CALVIN DUNCAN BRAY b. August 30 1814 Chatham County
North Carolina d. February 23 1881 Waverly Missouri {cem} m. 1) July 23 1835
Chatham County North Carolina to MAHALA TYSON WOMBLE, daughter of JESSE WOMBLE and MRS m. 2) March 3 1842 Chatham County North Carolina to HARRIET PRIMROSE AVENT b. December 5 1821 Chatham County North Carolina d. August 18 1888 Waverly Missouri {cem}, daughter of WILLIAM AVENT and ESTHER WATTS CLEGG
Of Scotch-Irish descent, CALVIN DUNCAN BRAY, a native of North Carolina, he was a freight hauler through Cumberland
Gap (Virginia to Tennessee) with a wagon and three-mule team. He moved to Missouri in 1844 with his wife and his cousins,
they lived in Ozark and Sparta Christian County. There is a Bray family farm in the Sparta area, which is still owned by his
cousin's descendants. He was a singing master and a Democrat. He and his wife were members of the Baptist church. He
served in the Civil War (Confederate) as a Captain, with his son Fletcher who was a drummer boy, under several
commanders, among them General Price. He and his wife moved to Lafayette County in 1865. He was a large fleshy man, light
complexion, with blue eyes. His mother's name was Margaret "Peggy" Brooks, she was short and heavyset. His father was
William Bray.
The Confederate Bray's from Ozark and Sparta.
Cadmus and Lynn Bray, sons of Mark Bray, missed the battle at Wilson's Creek, as did Captain Calvin Duncan Bray and his
son Fletcher Harris Bray. Following Wilson Creek battle of August 10, 1861, General Sterling Price and his victorious
Missouri State Guard retired to northern Missouri where they overwhelmed the Union defenders of Lexington at the Battle of
the Hemp Bales in late September. At that time, Missouri had neither seceded nor had been admitted to the Confederacy.
Following Lexington, General Price sent Colonel Thomas J. Snead, his acting adjutant general, to Richmond to discuss a
formal alliance with Confederate officials there. The treaty was concluded and Missouri was admitted to the Confederacy in
November. Meanwhile, General Price left Lexington and moved to Osceola, on the Sac River, where he began to build winter
quarters. Before that effort was completed, the army was on the move again, this time toward Springfield. Recruiting for the
regular Confederate Army began at Osceola.
In mid-December, the main body of Price's army arrived in Springfield, and that part of it that, later, became the First Missouri
Confederate Brigade, commanded by Colonel Little, went out about a mile to Fullbright spring near which they began to build
winter quarters. Recruiters set up shop in Ozark, County Seat of the recently organized Christian County, and it was there
that the Bray's joined the Confederacy. Cadmus Bray on the 16th, Lynn Bray and Fletcher Harris Bray joined the 4th
Missouri infantry, Company F, on December 14, 1861. Fletcher had just turned 16 in July and was designated as a drummer
boy. F Company was commanded by Captain Greene.
NEXT GENERATION
Children of CALVIN DUNCAN BRAY and MAHALA TYSON WOMBLE
EMILETTE MAHALA BRAY b. July 9 1837 d. September 2 1911 Missouri m. 1) June 10 1857 Moore County North Carolina to WILLIAM C. ALLRED m. 2) March 9 1865 Christian County Missouri to JOSEPH WRIGHTSMAN m. 3) November 12 1873 to WILLIAM ROBERTS
Notes for EMILETTE MAHALA BRAY:
As per Bray Nostalgia
She moved to Kenton, Greene County, Missouri in 1857 with Dr. William C. Allred (then called Linden, Christian County). She
lived in Walnut Grove, MO. 1869-1871. After each divorce she returned to the Allred name.
Following the death of Dr. Allred she married Joseph Wrightsman on 9 March 1865 in Christian County, Missouri. They moved to
Walnut Grove, Missouri in 1869 where they lived until July 1871, until she left him for a divorce. She then returned to the old home
in Christian County, Missouri.
She then married William Roberts on 12 November 1873. This marriage lasted 20 years and ended in divorce in March 1893.
Notes for WILLIAM C. ALLRED:
William Allred was a Doctor.
Notes for JOSEPH WRIGHTSMAN:
Joseph Wrightsman was listed in the 1850 Sangamon County census as a Baptist preacher, but where he was ordained, or if he was, is
not known. His assets were stated as $25,000, which was a good deal of money in those days.
The Wrightsman family moved from Sangamon County, Illinois to Christian County, Missouri in about 1860. Joseph Wrightsmand
was a widower with eight children. He came with his mother-in-law, Mary Beckner. His wife, Keziah Beckner, had died in 1863 in
Springfield, Illinois. His brother, Finley, is listed in the 1860 census of Finley township, so it is assumed that Joseph followed his
brother to Missouri. They were born in Botetourt County, Virginia, in the 1810's. Another of the brothers, Christian stayed in
Sangamon County.
