from Metcalfe County, Kentucky – Biographies

Joseph F. Ray was born July 15, 1825, in Lebanon, Marion County, Kentucky, where he grew up, and in 1844 removed with his parents to Metcalfe (then Barren) County, where he now resides.  The country at that time was very thinly settled; game was abundant, as many as fifteen deer being found in one drove at that time near his home.  His father, Nicholas Ray, was born near Point of Rocks, Maryland, November 4, 1782, and was a soldier under General Jackson at New Orleans.  He was a son of Nicholas Ray, Sr., who was also a native of Maryland, and was of English descent.  Nicholas Ray, Sr., came to Washington (afterwards Marion) County, in 1796, and was among the first settlers of that section of the country.  Nicholas Ray, Jr., married, September 6, 1810, Mary, daughter of Presley and Nancy (Kincheloe) Smith.  From this union sprang Susan S. (Shackleford), Nicholas S., Presley S. and Joseph F.  The last name married, November 1, 1848, Lavina M., youngest daughter of Edmund Rogers.  To them have been born Edmund R., Nicholas, Mary S. (Rhoer), Anna O., Kate U., Ellen, H. Lee, Presley W., Joseph, L. Byrd and John.  Mr. Ray was a classical graduate of the class of 1844 of Centre College, Danville, Kentucky.  He and one other were all who were present at the alumni reunion in 1885, out of a class of nineteen.  He has for the greater part of his time given his attention to farming, but has also been engaged in school teaching – among other places at the Edmonton Academy.  He lost by the war in slaves and in the confiscation of other property about $12,000, but in spite of this, entirely by his own efforts he has become the owner of about 150 acres of well improved land.  He has during his life taken some interest in politics, and in 1857 ran for the Legislature on the Whig (or as it was sometimes termed, the Know-nothing) ticket, but was defeated by twenty votes out of about 3,300.  He has, since 1844, been a consistent member of the Presbyterian Church, in which he is now an elder, and in politics is a Democrat.