COLONEL DANIEL M. RAY.

COL. DANIEL M. RAY, one of the honored veterans of the Civil war, who won his title through valiant service in defense of the Union, has been a resident of Woodson county since 1870. In September of that year he arrived in this portion of Kansas and secured a homestead in Everett township. Since that time he has taken an interest in everything pertaining to the welfare and development of the county along substantial lines of improvement, and through his active labors he has left the impress of his individuality upon its history.

A native of Yancy county, North Carolina, Colonel Ray was born on the 27th of March, 1833. He is a farmer's son and was reared in the usual manner of farmer lads. His father, Thomas W. Ray, was also a native of North Carolina and throughout his long life devoted his attention to agricultural pursuits. The grandfather, Hiram Ray, was a native of the Green Isle of Erin, whence he crossed the Atlantic to the new world, taking up his abode in the old North state. The mother of our subject bore the maiden name of Hannah Carter and was a daughter of Daniel Carter, an Englishman. The colonel is the eldest child of Thomas and Hannah Ray, the others being: Hiram, now deceased; James M., of Newport, Tennessee; Edward Wm., of North Carolina; Angus, of Texas; and Mrs. Laura Buckner of North Carolina.

The educational privileges which Colonel Ray enjoyed were those afforded in the country schools of North Carolina, in the academy at Dandridge, Tennessee, and at Burnsville, North Carolina. Thus well equipped for life's practical duties, by a good education, he started out to earn his own living when twenty-one years of age, having previous to this time assisted in the work of the home farm. He engaged in teaching school for about three years and then went to Tennessee where he was living at the time of the inauguration of the Civil War. Although a southern man by birth and training, he believed that the government at Washington was supreme and that no state had a right to withdraw from the Union. Thus it was that when some of the southern states attempted to secede he joined the Union forces, becoming a member of the Third Tennessee Infantry, at Camp Dick Robinson, at Crab Orchard, Kentucky. He was commissioned adjutant of the regiment and served with that command for six months, when he was commissioned colonel of the Second Tennessee Cavalry. His regiment started for the field of action from Cumberland Gap and was with the Army of the Cumberland. After the battle of Stone river Colonel was placed in command of the Second and Third Division of the Cavalry, and refused a brevet, preferring to be colonel with a reputation rather than a general without one. On many a battlefield his own bravery inspired his men to deeds of valor and he made for himself a most creditable military record as a defender of the stars and stripes which now float so proudly over the nation. He served until 1864 when, on account of failing health, he was obliged to resign. Although often in the thickest of the fight, he was never wounded, but the rigors and hardships of war undermined his constitution. He participated in the hotly contested engagements at Stone river, Chickamauga, relief of Knoxville, the Atlanta campaign and the capture of the city, the battles of Franklin, Nashville and Jonesboro.

After resigning Colonel Ray returned to his home and family in Tennessee. He had been married in Burnsville, North Carolina, on the 26th of March, 1854, to Miss Louise Farris, a daughter of Joseph Farris, who belonged to an old Kentucky family. They have one son, Philip S., born

December 22, 1864, who is now engaged with his father in the real estate business. He married Miss Laura Heizer, a daughter of J. W. Heizer of Eldorado, Kansas.

In 1866 Colonel Ray removed with his family to Iroquois county, Illinois, where he engaged in farming until 1870, when he came to Woodson county, Kansas, locating here in the month of September. Upon the homestead in Everett township, which he secured, he resided for twelve years, placing the land under a high state of cultivation and thus transforming it into one of the fine farms in the community. In 1882 he sold the property and took up his abode in Yates Center, where he was engaged in merchandising for a year. He afterward held the office of county surveyor for twelve years and has probably found and located more corner stones than any other man in the county. In 1875 he laid out the city of Yates Center on Section 11, Township 25 and Range 15, and for the past eighteen years he has been an active factor in its development and progress. As a real estate dealer he is a man of comprehensive knowledge of land values and locations and is thus enabled to aid his clients in making judicious investments. He sustains an unassailable reputation as a business man, his honesty being proverbial. Socially he is connected with the Grand Army of the Republic and the A. O. U. W. His has been a creditable record in all life's relations and no resident of Yates Center more richly deserves the regard of his fellow townsmen than Colonel Daniel M. Ray.

Previous | Home | Next