My Genealogy Hound

William D. Wray, an extensive farmer of Union Township. Saline County, was born in Jefferson County, Ind., in 1824, the son of Joseph and Mary J. (Collins) Wray. Joseph Wray came to Indiana about the year 1819, entering and improving eighty acres of land, where he remained until his death, in 1841. He was the father of eleven children, nine living till maturity: Coran (deceased, wife of a Mr. Harrison), Alexander (deceased), Amanda (deceased), David, John, Parmelia Thomas and Mary J. (deceased), leaving only one the youngest, William D., our subject, in the land of the living. Mrs. Wray died in 1832, as a member of the Presbyterian Church. W. D. Wray, at the age of twenty-two years, began farming on rented land in Indiana, where he remained until 1851. Then coming to this State, he settled on the place where he now lives. In 1857 he bought forty acres of land, remained upon it until 1863, and then purchased his present farm of 160 acres. He has since added to his property 320 acres, unimproved, and 200 acres of improved land, making a total of 720 acres, with about 230 acres under cultivation. He joined neither army during the war, and was not molested in the least by marauders. Mr. Wray has been three times married; first, to Sarah Lyon, on April 30, 1846. By this marriage there were six children, four now living: Mary J. (wife of Dave Robertson), Agnes (wife of James Barron), Joseph (who lives in this county), Alfred (also of this county). Mrs. Wray was a member of the Baptist Church and died in 1862. The following year Mr. Wray was married to Elizabeth Harderson, who bore him six children, three of whom survive: Sarah (wife of John Thompson), Elizabeth M. (deceased wife of James Cain), William (at home), and James (at home). The second Mrs. Wray was also a member of the Baptist Church, and died in the month of May, 1877. In October, 1877, Mr. Wray married Mary L. Hutchison, who became the mother of seven children, four now living: Zorah, Lewis, Coran and Martha E. The present Mrs. Wray is a member of the Baptist Church, while her husband belongs to Ionic Lodge No. 377, A. F. & A. M. Politically Mr. Wray is Democratic. He is one of the most earnest of public-spirited men, faithfully supporting all worthy public enterprises, donating liberally to the churches and schools of his county, and standing constantly ready to assist in anything that will alleviate the sufferings of humanity.