Kentucky: A History of the State, Perrin, Battle, Kniffin, 8th ed., 1888,
Jefferson Co.

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 G. Smith, he became president of the board; he is vice-president of
the Citizen's National Bank, and has been a director in 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.

Ray Roe Neal Crawford Smith
=
Estill-KY OH VA IN

http://www.rootsweb.com/~kygenweb/kybiog/jefferson/ray.wr.txt