My Genealogy Hound

WILLIAM R. RAY, one of the enterprising and substantial business men of Louisville, was born in Decatur County, Ind., August 15, 1828, and is a son of Sigismond and Charlotte (Roe) Ray, natives of Estill County, Ky., and Ohio. The Ray family is originally from Virginia; the grandfather of subject settling near Lexington, where he took up a large tract of land in an early day, but being fond of hunting, when game became scarce returned to Estill County. The subject was reared mostly in Indiana. He is wholly a self-made man — never went to school a day in his life, but through his own energy and perseverance managed to pick up a good practical, business education. He commenced work for himself, cutting cord-wood for a pork house, peddled ice, and did anything else he could, or that came in his way. He was placed on the police force in 1854, and became chief in 1858, serving as chief under mayors Pilcher and Barbee, and for a time under mayor Thomas H. Crawford. He bought an interest in a small saw-mill in 1859, and some years later bought a larger one, which he operated for seventeen years. He has held many prominent and important positions in business circles, and for eighteen years has been a member of the Board of Sinking Fund Commissioners. Upon the death of president John B. Smith, he became president of the board; he is vice-president of the Citizen’s National Bank, and has been a director in it almost since its organization. He is a thorough business man, and in all his work and public positions has labored zealously for the city’s welfare and prosperity. Mr. Ray was married, May 14, 1848, to Miss Mary A. Neal, of Indiana. They have three children living.