Among the children who moved with Joseph were, Timothy, who married Mildred Chestnut in 1870; Ann who married Aaren Bray;
William Christopher, who married Barbara Lawing, and who owned a hotel in Ozark for a time; Abigail, who married Steve Lawing in
1875. All married in Christian County.Died at the age of 72 from drowning.
Mr. Wrightsman and his wife Keziah moved from Virginia to Illinois and resided there until 1856, when they came to Christian
County, Mo., and located near Linden, on a farm where they remained a number of years. He was a member of the Baptist Church. The
mother died in 1863.
Children of CALVIN DUNCAN BRAY and HARRIET PRIMROSE AVENT
NEWTON BRAY b. January 21 1843 d. February 3 1843
MARGARET BRAY b. November 2 1843 d. November 3 1843
FLETCHER HARRIS BRAY b. July 9 1845 Christian County Missouri d. July 16 1916 Waverly Missouri {cem} m. 1) July 9 1866 Lexington Lafayettee County Missouri to NANCY C. WEEDIN m. 2) June 9 1878 to MARY ELIZABETH LOVE
Notes for FLETCHER HARRIS BRAY:
Fletcher Harris Bray was a machinist, Post Office address Waverly, Missouri. He was a native of Christian County, Missouri and was
educated at the Ozark Normal School, where he was at the breaking out of the Civil War. He enlisted at the age of 16 with his father,
Calvin Duncan Bray, and both served under General Price in the Missouri 4th Infantry. He joined on December 16th, 1861 from Ozark,
Green County, Missouri, for a period of one year. They fought in all the battles of Iuka, Hatchie River, and Cornith, in that first year
and at the fall of Vicksburg after his reenlistment. He was then transferred west of the Mississippi River and was engaged in the battle of
Saline River, which was the last of any note. At the close of the war, the family moved to Lafayette County Missouri, where they
remained. Mr. Bray was engaged principally in smithing and farming upon a small scale. He owned the largest steam thresher in the
county, which he operated during the season. The place of his birth is called Brayton - in honor of his family. He also operated a small
department store on his farm.
Notes: Most of the dates in these records were given by Nance Bray (Mrs. Winfield C. Bray): And also from the old Bray Family
Bible and from Mrs. Edwin M. Bray. Cemetery records from Harry Bray and Winfield C. Bray.
Winfield Bray says he remembers his Grandfather Fletcher H. Bray telling about them getting lead from the lead mines in South
Missouri during the war and making shot. In Lafayette County they had a boat landing about one or two miles from Hodge, Missouri
and Grandfather Fletcher went across the Missouri River on a ferry to do threshing for the farmers across the river.
When Fletcher lived on the road to Hodge, their address was Corder, Missouri.
More About FLETCHER HARRIS BRAY:
Fact 1: Children's spouse's from Marvin D. Headley records.
JAMES LAFAYETTEE BRAY b. June 26 1848 Christian County Missouri d. February 14 1925 {cem} m. MARY A. SIMS
Notes for JAMES LAFAYETTE BRAY:
James Lafayette Bray was born in Christian County Missouri, June 26th 1848, the son of Calvin Duncan Bray and Harriet Primrose
(Avent) Bray, and both natives of North Carolina. His father had been married before to Mahala L. Womble and was the father to One
child, Emilette Mahala Bray Born 9 July 1837. Calvin and Harriet came to Christian County in 1844, and to Lafayette County in
1865, where he died 23 Feb 1881 and was buried in Mt. Hope Cemetery, Waverly, MO. Harriet died 18 Aug 1888 and was also
buried in Mt. Hope Cemetery, Waverly, MO.
James Lafayette Bray was brought up on a farm and was educated in the common schools. He spent his life mostly in farming and
stock raising, making a specialty of mule breeding and also dealing heavily in these animals. At the St. Louis Exposition he took the
premium on mules between fourteen and fifteen hands high and one-third of the premium on the six-mule show, his premiums
aggregating more than five hundred dollars. Besides the premiums mentioned above, Mr. Bray took first and second premiums on his
mules at the State Fair in 1906 and 1908. He was also much interested in fruit culture, and in 1906 took first premium at the State Fair
on a plate of apples, and in 1908 the first premium on a bushel of apples and second premium on a plate of apples. He bought his farm
in 1871.
On March 12th 1866 he married Mary Sims, daughter of Zachariah Sims, an early settler of Green County who resided there until his
death. From this union three children were born, Nora, Ida, and Fred. He was an Old School Democrat. He and his wife were members
of the Methodist Church and supported it faithfully. He was a member of the Masons.
