RAY-William L. - Fountain County INGenWeb Project

- William RAY. In all ages of the world, industry, perseverance and energy, where intelligently applied have achieved a result which could only have been gained by having one object in view and improving every opportunity to ultimately attain that object. Mr. Ray is an example of what can be accomplished when the spirit of determination is exercised in connection with the everyday affairs of life. His farming operations have resulted very satisfactorily and he now controls and is in the enjoyment of a comfortable competency. He was born in Richland Township, Fountain co Il (sic) in 1831, a son of Jefferson and Elsie (Smith) Ray natives of the state of KY. Jefferson Ray settled in Richland Township of this county at an early day and purchased land from John Hamilton on which he continued to reside until his death in 1887 at which time he owned 120 acres of as fine farming land as one need wish to see. The father of our subject had the following children: P. who married AD Sayne and is resiting in Butler Twp; AM who married Jessie Powers; John a famrer who married Kittie Cates and died in Louisiana in 1884; Laura who became the wife of James McCallister a farmer of Fountain County; Caroline; Mary who became the wife of Frank Marks; V who became the wife of John Crane a farmer of Fountain County; Victoria wife of John Lane; Katherine wife of J. Dine a farmer of Ill; Julia who became the wife of Will Coffee; Creta who became the wife of Harry Dine, a farmer of this county; and William, the subject of this sketch. The latter was married to Miss Mary J. Carpenter, daughter of Benjamin and Sophia Carpenter. She was born in Fountain County in 1840 and married Mr. Ray in the early part of 1879. Of the children born to this union, Artie born Nov 19, 1879 was reared on the home farm and educated in the public schools; Effie born Sept 6, 1881 is at home and attends the common school; Annie born May 22, 1883 and Butler, born Feb 6, 1887are at home. Mr. Ray was educated in the common schools and when starting out in life for himself it was but natural that he should take upon himself the duties of farming for to that occupation he had been reared. After farming on rented land for some time he secured enough means to enable him to purchase 193 acres of land which he has since greatly imporved. His residence is a good and substantial one and he has an excellent farm and outbuildings of all descriptions. He learned what hard work was in his youth but he also learned lessons of industry, economy and steadiness that were his stepping stones to success in after years. All measures of morality, education, temperance and others of like nature find in him a strong advocate. Mr. Ray and his wife are worhty members of the church and he is liberal in the use of his means in its support and is an active worker in the Sunday School. He is a Democrat in his political views and at all times supports the men and measures of that party but has never been an aspirant for office, the duties of his farm fully occupying his time and attention. His success as a tiller of the soil is due to the fact that attention has been given to no particular department at the expense of another but every nook and cranny of his farm is carefully looked after and in looking over his farm one is at once impressed with the idea that a man of discrimination has the management of affairs. His upright career through life has made him a general favorite and he numbers his friends by the score.