John Ray

As printed in 1908

JOHN RAY, the oldest resident of Clark County, Ohio, residing in Pike Township, was born July 29, 1812, and has lived here all his life, a period of over ninety-five years. He makes his home with his daughter, Mrs. George Freeman, who lives on the old home place near Dialton.

Lewis Ray, father of John Ray, was born in Virginia and after his marriage to Elizabeth Zigler, in 1812, came to Ohio, making the journey in wagons. They settled in the woods in Pike Township, made a clearing and erected a log cabin. They subsisted largely on wild game, deer and other wild animals abounding, and corn bread, but once a week, usually Sunday, they had a change to white lireed. Lewis and Elizabeth Ray spent the remainder of their lives on the quarter section of land they owned here, he dying at the age of sixty-six years and she at ninety. Both were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Ten children were born to them, eight grew up, as follows: John; Mary, who was wife of Timothy Wones, both deceased; Henry, deceased; Susan, widow of Duncan Thackery, is one of the oldest women living in the county; Michael, deceased; Samuel, deceased; Lewis, deceased; and Sarah, who was wife of Rev. John Black, both now deceased.

John Ray was reared in Pike Township and has witnessed a remarkable change in conditions since his boyhood days. Then wild game was plentiful and Indians still roamed about this section, some times their hostility driving his parents to leave their home for a place of greater safety. He attended school in the old log schoolhouse, and assisted in clearing the home place of its wild growth of timber, experiencing many hardships of pioneer life. He engaged in farm work there for a time, then picked up the carpenter trade, which he thereafter followed, and as a carpenter and builder for more than thirty years, sometimes employing a large force of men. He put up many of the fram.e houses and barns of this township, some of which are standing today. AVhile a young man he purchased of Jacob Harner eighty acres of land for $600. being given six years in which to make payment, without the requirement of interest. He later bought an additional eighty acres for $800, and from time to time added to his original purchase until he had 300 acres. He was always successful in a business way, but success came only through hard, persistent and well directed effort. Upon retiring from business activity he divided his property among his children and now lives on the old home place with his daughter, Mrs. Freeman.

In April, 1837, Mr. Ray was united in marriage with Margaret Overpack, who was born near North Hampton, Pike Township, and was a daughter of George and Martha (Kerns) Overpack, who came from Virginia. She died in March, 1892, aged seventy-two years, being survived by her husband and three children: Lewis, who married Jane Davis, both now deceased; George, who married Sarah Howell, both deceased; and Mary, with whom Mr. Ray now lives.

In 1862 Mary Ray was married (first) to David Otewalt, who died in 1882, leaving a daughter, Rosella, who is now the wife of Elihu Hiatt, of Columbus, Ohio. Her first union was with Matthew Wones, and they had one son, Ross, who married Cora Hardin. Mrs. Otewalt was married (second) in 1892 to George Freeman, who is now operating the old Ray farm. Mr. Freeman was born in New York state and is a son of Warren Freeman,

The venerable John Ray has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church for more than sixty years. He is a Republican in politics.

As printed in 20th century history of Springfield, and Clark County, Ohio, and representative citizens (1908). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.