Kentucky: A History of the State, Battle, Perrin, & Kniffin, 3rd ed., 1886. Metcalfe County. JOSEPH F. RAY was born July 15, 1825, in Lebanon, Marion Co. Ky., where he grew up, and in 1844 removed with his parents to Metcalfe (then Barren) County, where he now resides. The country at that time was very thinly settled; game was abundant, as many as fifteen deer being found in one drove at that time near his home. His father, Nicholas Ray, was born near Point of Rocks, Md., November 4, 1782, and was a soldier under Gen. Jackson at New Orleans. He was a son of Nicholas Ray, Sr., who was also a native of Maryland, and was of English descent. Nicholas Ray, Sr., came to Washington (after Marion County), in 1796, and was among the first settlers of that section of country. Nicholas Ray, Jr., married, September 6, 1810, Mary, daughter of Presly and Nancy (Kincheloe) Smith. From this union sprang Susan S. (Shackleford), Nicholas, Presly S., and Joseph F. The last named married, November 1, 1848, Lavina M., youngest daughter of Edmund Rogers (see sketch of Robinson P. Beauchamp). To them have been born Edmund R., Nicholas, Mary S. (Rhoer), Anna O., Kate U., Ellen, H. Lee, Presly W., Joseph L Byrd and John. Mr. Ray is a classical graduate of the class of 1844 of Centre College, Danville, Ky. He and one other were all who were present at the alumni reunion in 1885, out of a class of nineteen. He has for the greater part of his time given his attention to farming, but has also been engaged in school teaching - among other places at the Edmonton Academy. He lost by the war in negroes and in the confisction of other property, about $12,000, but in spite of this, entirely by his own efforts he has become the owner of about 150 acres of well improved land. He has during his life taken some interest in politics, and in 1857 ran for the Legislature on the Whig (or as it was sometimes termed the Know-nothing) ticket, but was defeated by twenty votes out of about 3,300. He has, since 1844, been a consistent member of the Presbyterian Church, in which he is now an elder, and in politics is a Democrat. Beauchamp Jackson Kincheloe Ray Rhoer Rogers Shackleford Smith = Barren-KY Lebanon-Marion-KY LA MD http://www.rootsweb.com/~kygenweb/kybiog/metcalfe/ray.jf.txt