More About JAMES LAFAYETTE BRAY:
Fact 1: Lafayette County info on page 827-828
MONROE G. BRAY b. October 11 1850 February 2 1939 {cem} m. December 13 1874 to JENNIE C. WRIGHTMAN
Notes for JENNIE C. WRIGHTSMAN:
Believed to be related to Joseph Wrightsman, who married Calvins daughter Emilette Mahala.
SERENE A. BRAY b. January 1 1854 August 13 1855
JOSEPH RIPLEY BRAY b. April 29 1856 d. January 18 1880
WILLIAM BAXTER BRAY b. December 20 1858 d. December 13 1939 {cem} m. October 28 1885 Lexington Lafayette County Missouri to GRACE DARLING BEDSWORTH
SARAH EVALINE DUNCAN BRAY b. April 2 1861 d. July 16 1926 {cem} m. JAMES WILLIAM HARRISON
CHARLES CADMUS BRAY b. June 1 1866 d. July 1941 {cem}
NEXT GENERATION
Child of FLETCHER BRAY and NANCY WEEDIN
MILES EDWIN BRAY b. October 28 1874 Lafayette County Missouri d. March 29 1952 Kansas City Kansas m. MARY ALICE CORBIN
NEXT GENERATION
Children of FLETCHER BRAY and MARY LOVE
HARRIS LESLIE BRAY b. November 27 1879 Farm near Hodge Lafayette County Missouri d. July 14 1955 Lexington Missouri m. December 22 1909 Enid Oklahoma to ADELAIDE PEARL LONGEST, daughter of JOHN LONGEST and JOHANNA HOGAN
Notes on Harris Leslie Bray
Harris Leslie Bray was born on a farm near Hodge, Lafayette County, Missouri. He was a Rural Mail Carrier for 30
years out of Corder, Mo. The early years he delivered the mail in a two-wheel cart drawn by a horse. The latter
years he drove a car on his route. His route came as far North as the Old Santa Fe Trail (which is now highway 24)
then east a short distance before going back to Corder. He retired because of ill health (epilepsy) in 1929. His
parents were Fletcher Harris Bray and Mary Elizabeth Love Bray.
Notes on Adelaide Longest Bray
Adelaide Longest Bray was born on a farm South of Higginsville, Lafayette County, Missouri. The family moved
to a farm south of Dover, Mo. when she was a young lady. The family then moved to Enid, Oklahoma in 1908.
She was married in Enid, Oklahoma on 22 Dec 1909, at the age of 20. Her parents were John R. Longest, born in
Kentucky on August 28, 1850 and her mother was Johanna Hogan, born in Missouri in March of 1860. The 1900
census for Missouri showed that John R. Longest was 49, Anna, his wife, was 40. John R.'s father was born in
Virginia and his mother was born in Kentucky. Anna, (Johanna Hogan)'s father was born in Kentucky and her
mother in Missouri. Their children were all born in Missouri. They were Carlton, son, born in January of 1887,
Eula born in September of 1882, Lena born in December of 1883, and Addie (Adelaide Bray) born on October 13,
1889. All children attended school except Eula. Adelaide's mother was Johanna Hogan. Johanna's mother was
Ephamy (Euphemia) Ann Slusher. Johanna's father was James O. Hogan. James and Ephamy were married on
September 1, 1858.
James O. Hogan a farmer, was the oldest son of Alexander C. Hogan, who was born March 1, 1783 near
Richmond, Va. James came to Missouri with his father in 1839, and located where he then lived. Alexander lived
past 98 years and continued to be active. James was married April 27, 1853 to Sarah A. Warren. The had two
children: Eddie and Jerry. Sarah died March 18, 1857. James remarried on September 1, 1857 to Euphemia M.
Slusher. Their children were Joanna, Eulalie M., James Henry and Nora Belle. In 1861 James enlisted in Gen Joe
Shelby's command, and remained with him until Shelby went south, then James joined Capt. Rathbun's company,
Gordon's regiment, and was engaged in most of the battles that were fought by those commands; after the war he
returned home and settled down to civil life.
JOSEPH RIPLEY BRAY b. February 21 1882 d. November 1900 {cem}
EDITH WILLIS BRAY b. March 28 1883 d. June 13 1884 {cem}
ROVILLA WINFRED BRAY b. February 18 1886 d. October 28 1958 {cem}
m. GEORGE W. EVANS
SAMUEL DUDLEY BRAY b. February 21 1888 d. December 6 1966 m. PEARL BOGGESS
EDNA ALVA BRAY b. February 25 1891 d. February 7 1964 m. EDWARD M. WOOD
MARY ELIZABETH BRAY b. April 14 1894 d. October 15 1969 m. 1) RICHARD KNIPMEYER m. 2) RICHARD SHROYER
ELLIS LOVE BRAY b. February 23 1896 d. December 11 1972
