James Arthur Wray

As printed in 1910

JAMES ARTHUR WRAY.

A man who would win his way in any locality where fate might place him is James Arthur Wray, one of the best known citizens in local industrial circles, for his career shows that he is a man of sound business judgment, coupled with great energy and tact, together with upright principles, all of which make for success wherever and whenever they are rightly and persistently applied. He has won a host of friends in Nowaday county by reason of these principles.

Mr. Wray was born September 1, 1856, in Polk township, this county, and is the son of John and Sarah (Wiseman) Wray, the father born on February 13, 1805, in what is now known as West Virginia, and was the son of Thomas and Rachel (Neal) Wray. Thomas Wray was a school teacher. John Wray worked on a farm and taught school and in an early day moved to Gallia county, Ohio, and in 1854 came further west, locating in Nodaway county, Missouri. He entered four hundred acres in Polk township. There he farmer and taught school during the winter months. In the early sixties he was elected county judge and served one term very acceptably, and for some time he was a man of considerable prominence in the county. He enlisted in the Missouri Home Guards in the service of the Union and served six months during the Civil war. After this he devoted his attention exclusively to his farm until his death, which occurred on February 6, 1879. He was a Republican in politics, a member of the Masonic fraternity and the Methodist Episcopal church. On July 17, 1831, he married Sarah Wiseman, in Gallia county, Ohio. She was born in West Virginia, August 27, 1811, the daughter of Isaac and Mary (Armentrout) Wiseman, old settlers of the Buckeye state, dying March 19, 1904, in Polk township, Nodaway county, Missouri. Eleven children were born to them, eight of whom are now living.

J. Arthur Wray of this review was educated in the country schools and worked on a farm in his youth; but, deciding that he would devote his life to other lines of endeavor, he came to Maryville and attended a business school. However, he returned to the farm and taught school during the winter months. In 1897 he bought the Banner Steam Laundry, the name of which he changed to Wray’s Laundry. He successfully conducted this for a period of ten years, buying the building in the meantime. This has long been known as one of the leading and most reliable laundries in this part of the state, Mr. Wray having so ably conducted it as to give it this prestige. He is now devoting his exclusive time to his farming interests, owning three hundred and twenty-nine acres of fine land in Polk township. It is well improved, well managed and on it stand many substantial buildings. Mr. Wray has a beautiful, modern home at No. 505 South Main street, Maryville, which is presided over by a woman of refinement, known in her maidenhood as Minnie M. Neil, whom Mr. Wray married on September 25, 1883. She was born in Muscatine county, Iowa, September 30, 1864. but was still living in Polk township, Nodaway county, when she married. To this union three children have been born, named as follows: Nellie is attending college; Bessie is teaching school; Walter N. is attending school in this city.

In political matters Mr. Wray is a Republican and he is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He is a pleasant man to know, always courteous, genial and straightforward in his business life.

As printed in Past and present of Nodaway County, Missouri (1910). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.