Charles Wesley Crays: Strong McLemore Ancestry

Generation: 1

Charles Wesley Crays was born on 9 Apr 1868 in Palmyra, Macoupin County, Illinois (son of John Crays and Mary Jane Tosh); died on 15 Aug 1964 in Nebraska; was buried in Atlanta Center Cemetery, Saline County, Nebraska.

Notes:

He was the son of John and Mary Jane Tosh Crays. He purchased his father's farm in Tobias in 1898 and moved there in 1905 when his father retired. He later sold the farm to his son Donald. (Milligan, p 254).

(Research):

Census Listings:

1920 Census
Nebraska, Saline County, Atlanta Precinct
Enumerated 15 Jan 1920
SD 4 ED 124 Sheet 5B
92 -93
Crays, Charlie W Head M W 51 M Ill Ind Ill Farmer
Crays, Minnie Wf F W 47 M Ill England/English Iowa
Crays, Faye Dtr F W 18 S Neb Ill Ill
Crays, Mabel M Dtr F W 13 S Neb Ill Ill
Crays, Donald Son M W 5 S Neb Ill Ill

Charles married Minnie Ellen Davies on 21 Nov 1899 in Geneva, Fillmore County, Nebraska. Minnie (daughter of William Davies and Martha Ellen O'Neel) was born on 16 Jan 1872 in Lee Center, Lee County, Illinois; died on 6 Jan 1952 in Friend, Saline County, Nebraska; was buried in Atlanta Center Cemetery, Saline County, Nebraska. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Children:

Ilah Faye Crays was born on 29 Mar 1901 in Nebraska; died on 1 Nov 1967 in Nebraska; was buried in Edgar Cemetery, Edgar, Clay County, Nebraska.
Mabel Marie Crays was born on 15 May 1906 in Nebraska; and died.
Donald Charles Crays was born on 27 Apr 1914 in Tobias, Saline County, Nebraska; died on 23 Feb 1966 in Tobias, Saline County, Nebraska; was buried in Atlanta Center Cemetery, Saline County, Nebraska.

Generation: 2

John Crays was born on 16 Sep 1828 in Indiana; died on 23 Feb 1905 in Tobias, Saline County, Nebraska; was buried in Tobias City Cemetery, Tobias, Saline County, Nebraska.

Notes:

The Crays moved to Wilber, Nebraska in 1885, moving to Tobias in 1890. (Milligan, p 254).

(Research):

Census Listings:

1860 Census
Illinois, Macoupin County, Town 11 Range 6
Enumerated 21 July 1860
PO Nilwood, Page 101
705-685
John Crays 31 M Farmer 200 @00 Ind
Mary J Crays 22 F Ill
Mary J Crays 5 F Ill
Melvina A Crays 2 F Ill

1870 Census
Illinois, Macoupin County, Twp 11 Range 7
Enumerated 17 Jun 1870
PO Carlinville Page 4
27-28
Crase John 41 M W Farmer 1000 200 Ind
Crase, Mary 22 F W Keeping House Ill
Crase, Isabel 14 F W Ill
Crase, Malvina 11 F W Ill
Crase, Angelina 10 F W Ill
Crase, Alice 8 F W Ill
Crase, Rie 6 F W Ill
Crase, Mauba 4 F W Ill
Crase, Charles 1 M W Ill

1880 Census
Illinois, Macoupin County, South Otter Twp
Enumerated 10 Jun 1880
Page 15 SD 6 ED 126 Stamped 327
138-138
Crays, John W M 52 Farming Ind Tenn Tenn
Crays, Mary W F 42 Wf Keeping Ill Tenn Tenn
Crays, Anna W F 22 Dtr At Home Ill Ind Ill
Crays, Alice W F 19 Dtr At Home Ill Ind Ill
Crays, Maria W F 15 Dtr Ill Ind Ill
Crays, Manyy W F 11 Dtr Ill Ind Ill
Crays, Charles W M 11 Son Ill Ind Ill
Crays, Laura W F 7 Str Ill Ind Ill
Crays, Wilburn W M 10/12 Aug Son Ill Ind Ill

