KYBIOGRAPHIES-L Archives

From: Sandi Gorin <>
Subject: BIOS #8949 THRU 8952 - GRAY, CHRISTY, CHRISTY, FRAZIER
Date: Tue, 04 Nov 2003 07:01:51 -0600

Thanks to T Brock for submitting the first 3 bios! I have no connection,
and no further information. Sandi

8949FLEMING CO - GRAY, GEORGE W - Gray, Seamands Christy, Seever,
Markwell, Davis
8950 FLEMING CO - CHRISTY, JAMES L - Christy, Royce, Brown, Gordon, Benbow,
Carpenter, Keith, Morris, McQuigg, Smith, Redfdord, Twiss
8951 FLEMING CO - CHRISTY, AMBROSE D - Christy, Crosthwait, Throop, Taylor,
Bell, Everett, Wells
8952WOODFORD CO - FRAZIER, WILLIAM J - Frazier, Bond, McMinemy, Bosworth,
Boswell

#8949: [PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM of Jackson, Jefferson and
Pottawatomie Counties, KANSAS Containing full-page portraits and
Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens, published
by Chapman Bros., Chicago 1890] GEORGE W. GRAY, one of the old citizens of
Jefferson County, owns and occupies a good homestead on section 7, Rural
Township. He came to Kansas in April, 1855, settling first on 160 acres of
wild land near Lecompton. This he improved and lived upon twelve years, and
then selling out, purchased that which he now occupies. This comprises 117
acres, which he has improved from its primitive state so that it has become
one of the most desirable farms in the county.
A native of Fleming County, Ky., Mr. Gray was born Feb. 16, 1831, and is
the son of John and Elizabeth (Seamands) Gray, who were natives of
Greenbrier County, Va. The father made a comfortable living as a farmer in
the State of Kentucky, of which he was a pioneer settler, removing thither
as early as 1814, after having served in the War of 1812. He attained to
the advanced age of eighty-six years, dying in Kentucky in 1882. The mother
died Feb. 28, 1868, aged seventy-one years. Both parents were members in
good standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and the father was
particularly zealous in the cause of religion, and later became a member of
the Methodist Episcopal Church South. Politically he was, during his
earlier years, an old-line Whig and after the abandonment of this party he
identified himself with the Republicans. He was somewhat prominent in local
affairs, holding the minor offices. The parental family was completed by
the birth of nine children, seven of whom are living: David S., in 1859,
was murdered along the Kansas Bottoms in Jefferson County; Olivia E. became
the wife of William E. Christy and is now deceased; Frances is the wife of
George W. Seever of Montgomery County, this State; John M. is a resident of
Kentucky; America is the wife of Richard Hawkins of the same State; George
W., of this sketch, was the next in order of birth; Fielden W. lives in
Kentucky; Harrison Madison is a resident of Labette County, this State; and
Elizabeth M. lives in Jefferson County. Mr. Gray spent the first twenty-one
years of his life under the parental roof, receiving excellent school
advantages. Upon reaching his majority, he started out for himself and
engaged as a farm laborer in his native county. Prior to this he had been
engaged in teaching school . In 1852 he was joined in wedlock with Miss
Elizabeth A. Markwell, a native of Kentucky and the daughter of Lewis and
Elizabeth (Davis) Markwell. Two years later Mr. and Mrs. Gray left the Blue
Grass regions, seeking the country west of the Mississippi, and locating in
Platte County, Mo. Mr. Gray farmed there one year, then came to Kansas
[1855], and before settling down to business joined the State Militia and
participated in the battle of Byron's Ford, near Independence. He was also
in the fight at Westport. In the meantime he was promoted to be
Quartermaster Sergeant. After being mustered out he returned to his family
in Jefferson County, and in 1867 settled upon his present farm. The
children born to Mr. and Mrs. Gray are recorded as follows: Llewellyn J.
died at the age of twenty-seven years; Elias M. is farming in Rural
Township, Jefferson County; Frank, who possessed rare musical tastes and
was engaged as a music teacher, died at the age of twenty-three years;
Molly E. is a teacher in the graded schools of Oskaloosa, this State; Kate
is attending the National Commercial College, at Kansas City, Kan. Mr. and
Mrs. Gray are active members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which
Mr. Gray officiates as Steward. He keeps himself well posted upon political
affairs, voting the straight Democratic ticket, and is quite prominent with
his party in this section , having officiated as Chairman of the Democratic
Central Committee. He has twice received the nomination of his party for
the State Legislature. He was, for one year, the Trustee of his native
township in Kentucky. He gives much attention to the education of his
children, taking pride in their acquirements and encouraging their
progress. He is looked upon as a liberal and public-spirited citizen and a
self-made man...one who has worked his own way up to a good position,
socially and financially. The paternal grandfather of our subject was David
Gray, a native of Virginia, and the son of John Gray, who was born in
Scotland. The latter emigrated to America in time to have a hand in the
Revolutionary War, in which his son, David, also served as a soldier. The
mother of Mr. Gray was of French and German descent. The parents of Mrs.
Gray, Mr. and Mrs. Markwell, were natives of Fleming County, Ky., and he
followed farming during his entire life. He was Justice of the Peace for a
long term of years and, according to the then existing laws, became
Sheriff, being the oldest Justice of the Peace in the county. He was an
ardent Democrat , and had two sons in the Confederate Army. Elsewhere in
this volume may be found a lithographic portrait of Mr. Gray. [Note by
submitter: [Discrepancies: We have serious doubts that David Gray could
have served in the Rev. War since he was born in 1768 and would have been
14/15 at its close. John Gray, b. 1794, father of George Washington Gray,
was born in Kentucky as we know that his father David was married in
Lexington, Fayette Co., Ky in 1793. As for the senior John from Scotland,
we have yet to ascertain WHICH John Gray fathered our David.
...............T. Brock]

