Martha Jane Moore Edmonston Ray

RAY, MARTHA JANE MOORE EDMONSTON (1857 ~ 1943). Confederate widow Martha Jane Ray was born on May 27, 1857 in Red River County, Texas. She was born to Whitfield Moore and Mary Ann Reed both of Tennessee.

She first married W. F. Edmondston in 1875 and then married James L. Ray in 1888 who is buried beside her at the Texas State Cemetery. She had one son named Shaw D. Ray and one stepdaughter named Mrs. Sampson.

James Ray served with the 10th Texas Cavalry during the Civil War. The 10th was organized in the fall of 1861 and was dismounted in April of 1862. The 10th served in the Army of Kentucky, the Army of the West, the Army of Tennessee and the Army of Mississippi and saw diverse action in many theaters of the war. The unit fought in the Vicksburg Campaign, the Atlanta Campaign and the Meridian Campaign among many.

Martha and James Ray lived in Mineola until her husband was admitted to the Confederate Men's Home in Austin in 1929, the same year he died. She lived at the Confederate Woman's Home for a number of years after her husband's death. She died on July 18, 1943.

The Rays had three grandchildren named Mrs. C. L. Jones, Shaw D. Ray, Jr. and Lois Ballard.

Information taken from Texas State Cemetery file materials.