James Allen Gray (1839 - 1907)

Born 13 Dec 1839 in Illinois, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Mary Boone (Gibson) Gray — married 3 Mar 1869 in Wilmer, Dallas, Texas, United States

Descendants

Died 25 Feb 1907 at age 67 in Covina, Los Angeles, California, United States

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Arik Russell [send private message] and David Hughey [send private message]

Biography

James was born in 1839. James Gray ... He passed away in 1907. ^[1]

This following letter was transcribed by Robert L. Phillips Jr. He left spaces where he was unable to decipher the writing. He had the original preserved by a tech at the Tx. State Archives and given to Jas. Allen Phillips Jr., a namesake. "Co.F. 6th Texas Cav. Stone's Reg" ENTERED BY Kimberley Phillips 2-13-2021

Camp Ross Miss Nov. 24th 1862 Dear Sister As I have an opportunity of sending a letter by Uncle A. Bledsoe I will do so. As the mails are yet bad I have not written as often as I would have done waiting for some of our old friends to start home. Bledsoe and John Taylor are here. Bledsoe has been sick and wants to start home now the weather being find *** Taylor will probably wait until Andrew Taylor comes to the reg. from Iuka. He sent word that he would be well enough to come in soon & if Taylor dont not go now I will have another chance to send letters. I rec*** a letter from Petty yesterday and also one Sisteer Maud*** Pettyes was dated Oct 14 *** Mauds the 4th Oct I was glad to hear from all again *** It was the first one that I have rec from Pet *** Pet is doing very well I think but he is like all the rest of us he would *** this **** Times are dull *** We are camped on the south side of the Talahachie River and here we stay until driven away by the deds and I hardly think they will be able to do it We are fortifying*** throwing up breast works at evry crossing on the River *** We are several thousand strong and will be hard to whip away *** I do not think the enemy will attacket us here his winter *** But I think it more then likely that they will try t flank us *** I think we will have plenty of fighting to do this winter if it is not too severe *** From present appearances I think as I have heretofore stated that peace is not so near at hand as some supose. I think it will take this winter and next summers *** fighting before it will end if then. So I think you may fix up for another years hard fighting before we can have peace.

(the letter goes on 2 more pages - I am including his talking about a promotion of a soldier) " Add Young died at Holly Springs of Pneumonia. James Green was elected to fill the vacancy but they say it is ilegal and that they have to go up by promotion. I did not want the office that way and told the Capt that we should proceed to elect a 1st Lt but I think it is *** right. Green will *** a very good officer."

Note

Note: CENSUS: 1870; TX; Dallas Co.; Pct. 2; p. 338

hh 288/290

Gray, J.A. 30 IL Farmer $200/$600 Citizen

Mary 24 MO Keeping house

Claudia 2/12 TX b. Mar

(his parents Andrew Kincaid Gray & Elizabeth Overstreet are adjacent)

CENSUS: 1880; TX; Dallas Co.; Pct. 5; ED 65; p. 284A

hh 349/353

Gray, J.A. 49 IL VA/KY Sawmill

Mary 35 MO KY/KY Wife Keeps house

Ella 8 TX IL/MO Dau

Metta 6 " " "

Henry 2 " " Son

A.K. 77 VA VA/VA Father Retired Farmer

Confederate Cavalryman.

A Lieutenant in the 6th Texas Cavalry of the Confederate States of America. James Allen Gray served under Pete ross and Sul Ross in the War Between the States. His memoirs are in State College in Long Beach, California. "See Dr. Ahlquist. Filed under Civil War History."

His father, Andrew Kincaid Gray, brought the family to Texas before 1846 when Texas was still aRepublic.

Some say, James Allen Gray born on December 31, 1839.

He was reportedly the youngest of several brothers and sisters. He had at least 2 sisters.

He married Mary Boone Gibson on March 3, 1869 in Wilmer, Dallas County, Texas. Wilmer is just south/southeast of Dallas on Interstate 45 at Belt Line Road.Population 1,922 in the 1980's.

All five of their children were born in Wilmer, Texas. Owned a sawmill. Moved to Colorado City, TX in 1894. The Grays eventually tired of the drought in west Texas and later moved to California.

Bess Phillips Ritter, sister of Harvey Allen Phillips, has a copy of James and Mary's wedding license - very pretty with flowers on it and dated 1869. Also, she has a picture of Andrew K. Gray. Bess Phillips Ritter was born 1910 and was my grandfather Harvey Allen Phillips' next to youngest sister.

James Allen Gray- buried in Oakdale Memorial Park, Glendora, California.

Note: #DWNLNOTE

Sources

1. ↑ Entered by Arik Russell, Jun 13, 2012

• Sources in text

Notes

Information compiled by Leslie McConachie. Please contact if you have further knowledge or corrections. <lesliemac100 AT sbcglobal.net>

Acknowledgements

This profile was auto-generated by David Hughey through the import of MaryKincaid.ged on Jun 14, 2014.