#8950: History of Allen and Woodson Counties, Kansas : illustrated : Edited
and Compiled by L. Wallace Duncan and Chas. F. Scott. Iola, Kan.: Iola
Register, 1901, 940 pgs. Fleming Co. JAMES L. CHRISTY. One of the most
highly esteemed and prominent pioneers of southeastern Kansas is James L.
Christy, who came to this portion of the country during territorial days
and took part in the exciting events which formed the history of Kansas
prior to the Civil war. With the era of progress and improvement he has
also been connected, bearing his part in reclaiming the wild land for
purposes of civilization. No history of Allen County would be complete
without the record of his life. He was born in Rowan County, Kentucky July
12, 1840 [actually Fleming County, as Rowan wasn't created until 1856], the
eldest son of John A. and Nancy [Royce] Christy, who came to Allen County
in 1860. The mother died June 25, 1870, at the age of fifty-four years, and
the father passed away July 29, 1897, at the advanced age of eighty-five
years. James L. Christy accompanied his parents on their removal to
Illinois during his early boyhood and also went with them to Missouri. In
1855, thinking that he would like to see more of the wild west he came to
Kansas, locating first in Bourbon County, where he was employed on a farm.
There he worked for three years, during which time the border troubles
broke out and he joined John Brown's party. He was right in the midst of
the border difficulties and saw service under Generals Montgomery and Lane,
participating in the battle of Osawatomie. He was well acquainted with John
Brown, the Abolition leader, whom he says was a very good man and used to
preach to his followers every Sunday. When the trouble was over Mr. Christy
returned to his work. He was a great hunter and would often accompany the
Indians on their hunting expeditions. He also killed, December 27, 1893,
the last deer ever shot in this county. When Captain Gordon, the United
States surveyor, divided the county into sections, Mr. Christy drove the ox
team hauling the stones used in the corners of the sections. In 1850 be
returned to Missouri on a visit, but in 1860 again came to Kansas, where he
watched with interest the oncoming tide of events that involved the country
in war. Upon reflection and in the rehearsal of incidents and events
connected with the first years of Allen County, Mr. Christy adverts to the
fact that the first blacksmith shop in the county was located in section 5,
town 24, range 18, and that it was established by Reuben Benbow. The first
death in the county of which the public and society took notice was that of
Tommy Keith. He was buried on the Carpenter place which was, necessarily,
the first opened cemetery in the county. The first school house was named
for "Uncle Jimmy" Carpenter and was erected on his premises. In the days of
disorganization and before the establishment of Territorial regulations for
the county, the few settlers were distressed by thieving Indians and white
men and were driven to take matters into their own hands. They formed an
organization for mutual protection and chose the first officers and
established the first seat of government for the county. Cofachique was
selected as the county seat and the officers chosen were: A. W. J. Brown,
Probate judge; Jessie E. Morris, Sheriff and William C. Keith, Justice of
the Peace. Frank Morris, son of Jesse was selected to represent the county
in the Lecompton Constitutional Convention. These scenes are long past and
few are alive who remember them. Elijah Brown, son of the pioneer Isham
Brown, who resides in Neosho County, Kansas, and Robert McQuigg, of
Roseburg, Oregon, were among the active participants in these events. On
the 24th of July, 1861, Mr. Christy enlisted in Company F, Third Kansas
Infantry, and soon afterward the Third, Fourth and Fifth regiments
consolidated to form the Tenth regiment, with which he served for three
years, experiencing all the hardships and rigors of war. He participated in
nineteen engagements, including some of the most hotly contested battles,
among which were Wilson's Creek, Locust Grove, Dry Wood, Newtonia, Ray's
Mills, Prairie Grove, Van Buren, Chattanooga and the storming of Fort
Blakely. He was taken ill and was forced to remain at Salem, where he was
captured by the Rebels, but after two weeks he managed to make his escape
by running through the guard lines. He faithfully defended the stars and
stripes and the cause they represented, but when the war was over he gladly
returned to his home. In 1867 Mr. Christy was united in marriage to Miss
Martha E. Morris, a native of Missouri, who came to Allen County in 1855
with her parents. She is the second daughter of Jesse and Elizabeth Morris,
who located on Deer Creek, in Geneva township. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Christy
have been born nine daughters: Louisa E., died at the age of four years;
Emma, wife of George A. Smith of Chandler, Oklahoma; Cora, who died at the
age of sixteen years; Mamie, Ruby, Lora, Mattie and Lizzie, twins, and
Jessie, the youngest, all at home. Ruby is a teacher in the county schools.
Mr. Christy has held a number of responsible positions in Allen County. He
was deputy sheriff under J. C. Redfield and also under Charles P. Twiss. He
has also served for several terms as justice of the peace and constable of
Geneva township, and discharged his duties with marked fidelity and
promptness. In his political affiliations he is a Republican. Whether on
the field of battle, in public office or in the walks of private life, he
has ever been true to his duties of citizenship and has commanded and
enjoyed the high regard of those with whom he has been associated.

