William Bray (1845 - 1904)

Born 17 Nov 1845 in Tavistock, Devon, England, United Kingdom

Husband of Eliza Jane (McGahan) Bray — married 1 Jan 1871 in Bonne Terre, St. Francois County, Missouri, USA

Descendants

Died 16 Dec 1904 at age 59 in Lakeview, Beaverhead, Montana, United States

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Biography

William was born in 1845 in Tavistock, England. His parents moved to the US (at an undocumented date) and resettled in Bonne Terre, MO (where his dad and mom passed away). He had 6 siblings in total, several who passed at a young age.

William He married Eliza Jane McGahan (daughter of Robert White McGahan and Hester Ann Blackwell) on 1 Jun 1871 in Bonne Terre, Missouri.

The young family of three - comprised of William, Eliza Jane McGahan (Bray) and 1st child William Robert - traveled by emigrant train from Missouri to Corinne, Utah, which was the endd of the line at that time. They bought a covered wagon and traveled from there to Silver Star, Montana, in about 1876. Eliza insisted on bringing her favorite rocking chair with her in their covered wagon and it is still in the Bray family to this day. William and Eliza decided to settle in the Silver Star vicinity, purchasing property with a small mine and farm land. They also operated a stage coach inn for a number of years in the town of Silver Star. They resided in the Silver Star community for about eighteen years, with the exception of a brief residence in Butte, when that metropolis consisted of just a few houses on a single street.

Here their three other sons were born: Albert Earnest, January 24, 1877, John Harvey, December 1, 1880, and Charles Le Mott, June 22, 1882.

When the oldest boy, William, reached the age of 21, the family moved on to the Centennial Valley, taking up a homestead there, and consequently were one of the first families to introduce Angus cattle into Montana. William, Eliza and their son Albert, were all fine musicians and played several instruments, including the violin and organ. They enjoyed "fiddlin" for the local dances and community affairs. Their son Albert, died in the Centennial Valley in 1901, and was followed in death by his father, William in 1904. Buried in Lima next to son Albert.

William and Eliza had a foster daughter Mrs. C.J. Pruett of Whitehall

Sources

• https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56972190/william-bray
• https://www.ancestry.com.au/genealogy/records/william-bray-24-jl9x9
• 1900 United States Federal Census, Year: 1900; Census Place: Townships 13 and 14, Madison, Montana; Page: 5; Enumeration District: 0059