William Melvin GRAY

William Melvin Gray was born in Tallapoosa County, Alabama. He was born 04 July 1872, the youngest of eight children of Columbus Gray and Amanda Pattillo.

William Melvin Gray was brought to Texas by his parents about 1884. They may have lived for a time in south Texas, possibly Llano County, before settling in Runnels County by 1886.

William married Sallie Sarah Stout on 27 October 1892, which was registered in Coleman County, Texas. Sallie Sarah Stout was born 29 July 1870, probably in Kaufmann County, Texas. Her mother was Martha Hurd Stout. On the 1880 census, it lists Martha and daughter, Sarah age 3, living with Martha’s mother, Viana Sewell Hurd in Kaufmann County. Martha is listed as a widow. They reported that Sallie’s father was born in Pennsylvania. This is the extent of the knowledge of him.

They lived on the Coleman - Runnels County line and raised six children. Their oldest child died at birth. Their original marriage record was found in the Coleman County courthouse in 1988. According to Runnels Is My County, by Charlsie Poe, William Melvin “added a room to their house that served as an early day courthouse in the area. It was located four miles northeast of Crews on the old Chisholm Trail. “Uncle Bill” as he was known, “hauled lumber from Austin in ox wagons to build the room where court was held for the purpose of establishing claims to the land as the people moved westward. Committees were appointed to take care of claims that were established.” Mrs. Lister Jenkins of Coleman, my grandmother, “said that measurements were in leagues, nine sections to a league. One hundred and sixty acres were set aside for a school and the same amount constituted a homestead. To make their claims valid, the people lived on them for a designated length of time and paid for the papers, or legal work.”

William Melvin Gray died on 06 February 1927 and Sallie died on 27 May 1944. They are buried in the Midway Cemetery in northwestern Coleman County, Texas.Also in the same cemetery is William’s parents, Columbus and Amanda Gray, and uncle, Johnathan Gray. Uncle John Gray married William’s mother-in-law, Martha Hurd Stout.

Children:

• Bonham GRAY, born & died 1893, buried Midway Cemetery, Coleman County, Texas
• William Emmit GRAY, born 1894, buried Old Dublin Cemetery, Erath County, Texas, married Cora Viola Carter; Cora was born 14 August 1896 in Crews, Runnels County, Texas, died 2 April 1975 Dublin, Erath County, Texas, both buried New Dublin Cemetery, Dublin
  • J.B. Gray, born 1917, married 28 January 1949 Erath County, Texas to Mary Ellen Queen
• Columbus John GRAY, born 5 March 1896, participated in World War I, died 29 August 1961 at the Overall Memorial Hospital in Coleman, Coleman County, Texas, married (1)Lucy Hill (2) Beatrice Reasoner, buried Coleman City Cemetery; Lucy Hill buried Merkel Cemetery, Taylor County, Texas
• Mellie Ann GRAY, born 1897, buried Greenleaf Cemetery, Brownwood, Brown County, Texas married (1)Henry W. Sayles, (2)Innis Dudley Rogers; Innis Rogers was born 22 January 1882 in Travis County, Texas, the son of Jim Rogers and Catherine Case, died 11 October 1958 in the Brownwood Memorial Hospital, Brownwood, buried Fairview Cemetery, Winters, Runnels County, Texas
• Ruby Lee GRAY, born 28 June 1900 Texas, died 4 July 1975 Baptist Memorial Geriatric Hospital, San Angelo, Tom Green County, Texas, married Lister T. Jenkins; Lister was born 9 May 1892 Runnels County, Texas, died 26 December 1970 V.A. Hospital, Temple, Bell County, Texas; both buried Coleman Cemetery, Coleman, Texas (Picture)
• Charley Marvin GRAY, born 10 April 1898, died 29 November 1973 North Runnels Hospital, Winters, Runnels County, Texas, married Freida Marchausen, buried Lakeview Cemetery, Winters, Runnels County, Texas; Freida died 31 October 1984 Runnels County, Texas, buried Lakeview Cemetery
• Ella Mae GRAY, born 1904, died 1938, married Charles Stephens; both buried Midway Cemetery, Coleman County, Texas (Picture)

Parents:

• Columbus B. GRAY * Amanda PATTILLO

Page updated April 12, 2002

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