Mrs. Martha (Edwards) Burt, a native of Tennessee, and by her he has one child, Lydia A., who was born on the 5th of February, 1868, and is at present her father’s housekeeper. Mrs. Gray, died of consumption on the 30th of June, 1870; and, May 2, 1875, Mr. Gray married Miss Amelia A. Anderson, a native of Arkansas. Three children were born to this union: William C., born on the 9th of February, 1876; Thomas B., born on the 15th of September, 1877, and John H., born on the 20th of September, 1879, and died in November, 1880. Mrs. Gray died on the 4th of October, 1879. She was an excellent woman, and a devoted member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Mr. Gray continued farming until his thirty-fourth year, when, on account of bad health, he picked up the basket and chair-making trade, which occupies his attention at the present time. He votes with the Republican party, and is a member of the Wheel. Capt. Gray’s next child was Mary A., wife of W. H. Gires, a farmer of Black River Township; Benjamin J., was born on the 14th of January, 1847, and was married on the 6th of November, 1869, to Mrs. Margaret (Alexander) Hall, and has the following family: Hiram V., born January 3, 1871; James W., born December 24, 1872; Sarah A., born October 15, 1875, and Robert B., December 30, 1878. Mr. B. J. Gray and his three sons are all natural musicians, all playing the violin. His principal occupation is that of a farmer. He votes with the Republican party, and like his brother, W. C, is a member of the A. O. U. W. The next child of Capt. Gray is James G., who was born on the 7th of February, 1853, and on May 7, 1874, he married Miss Susan Kennedy, a native of Arkansas, and seven children were born to this union, five of whom are now living: Ida, born on the 21st of February, 1875; Joseph I., born on the 19th of March, 1881; Nellie Zora, born on the 19th of February, 1884; Elam, born on the 10th of February, 1886, and James G., born on the 16th of February, 1888. Those deceased are: Martha J., died on the 15th of May, 1878, at the age of one year, and the others were unnamed. James G. Gray has followed agricultural pursuits all his life, and also votes with the Republican party. He is a member of the Wheel. He and his wife are members of the Missionary Baptist Church, and are highly-esteemed citizens.