1840 (Jul 14): b. Floyd Co., VA. Born to
Japhanis GRAY and
Eliza Pride DEATON GRAY.
1850: John Gray, age 10, b. VA, McMinn Co., TN.
1860: John Gray, age 20, farmer, b. VA, Emerald Point PO, Indian Creek Precinct, Morgan Co., IL.
1862-1865 Civil War: 101st Illinois Infantry Company D: Mustered in (enlisted as a Private) 11 Aug 1862 from residence in Jacksonville, Morgan Co., IL. Enlisted in Company D, 101th Infantry Regiment Illinois on 2 Sep 1862. Mustered out 7 Jun 1865 in Bladensburg, MD, near Washington, D.C. Discharge certificate: John B. Grey, b. Morgan Co., 5’9” high, light complexion, grey eyes, light hair, farmer (when enrolled), He has been engaged in the following battles: A.C.M. 1st Div. 20th A.C.
John B. Gray - Civil War Service File Notes:
11 Aug 1862: Joined for duty and enrolled, Jacksonville, IL.
2 Sep 1862: Muster-in, Jacksonville, IL, age 22.
2 Sep 1862 - Oct 31 1862: Present.
28 Jan 1863: Absent sick at Memphis, TN.
Jan & Feb 1863: Present.
Apr 1863: Present.
22 May - 31 Aug 1863: Absent sick in hospital at Memphis, TN.
Jul & Aug 1863: Nurse in hospital at Overton USA General Hospital, Memphis, TN.
Sep & Oct 1863: Absent; in hospital at Overton USA General Hospital, Memphis, TN.
Nov & Dec 1863: Present.
Jan & Feb 1864: Present.
Mar & Apr 1864: Present.
18 May 1864: Absent sick sent to rear.
Jul 1864: Paid $26 by Pay Dept., USA, Louisville, KY.
Jul & Aug 1864: No. 1 USA Hospital, Chattanooga, TN.
26 Sep 1864: Patient in US Army General Hospital, Nashville, TN.
29 Sep 1864: Transportation from Nashville, TN to Louisville, KY, on furlough.
30 Sep 1864: Charged for hat, coats, boot, by US Army General Hospital, Nashville, TN.
Sep & Oct 1864: Absent, sick.
20 Nov 1864: Transportation from Cairo, IL to Memphis, TN, on sick leave.
__ 1864: Conv. from hospital from Cairo, IL to Nashville, TN.
Nov & Dec 1864: Absent, sick.
Oct - Dec 1864: Absent sick at Louisville, KY.
Jan & Feb 1865: Present.
Mar & Apr 1865: Present.
7 Jun 1865: Muster-out near Washington D.C., age 25.
21 Jun 1865: Discharged at Springfield, IL [101st Illinois Infantry, Dyer’s Regimental History, “A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion” by Frederick H. Dyer, transcribed by Susan Tortorelli for ILGenWeb Project].
1865: GREY: Eliza. Males: (2) 0-10, (2) 10-19, (2) 20-29. Females: (1) 0-10, (2) 10-19, (1) 20-29, (1) 40-49. 11 Total, 3 militia. $125.00 value of live stock. [1865 IL State Census, Jacksonville Precinct, Morgan Co., IL, p.130]. [Note: 4 DEATON families on the same page].
1870: John Gray, age 29, farmer, $400 personal, b. VA, living in house of Joseph Jennings, Jacksonville PO, Jacksonville Precinct, Morgan Co., IL.
1871: Grey, John B., farmer, res e end of Morton ave., Jacksonville, Morgan Co., IL.
1880: Labourer, boarding with Henry Hahn (farmer) family, Havana Twp., Mason Co., IL, b. VA; parents b. VA.
1882: Living in Havana. Married to
Chrstina F. BALL in Peoria by E. B. England, Rector of Christ Church. Witnesses John N. Ball and Ann Ball.
1884: John Gray, laborer, age 44, b. PA [?], Mason Co., IL.
1886: John Gray, laborer, age 46, b. PA [?], Mason Co., IL.
1887: Lockport, Will Co., IL.
1889: Lockport, Will Co., IL.
1890, 1891: Lockport, Will Co., IL.
1891: PO Box, Joliet, Will Co., IL.
1891: Lockport Twp.
1891 (23 Jan): John N. Ball, of Lockport, Will Co., IL, has known John B. Gray for ten years. [John B. Gray Civil War Pension File].
