My Genealogy Hound

G. W. Bray is one of the rising young farmers of this region, and since starting out in life for himself he has applied himself steadfastly to agricultural pursuits, and with what success may be inferred when we mention the fact that since 1881 he has owned a good farm of 193 acres. He was born in Mississippi in 1851, and is a son of William and Permelia (Aikin) Bray, who were natives of Tennessee, but moved to Mississippi at an early day, where they engaged in farming, and reared their family of ten children, only two of whom are now living. Mr. Bray died in 1843, and in 1868 Mrs. Bray and her son, G. W., came to Arkansas (whither her daughter Permelia, wife of W. F. Raider had previously come), their journey being made in an ox-cart, which they had borrowed. Mr. Bray now says at that time he had only $2 in cash, and that the oxen were borrowed from W. Garner, and the cart from Sandford Hames. The first two years after coming here he raised crops on shares, and then entered land, purchasing, in 1870, his first horse, for which he paid the sum of $80, $30 of which he earned by picking cotton on the bottom lands, and the balance he paid the following year. In 1871 he married Miss Alice Nail, who bore him five children: John H., born in 1872; Martha B., born in 1873; William A., born in 1877; George W., born in 1879, and Newton E., born in 1882. This wife died in 1883. In 1881 he purchased his present property, and has thirty acres under cultivation and seventy-five acres improved with good fences, buildings, orchards, etc., his building especially being in excellent condition. This property has all been acquired through unremitting toil and judicious management, and he may with truth be called one of the self-made men of the county. He always favors public improvement, and although he never went to school a day in his life he is making every effort to give his children, Permelia R., Isaac R., Mary B. and Ellen E., the advantages of which he was deprived. Before coming to Arkansas, and for two years after, he supported his mother out of his wages earned by daily labor, and for this filial care if for nothing else he deserves the respect of his fellowmen; and when it is taken into consideration that he has manfully fought his way up to his present position, and that he has been honest and upright in all his dealings, words are but meager things with which to express the admiration his conduct commands. In his political views he is a Democrat, and socially he is a member of the I. O. O. F. His wife, whom he married in 1883, was formerly a Miss Docia Hames.