In the books' own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. The later printing (1910) is folded below the first. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
From Past and present of Nodaway County, Missouri (1910), The history of Nodaway county, Missouri, containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, etc., biographical sketches of its citizens (1882)
S. K. WRAY, of the firm of Watson & Wray, is one of the old and well known pioneers of Nodaway County. He is a native of Gallia County, Ohio, and was born January 27, 1834. He was reared at his birthplace, spending ftiis boyhood days on a farm, and receiving a good business education. In the winter of 1853, he accompanied his parents to Iowa, and from there came to Nodaway County, Missouri, in the spring of 1854. The county was then new, and, after passing through many hardships, Mr. W. commenced farming in the summer season, and teaching in the winter. During the late war he first enlisted, in the fall of 1861, in what was known as Kimball's six months' volunteers, and held the position of first lieutenant. He also served some eight months in the home guards, and held the position of captain of a company. In the fall of 1863, he was appointed recruiting officer, and, with the aid of Captain Martin, organized Company F, of the Twelfth Missouri Cavalry. He afterwards became adjutant of the regiment, and took part in many minor battles, and skirmishes. He was captured at the battle of Campbellsville, Tennessee and remained a prisoner for but thirty-six hours, when he escaped, and, a month later, joined his regiment again, and served with them until the close of the war. He then returned to this county, and has since given his attention chiefly to agricultural pursuits. He owns a fine farm of 160 acres, in Polk Township, which is well watered and improved In March, 1880, he came to Hopkins, purchased a half interest with Mr. Watson in his agricultural implement establishment; also a half block of residence property. He has held the position of justice of the peace, and was at one time a member of the county court. He belongs to Xenia Lodge, No. 50, A. F. and A. M., also to the Good Templars. Mr. Wray was married April 30, 1859, to Miss Mar)- Carmean, a native of Macon County, Illinois, "although she was principally raised in Iowa. They have had seven children, six of whom are living: Rosa, Alice, Curtis, Bertha, Howard and Florence. Mr. and Mrs. Wray are active members of the M. E. Church, of Hopkins. He fills the position of superintendent of the Sabbath School.
As printed in The history of Nodaway county, Missouri, containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, etc., biographical sketches of its citizens (1882). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
STEPHEN KELLAR WRAY.
The strong, true men of a people are always public benefactors. Their usefulness in the immediate and specific labors they perform can be defined by meets and bounds; but the good they do through the forces they put in motion and through the inspiration of their presence and example is im measurable by any finite gauge or standard of value. The late Stephen Kellar Wray was such a man. To epitomize his life and character within the limits which this work allows is impossible. But less than most men his equal does he need the voice of eulogy. For many years a resident of Nodaway county. Missouri, which was the scene of his mature labors, he left a distinct impress on the civic and commercial life of the county and in his death the community suffered an irreparable loss. Probably no man who ever lived in the county held a warmer place in the hearts and affections of the people, or whose memory is today more revered, than he, and this history of Nodaway county would be incomplete were there failure to make specific mention of him.
Stephen Kellar Wray was born January 27, 1834, on a farm in Gallia county, Ohio, and he was the second in order of birth of the children born to John and Sarah (Wiseman) Wray. His father was a farmer and also engaged in teaching in the country schools. They were pioneers of Gallia county, as also they were afterwards of Nodaway county. Missouri, having moved to this state in 1854. They located three miles east of Pickering on a large tract of land, buying part and entering part. The parents spent the remainder of their days on this farm, the father dying there in 1880 and the mother in 1904. They reared nine children, eight of whom are still living. John Wray was a man of considerable native ability and occupied a prominent place in the community, having served at one time as county judge, in which position he gave eminent satisfaction. In politics he was a Republican, while his fraternal relations were with the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons.