1891: "Death of Mrs. Eliza Gray. Last night Mrs. Eliza Gray, aged 71 years and 9 months, died at her home four miles northwest of Decatur, the result of a complication of diseases. The deceased was a native of Virginia. A portion of her life was spent in Eastern Tennessee, the remainder in Illinois. Her husband died 20 years ago, leaving her with a family of ten children. A son and daughter died, and there are eight children who mourn her loss, three daughters and three sons living at the home place. The funeral will be held at the family residence to-morrrow at 9 a.m., services conducted by Rev. O. E. Torrey. Burial in Greenwood." [Daily Republican (Decatur IL), Friday Eve., June 26, 1891].
1894: Lockport, Will Co., IL.
1896-1897: Gray, John B, peddler, h 604 Oneida, Joliet, Will Co., IL
1899: Oneida St., Joliet, Will Co., IL.
1899: Lockport, Will Co., IL.
1899-1900: Gray, John B, Gardener, h 1208 Oneida, Joliet, Will Co., IL.
1899 (21 Nov): “...A few days after the battle of Nashville Tenn, in 1864. - I was on my way to my regiment having been h??? on a furlough - Near Solan Station, Ky, the train on which I was, was derailed by the rebels, I jumped from the train and received the injury to my spine which has caused said curvature - Among about 400 others, all furloughed men, I was taken prisoner - All were strangers to me - and none would remember the circumstances of my injury any how, because all were shortly after paroled...” [John B. Gray, general affidavit, John B. Gray Civil War pension file].
1900 (3 Jan): “I have been well aquainted with John B. Gray for twenty years. Knew him in Havana Mason Co. Ill. I know him in Lockport and Joliet Illinois am boarding with him now. My aquaintance has been such with him that I know he is a sober peaceful man of Good Habits.” [John F. Ball, age 42, of Joliet, Will Co., IL, general affidavit, John B. Gray Civil War pension file].
1900: Joliet Twp., Will Co., IL.
1901: PO Box, Joliet, Will Co., IL.
1902: Lockport, Will Co., IL.
1902 (8 May): “A few days after the battle of Nashville Tenn, I think it was in 1864, we were sent to Louisville Ky and our train was captured by a part of Forrests band of Gorrilla’s near Elizabeth town. In attempting to make my escape, I jumped from the train and was severely injured. I was among entire strangers and did not - nor could not receive proper treatment and soon experienced dizzy sensations. This I believe to be the beginning and cause of my present trouble - disease of the heart - and it has become permanent. It is not in any manner due to viscious habits.” [John B. Gray, claimant’s affidavit, John B. Gray Civil War pension file].
1903: RFD#3, Lockport, Will Co., IL.
1904: Lockport, Will Co., IL.
1905: RFD#2, Lombard, DuPage Co., IL.
1907: RFD#2, Lombard, DuPage Co., IL.
1908: prob. moved to GE [see dau Ann’s postcards]
1910: Pennsylvania Ave., Glen Ellyn, IL, b. “Old Virginia,” parents b. VA.
1911, 1912, 1915, 1916: Glen Ellyn, DuPage Co., IL.
1915-6: Gray J P (Christina) gardner [sic] r Penn cor Main, Glen Ellyn.
?: “Grandpa Gray was a farmer, although when I [Ida] was a little girl, they had moved into Glen Ellyn and he made horseradish and sold that and garden vegetables with a horse and wagon.”
?: undated Easter postcard [between 1911-1934] to Anna Spears from Mother and Father.
1920: Sheffield Street, St. Anne, Kankakee Co., IL.
1921:
“Q Did any of you hear from John B. Gray for the past 20 years?”
“A No Sir”
“Q What is the first that has been heard from him recently?”
“A He wrote to my aunt Hannah Gray about three months ago and prior to that time the whole family had considered him dead as he left 25 years ago or more and had never been heard of by any of them since that time.” [testimony of Mabel Snell (niece of Levi Gray’s widow Hannah) in the matter of the estate of Levi Gray deceased, 13 Aug 1921.]
1930: Momence, IL, $1200, age 89, age at 1st marriage 41, b. VA, both parents b. VA.
1933: “James V. Gray, 83, died this morning at the home of his nephew, J. L. Gray, 783 South Twelfth avenue. He was born in Tennessee and had lived in Yakima for the last 38 years. The nephew and a brother, John B. Gray of Memence, Ill., survive. Shaw & Webb has charge of funeral arrangements.”
1934: Momence, Kankakee Co., IL. “John B. Gray, oldest son of a family of 12 children... the last to pass to his reward.” 20 grandchildren, 3 great-grandchildren.
More information on this family is at:
