POW COVER "FROM W. RAY, CO K, 30 MISS REGT, PRISONER OF WAR, JOHNSON ISLAND OHIO." -- 

ONLINE INFO / 

The family of John W. Ray (~1777-1821) and Elizabeth Noble/s (~1781- ) became stalwarts in Carroll County. Their beginnings were in Georgia and possibly North Carolina and Virginia. The first five of seven children were born in Georgia. John and Elizabeth migrated to a little place called White Sand near Prentiss, Lawrence Co, Mississippi about 1816. John died five years later sometime before August 27, 1821 leaving Elizabeth with a large family to care for. The oldest son was Jonathan and being 18 years of age, he was a great help to Elizabeth for the next year and a half. Then Jonathan married Elizabeth Askew and along with other members of the family, migrated north to Hinds County before settling in the area just north of where Carrollton now stands. The oldest daughter Anna L. Ray was 16 when her father died and later married Nathan Hooker. Not as much is known about her next younger brother Joseph Ray who would have been 11 when his father died. Joseph and two brothers William Ray and John A. Ray in 1849 were members of the Mason's Carrollton Lodge. At the time of their fathers death William would have been eight, Elizabeth six, John Alexander four and Edward was an infant. Their mother, Elizabeth Noble Ray, married William Goodson on 21 April 1825. For awhile the five youngest children lived with their mother and step father, William Goodson. Then in 1834 William Goodson died and their whole family moved to Carroll County in 1835. Carroll County had just been formed two years earlier and the rolling, fertile hills and rich valley bottoms beckoned for new settlers. Also, in 1835 John Alexander and Edward moved in with their oldest brother's (Jonathan's) family and he became their legal guardian.

Jonathan Ray and Elizabeth Askew Family

A written account of this family was published in the Conservative in 1901 and by people who knew the family so it seems fitting that it be republished as it was written with a few dates added.

Jonathan married Elizabeth ASKEW, daughter of William ASKEW and Louisa ASKEW, on 21 Jan 1823 in , Lawrence, Mississippi. Elizabeth was born 13 Mar 1807 in Georgia. She died 8 Jan 1873 in Carroll Co., Mississippi.

"Another pioneer Jonathan Ray [1803-1845], settled north of where Carrollton now stands in 1832. Like others of the grand men who contributed so much to open and develop the country, Jonathan Ray and family met the duties of life in a new country bravely. His sons and daughters grew up to manhood and womanhood and in their turn made homes among the hills and fertile valleys of North Carroll. The oldest son, William [1825-1909] , before he was grown, longed for a different style and manner of life and went to Williams Landing to clerk for McConnell. Here he learned something of the mercantile business and began to develop those sterling traits of character that enabled him to take a stand among the leading business men of the county. In a few years he sold his business at Greenwood and removed to Carrollton. From that early day to the present (1901) he has conducted this business at Carrollton without interruption--except during the four years of war. In 1862, William Ray enlisted in a company which was assigned to duty in the 30th Mississippi Regiment of Infantry. He was chosen First Lieutenant of the company and soon afterwards, when his captain Irvin Scales was chosen Lieutenant Colonel of the Regiment, of Infantry. He was chosen First Lieutenant of the company and soon afterwards, when his Captain Irvin Scales was chosen Lieutenant Colonel of the Regiment, he became Captain. He took part in some of the seven battles in which General Bragg's army was engaged and was captured and confined on Johnson's Island until the close of the war. Of his brothers, Joseph [1830-1919], John [1824-1864], Wilson [1837- ], Jesse [1834- ], Henry [1832-1872] and Robert [1839-1885] grew to manhood and all except Robert married and had interesting families. All took part in the war except John who was a miller and as such was exempt from service. In a private difficulty he killed a Captain Campbell and in turn was killed by a brother of Campbell's in 1864.

The Rays young and old have been esteemed highly in the state wherever they went. They were true friends, loyal citizens, honest business men and conscientious Christians. They met every duty as became the true and brave. Captain William Ray was married three times, his wives being sisters, daughters of Henry B. Latham who lived in the eastern part of the county. Henry Ray studied for the ministry and did most of his pastoral work in Kentucky. Joseph married a daughter [Sarah Catherine] of Samuel Stanford and has spent his young manhood and middle life in the county and now he and his good wife are living quietly, enjoying the evening time of a well spent honorable life. Wilson removed to Sunflower after the war and after opening up a good tract of land, making a comfortable home for his family, died there. Jesse died near Carrollton in young manhood, leaving two children who removed from the county in 1887 or 1888. Robert gave four years of faithful service to his country and although wounded a time or two, returned after the surrender and began life anew in Carrollton. He was a great sufferer for several years before he died with rheumatism. Amid all the trials and sufferings he was patient, humble, hoping for final relief, which hadn't came until death claimed him. The two sisters of the family married and lived in the county. The elder [Louiza] married Green Carpenter and they lived east of Carrollton, respected by all who knew them. The younger sister, Julia married C.[A.] B. Wadlington and they too lived east of Carrollton." 

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