#8951: United States Biographical Dictionary and Portrait Gallery of
Eminent & Self-Made Men; Missouri Volume; United States Biographical
Publishing Co., 1878. Fleming Co. Ambrose D. Christy, Unionville
(Missouri). AMBROSE D. CHRISTY was born October 20, 1824 in Fleming County,
Kentucky. His father, Joseph K. Christy, was born in Fauquier County,
Virginia, and was the son of James Christy, a captain in the Revolutionary
army, and a Virginia planter; followed agricultural pursuits and located in
Linn County, Missouri, in 1853, and was a soldier of the war of 1812. His
mother was Ann B. Crosthwait, a daughter of William Crosthwait, merchant
and planter of Albemarle County, Virginia, where she was born. Ambrose D.
Christy received the ordinary common school education common to boys who
are reared on the farm. He had no advantages of collegiate training, and is
substantially self-educated. He commenced reading Law in 1848 in the
office of Colonel Thomas Throop, in Flemingsburg, Kentucky, and was
admitted to the bar at Linneus, Missouri in 1856, where he had located. He
immediately began the practice in Linneus, which he pursued there for
sixteen years. In 1872 he moved to Unionville, Putnam County, where he
still resides, actively engaged in the laborious duties of his profession.
In 1862 he enlisted as a private soldier in Company K, 1st Cavalry
regiment, Missouri State militia. He was in the service, doing duty only in
Missouri, until 1863. He was promoted to be 1st Lieutenant shortly after
enlistment and participated in several memorable engagements and
skirmishes. In politics he was an old line Whig until the dissolution of
that party. His first vote for president was cast for Zachary Taylor in
1848, and his last before the civil war for Bell and Everett in 1860. He is
at present a Republican, and as such was elected to represent Putnam County
in the Missouri Legislature in 1876. His religious views accord with those
promulgated by the Christian church of which he is a member. He was married
in 1850 to Miss Ruth A. Wells, a native of Henry County, Virginia and
daughter of Edmund P. Wells, a farmer, who emigrated from Virginia, and
located in St. Charles County, Missouri, in the early settlement of that
county.

#8952: Kentucky: A History of the State, Battle, Perrin, & Kniffin, 5th
ed., 1887, Woodford Co. WILLIAM J. FRAZIER was born April 21, 1828, and is
the eldest son of Thompson and Martha (Bond) Frazier. In 1856 he engaged in
distilling with his father in his native county of Anderson. In 1866 he
removed to Woodford County and entered into partnership with John Boswell,
who retired in 1868. Mr. Frazier manufactures sour mash, hand made whisky
[sic], and the capacity of his distillery is sixty bushels of corn per day.
The machinery cost about $5,000 and his sales reach $15,000 per annum. He
employs six hands, and the product of his still is shipped to Lexington,
Cincinnati and Chicago. Mr. Frazier was married in 1848 to Miss Martha A.
McMinemy, a native of Anderson County and a daughter of William and Cyntha
(Bosworth) McMinemy, of Virginia. The children born to this marriage are
William, John, James, Belle, Anna, Mary G., Mattie and Thomas (twins) and
Lammie.

Colonel Sandi Gorin
SCKY Links: http://www.public.asu.edu/~moore/Gorin.html
SCKY surname registry sites: http://www.rootsweb.com/~kyclinto/reg.html
http://www.rootsweb.com/~kyclinto/forms/SCKYreg.html
Gorin Publishing: http://ggpublishing.tripod.com/

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• BIOS #8949 THRU 8952 - GRAY, CHRISTY, CHRISTY, FRAZIER by Sandi Gorin <>