Stephen K. Wray grew to manhood in his native county and secured his education in the schools of Gallia county and in eastern Iowa. He engaged in teaching school at Hillsboro, Iowa, and up to the opening of the Civil war he engaged in teaching school during the winter months, engaging in farm work during the summer. He came with his parents to Nodaway county in the spring of 1854. When the tocsin of war was sounded the patriotic sent ment of Mr. Wray was promptly aroused and in the fall of 1861 he enlisted in what was known as Kimball's Six-months Volunteers, in which command he held the rank of first lieutenant. He also served eight months in the Home Guards, holding the position of captain of a company. In the fall of 1863 he was appointed recruiting officer of the Twelfth Missouri Cavalry and. in company with Captain Martin, he recruited Company F of this command, being made first lieutenant of the company, and afterwards was appointed adjutant of the regiment. He proved a valiant and courageous soldier and took part in many of the most hotly contested battles of the war. At the battle of Campbellsville he was captured by the enemy, but, thirty-six hours later, while being taken South, he effected his escape and. after a month of exposure and hardship, he rejoined his regiment and served with it until the close of the war, receiving an honorable discharge in 1865.
At the close of his military service, Mr. Wray returned to his home in Polk township. Nodaway county, and there gave his attention chiefly to agricultural pursuits until in March. 1880, when he came to Hopkins and engaged in the hardware and implement business in partnership with A. Watson.
Subsequently he purchased Mr. Watson’s interest and conducted the business alone until his death, which occurred on January 24. 1901, at the age of sixty-six years, eleven months and twenty-seven days, his death terminal ing a brief illness with pneumonia. The funeral services, which were held at the Methodist church, were very largely attended, the edifice not holding half the people who came to pay their last respects to the man whom they had admired in life. The Masonic lodge of Hopkins, of which Mr. Wray was an appreciative member, attended the funeral in a body. Among the many eulogistic expressions uttered at that time, the following from the tongue of
Rev. C. J. John, pastor of the Methodist church, are beautifully expressive of the esteem in which the deceased was held: “If there had come a message from heaven declaring there was but one honest man in Hopkins, the people with one voice would have said: That man is S. K. Wray. No man lives for a nobler purpose than to make the world better. This is what the deceased did. No man associated with him without feeling the impress of his influence for good, his influence being the result of the inherent force of a noble life rather than from any effort on his part. * * * In my forty-six years of experience with men in the church I have never known a more conscientious, faithful man than Stephen K. Wray.” Other words of similar import were uttered on all sides, and Xenia Lodge, No. 50, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, of Hopkins, passed strong resolutions of respect. At the age of eleven years Stephen Wray joined the Methodist Episcopal church and during all the subsequent years he never wavered in his allegiance to it nor in his full performance of what he considered his duty, his unassumed, practical piety, Christian manliness and faithful devotion to his church and his God having been among his most marked characteristics.
Politically, Mr. Wray was a stanch Republican and took an intelligent interest in local public affairs, having served at one time as a member of the county court, where he acquitted himself with dignity and honor.
On April 30, 1859, Mr. Wray was united in marriage to Mary Carmean, the daughter of Curtis and Mary (Coddington) Carmean. Curtis Carmean was a native of Maryland, where he was born on October 3, 1806. He removed to Ohio, where he met Miss Coddington, their marriage afterwards occurring in Indiana. His death occurred in Hillsboro. Iowa, in 1882, after which event his widow made her home with her daughter, Mrs. Wray, at Hopkins. Her death occurred in 1892, while she was on a visit to Nebraska. To Mr. and Mrs. Wray were born six children, namely: Rosa M., the wife of D. A. Bugby, of Steele City, Nebraska; M. Alice, the wife of Frank Mahan, of Hopkins; Curtis, of Maryville, this county: Bertha L., the wife of O. H. Saylor, of Hopkins; Howard, cashier of the bank at Pickering, and Florence, wife of Fred B. XIonroe. assistant cashier of the Bank of Hopkins.
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.
Named in this biography: A. Watson (b. 1841)
The printed record stops around 1910. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.