[or-roots] James Jackson Gray

Mon Aug 2 14:02:36 PDT 2004

Hi Karla,
What an interesting history.  By going to http://resources.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/townco.cgi
I find that Nashville is in Davidson County, Tennessee.  You may have already done this
but I would recommend joining the email list for that county.  All of Rootsweb's lists can
be found at http://lists.rootsweb.com/  Click on Davidson County after getting the
Tennessee lists and you can subscribe and search the archives from that page.  I would
write to that list and tell them what you have told us and perhaps someone there will be
able to help you.

It certainly does not make it easier when an ancestor has used an alias.  I wish you luck
in your research.  You may be aware of these websites already but it may help someone else
who is new to genealogy.
Thanks for your message.
Verdena Veelle

----- Original Message ----- 
From: <karfranw at juno.com>
To: <or-roots at sosinet.sos.state.or.us>
Sent: Monday, August 02, 2004 12:10 PMD

: Speaking of which, I have a story to tell.  My birth name is Karla Gray,
: and I was born in The Dalles Oregon to Marion
: Frederick Gray, and Jessie Marie Yohey Gray, in December of 1946.  My
: father was born in Friend Oregon to Jesse Marion
: Gray, and Emma Freda Gertrude Miller Gray on September 1, 1920.  My
: grandfather was born in Friend or The Dalles, on January 18
: , I think the year was 1883 or so, to James Jackson Gray, and Susan
: Permelier Gray (her maiden name just flew out of my mind).
: James Jackson Gray was born in or near Nashville Tennessee, in 1843 or
: so.
: The story goes this way:  James Jackson was around 15-17 years old when
: the Civil War broke out.  His father was a school
: teacher, and also owned a race horse farm. Just prior to the break out of
: the Civil War, the father had purchased a stud for $1,000.00,
: which was a considerable sum back then.  When the War broke out, the
: father and older brothers decided to go off to war, leaving
: young James Jackson at home in charge of the horse farm.  They joined the
: Federalist forces.
: But, James Jackson was young, and as such, evidentally prone to being
: hotheaded (which decidedly runs in the family), was
: quite put out that the father and brothers had gone off to war, leaving
: him at home.  So, he decided to leave also.  He took the
: stud and off he went.   He joined the first army outfit he came to, which
: unfortunately, was the Confederate Army.  The horse
: was shot and killed in an ensuing battle.
: James Jackson served his 4 years of service duty and was duly discharged
: from the Army.  He was relunctant to go back home,
: so lit out to come west.  He worked his way out here, hoping to recoop
: enough money to repay his father for the stud that had been
: killed.
: Well, I guess he never was able to get the money together.  He came to
: Oregon, somewhere along the line, met up with my great
: grandmother, and made her his wife.  They had 10 kids.
: Now, James Jackson was a very tight lipped individual.  Never, never,
: ever, did he tell his children, or grandchildren any information
: about the family he left in Tennessee.  So, all we know is what I just
: told you.  There have been several individuals in the family, and one
: on my mother's side, doing lots of research, trying to find anything on
: the family he left behind.
: Outside of going back to Tennessee, and doing research back there, what
: are we to do?  My niece wrote for and got his Army
: records and he told them he was James Jackson Gray.  But, I am beginning
: to think, the old rascal was a scoundrel and a consumate
: liar.  I don't think his surname was Gray.  I don't know what else to
: think.  We have all hit a brickwall.
: Do, any of you have any suggestions?  I have researched out the Census I
: think for 1880 or 1890, and found them.  At that time,
: it was just his wife and 9 months old baby daughter, Louisa.  They had
: had an earlier child, but that baby died from diptheria before
: reaching a year old.
: So, if any of you people, who have a more vast knowledge than I have,
: have any kind of suggestions, I would appreciate you bouncing
: them off of me.  For now, I just want to make this one statement, I don't
: have the time nor the money to make a trip to Tennessee.  So,
: that option is closed at this time.
: Thank you so much for letting me say my piece.  I just want peace and
: harmony to reign again here, and want everyone to be friends.
: So, please, peace, peace everyone.  Thank you so much.
:
: Sincerely,
:
: Karla Williams
: karfranw at juno.com
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