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Below is a family biography included in The History of Dent County, Missouri published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1889.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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John Reynolds Ray, watch-maker, jeweler and dealer in general merchandise at Salem, was born in Henderson County, Tenn., in 1843, and is the son of James H. and Elizabeth (Wallace) Ray, and grand-son 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 discharged 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’s 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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This family biography is one of 82 biographies included in The History of Dent County, Missouri published in 1889.  For the complete description, click here: Dent County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps

To view additional Dent County, Missouri family biographies, click here

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