The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1888-08-25
RECOLLECrIONS OE THE EARLY
SETTLERS OF OOACHITA PARISH.
sketch of the Life of Hon. john Ray.

John Ray was born October ID, lSlG
at "Tne OLD Mines'' in Washington
county, No. His father {James Swar
engin R,y, u native of Marylaud,) Wa
raised on Big Barre River, near Bowl
ing Green, KY, where his parents hat
se,ilad with the early immigrants t.
that country. His mother Mary
Ada,ns) was born i" the State OF Ten
nessee. james Swarengiu Ray and
Mary Adams were married in st
Francois county, Mo-, on the 18th o.
Jtuuary, 1916.
The grand parents of john Ray emf
grated from Kentucky to Missouri in
1911, where the grandfather (JohIl
Ray) became a friend and companion
of Dulel Boone, and was leading
spirit si the legislation Of the State ut
that early day, having been member
of the first constitutional convention
there, and u member of the legislature.
Ray county was named for him.
Ja,A& Swarensin Ray Gather Of the
subject Tf this skrtch) came to Missouri
with his parents and ssttied D7Wash-
iDelon county, afser few years, re-
moving to the county of ST. Francois,
ou Big River, near Big River Mills.
He was employed by Moses Austin, Il
citizen of the county, TO superintend
some iead-tniuing operations at Potosi,
where a usiin lived. He raised large
family of sons and daughters, and died
in lS44.
John Ray, the eldest child, was
brought up on his fathers farm. His
early education was obtained i'll the
common country schools OF that day,
aud from his good parents he received
the impress, in these tender years, of
those christian virtues which shone 80
luminous in his after LIE.
AT the age of twelve years he was
sent to school at Potosi, Mo, where
lie remained two years; after which he
attended the Manual Labor School at
Hanover, Ind, and several sessions at
the Augusta College and Pennsylvania
University, Ky. Finishing his educa-
ton ut the latter Institute, in 1885, he
returned to his home in Missouri.
He did not remain idle, but, his
father being absent in Louisiana on a
prolonged trade expedition to the
northern part of that State, he at once
assumed charge of the farm, and began |
work behind the plow-an occupation
he had often followed, at intervals,
during the progress Of his education.
His father becoming pleased with the
Louisiana country purchased tract OF
land in the Prairie Jefferson (then
Ouachita, now Morehouse Parish), and
concluded to move his family 10 Louis
iaua. With this view he set about inn
proving his property, and began plant
ing crop preparatory to his permanent
settlement upon il. Carrying out these
operations he wrote TO his son john TO
join him; and in obedience to this
summon Of his father John Ray made
his first visit to the State Of his adop-
tiun.
In tho month Of June, then scarce 19
years of sge, lie set Cut on this horse-
back journey of over COO miles 10 Louis
iana-a lone but intrepid traveller. He
met his father in Claiborne parish, La,
to Missouri sick with the
fever he had contracted in Prairie
aud with him retraccd his
long journey home.
The elder Ray, conceiving the CHM
ate of his proposed residence in Louis
lana to be unhealthy, abandoned his
idea of emigrating, and sent his son TO
dispose of his plantation and to sell the
crop.
On this trip young Ray came dow II
the Mississippi River from st. Louis to
Lake Providence iu Louisiana, and
jnurneyed to his destination across the
Mississippi swamps and cauc breaks,
many hardstirs and risks
in the then wild aud unsettled co,di-
ton of the country.
After fulfilling the commission ell
trusted to him he pushed on to Monroe,
and visited Alexandria and New Or
leans before returning to st. Louis. He
his first visit to that city,
When in Monroe, On this visit to
he became acquainted with
the venerable Louis +. Lamy, Judge
Of Ouachita Parish, and with Robert +.
Il practising lawyer and one
of the leading men in that part of the
state. Mr.. Ray made arrangements by
which he was to return TO Monroe and
enter the office Of Judge Larry RS clerk,
these eminent jurists.
Accordingly, Gu the 3lst day of De
1885, he left his Missouri home
to take up his permanent residence in
He arrived in Monroe on
the 10th of January, 1886, after Il long
and eventfuI overland trip.
Moses Austin, an eBterprisiBg and
nd jyeptpraus man had emiprYfet! f, p,n J