Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-08

A MOTHER old dwelling in northwest sub
urban Washington. which attracts more
or less attention, is the old Enos Ray home,
which stands on the west side of New Hamp-
shire avenue, a little south of Concord avenue
Like sentinel 1t remains all alone to itself in
an area which will soon be built up with
houses and converted into part of the city,
once, however, all around this part of the Dis
tlct OF Columbia was excellent farm land at
least so thought Enos Ray when he moved into
the District Of Columbia just one year short
OF hundred years ago.
He first farmed the Marshall Brown tract.
which adjoined Petworth on the north and
in 1885 bought the farm upon which his old
home still stands which was then bounded ON
the north by the Milk House Ford road the
name later being changed to Shepherd road
AS farmer he was thrifty and successful, and
as MS sons grew to manhood and were married
he gave each farm nearby.
or sturdy Colonial. Maryland ancestry his
great-great-grandfather William Raw settled
IN Anne Arundel County at a very early date.
and through John, John, jr. and Alexander.
IN succession, Enos Ray was descended Some
OF MS forebearS served in the Colonial and
Indian Wars, as well as the War for Inde-
pendence, and the War of 1925, in which he.
himSelf, plays parts and for which he was
given by the Government two sections Of land.
DESCENDED from a family noted for its
longevity Enos Ray died in 1892 at the
age OF 80 years, and was buried in GlenWood
Cemetery, where his mother. who lived to be
1O4, was earlier placed to rest
Enos Ray was married twice His first wife
was Sarah daughter of Anthony L. Moreland
OF Anne Arundel County, whose progenitors
are supposed to have located in Anne Arundel
County about the time Lord Baltimore came
over. She died in 1926 and he later married
Elizabeth, the daughter of Archibald Osborn
OF the District of Columbia. BY the first wife
he had William, Alfred and Anthony, and by
the second marriage, Mary, Barbara E., George
H., John w., Caroline E., James Enos, Martha
and Catherine
Numerous descendants of the children of
Enos Ray reside in and near the District of
Columbia. Charles w. Ray president of the
Brightwood Citizens Association is the son of
John w. Ray while ]. Enos Ray, the Wash
lngton and Maryland lawyer, is the son of
James Enos Ray, who died in 1918 at his home
in nearby Chillum where his son, of the same
name, was born and continues to reside
Living so close to Washington, j. Enos Ray
OF the present generation seems almost one of
us. For years. in Maryland politics, he has
been conspicuous, serving as speaker of the
House of Delegates in 1908, State auditor to
1913, and as tax collector from 1919 until re-
Gently, when he resigned the office He is now
chairman of the Democratic State central COM
mlttee, and Is being seriously considered as
suitable timber for the position of governor of
his native State.
The old Ray home on New Hampshire avenue
is in fair condition. The rear part is covered
with typical old clapboards and is, of course,
the Oldest part of the house. However, the
present structure is very good example of an
early Washington gentleman farmers home
A FTER writing the story CT the Tunnicliff
Tavern a few weeks ago, the writer re-
ceived an interesting letter from Col j. g.
Easby-Smith and as it adds so greatly to the
history Of the old landmark he feels that the