John married Mary Jane Tosh on 2 Dec 1853 in Macon County, Illinois. Mary was born on 1 Sep 1838 in Illinois; died on 22 Apr 1924 in Nebraska; was buried in Tobias City Cemetery, Tobias, Saline County, Nebraska. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Mary Jane Tosh was born on 1 Sep 1838 in Illinois; died on 22 Apr 1924 in Nebraska; was buried in Tobias City Cemetery, Tobias, Saline County, Nebraska.

Notes:

Married:
Their Illinois Marriage record can be found at the Macon County Court Records, Film # 0983125 - 0983126.

They had a total of three sons and seven daughters: Charles, a farmer of Tobias, Wilburn, an auctioneer from Bruning, Mark, showed free movies in neighboring towns and in Texas, Laura (Mrs. Will Fisher), Tobias, Belle (Mrs. W.F. Nevins), Fairfield, Marie (Mrs. Chas. Harding), Cambridge, Ida (Mrs. Frank Osborne), Crete, Ann (Mrs. G.M. Dougherty), Bruning, Alice (Mrs. Chas. Pike), Bruning, Angeline (Mrs. Thayer), of Colorado. (Milligan, p 255).

Posting from GenForum:

John J. CRAYS and his wife, Mary Jane TOSH came from Palmyra, Macoupin Co., IL about 1885 settling in Tobias. All of their children were born in Palmyra. The entire family came to Nebraska. Also, Mary Jane's nephew, William Riley TOSH also accompanied them from Palmyra, IL to Saline Co., IL.

Their children: Mary Jane CRAYS b. 1855, Gertie Maude CRAYS b. 1856 d. 1858, Anna Melvina CRAYS b. 1858, Lydia Angeline CRAYS b. 1860, Alice CRAYS b. 1863, Marie(a) b. 1865, Ida (Manly) CRAYS b. 1867, Charles Wesley CRAYS b. 1868, Laura E. CRAYS b. 1876, J. Wilburn CRAYS b. 1879, a child b. & d. before 1883 and Mark L. CRAYS b. 1883.

Any information on these families is appreciated. Desire contact with descendants. Have been working on the CRAYS and TOSH Families over 25 years. Will exchange.

Posted by Linda Arnold on 21 Aug 1999

Children:

Mary Isabel "Belle" Crays was born about 1855 in Illinois; and died.
Melvina Ann Crays was born about 1858 in Illinois; and died.
Lydia Angelina Crays was born about 1860 in Macoupin County, Illinois; and died.
Alice Crays was born about 1862 in Illinois; and died.
Marie "Rie" Crays was born about 1864 in Macoupin County, Illinois; and died.
Ida M. Crays was born about 1867 in Macoupin County, Illinois; and died.
1. Charles Wesley Crays was born on 9 Apr 1868 in Palmyra, Macoupin County, Illinois; died on 15 Aug 1964 in Nebraska; was buried in Atlanta Center Cemetery, Saline County, Nebraska.
Laura E. Crays was born on 17 Feb 1876 in Macoupin County, Illinois; died on 3 Jul 1937 in Nebraska; was buried in Tobias City Cemetery, Tobias, Saline County, Nebraska.
John Wilbern Crays was born on 29 Jul 1879 in Macoupin County, Illinois; died on 27 Oct 1953 in Bruning, Thayer County, Nebraska; was buried in Bruning Public Cemetery, Bruning, Thayer County, Nebraska.
Mark Lee Crays was born on 21 Oct 1884 in Illinois; died on 8 Apr 1965 in Stockdale, Wilson County, Texas; was buried in Pleasant Valley Cemetery, Stockdale, Wilson County, Texas.