Dr. James Boone Ray, Sr., MD
June 25, 1815 - May 29, 1901
Dr. James Boone Ray, Sr. came to Harrisonville in 1843.
Dr. James Boone Ray, Sr. practiced medicine in the Harrisonville area for many years. He died at the age of 85 of "old age."
The Portsmouth Times, June 29, 1895, p. 1:
AN OLD TIMER
DR. J. B. RAY OF HARRISONVILLE TALKS OF BOYHOOD DAYS
When George Johnson, Col. Oscar F. Moore and Himself Played Together at Steubenville, Ohio--How the Election of a Congressman Was Celebrated--Has Resided Here Upward of Fifty Years
Dr. J. B. Ray, Sr. of Harrisonville, one of the best old Democrats of the county was a sterling, upright citizen, was in the city Wednesday and a pleasant caller at the Times office.
Dr. Ray is now in his eighty-first year, having celebrated his eightieth birth on the twelft of June last. Despite his advanced age however, he is still vigorous and hearty and but for a game leg caused by his horse falling on him a quarter century ago, while making a professional call, he would be as spry and active as many men, twenty years younger. The injured leg is giving him more trouble as the years go by, however, and bids fair to lay him up.
Dr. Ray has been a resident of this county upwards of half a century, having come here in 1844 from Steubenville where his father lived. He was born in Washington County, Pennsylvania, however. The doctor in his younger days was a school teacher and wielded the birch rod; and was instilling ideas into the youthful minds over in Salineville, Jefferson county in 1942 when Squire Ward, a friend of his who had come to this county induced him to enter a section of land near Harrisonville. A year later, having in the meantime begun practicing medicine, Dr. Ray came to Scioto County. Before coming here he formed a partnership with Dr. Mitchell of Jackson, but not liking the doctor's habits, dissolved partnership at the end of two weeks. When he came to Portsmouth in 1843 he stopped at the old McCoy tavern, and while stopping there, met a Dr. Voglesong, who was anxious to have him go in with him and locate in this city. Dr. Ray, however, was unfavorably impressed with Dr. Voglesong, and declining his offer, located at Harrisonville, at which place he has since resided, practicing his profession until a few years ago when he retired.
When he was a young man at Steubenville, among Dr. Ray's compainions were the late George Johnson, Esquire, and Col. Oscar F. Moore, the latter living across the river from Steubenville in West Virginia. Dr. Ray related how at one time, a Steubenville lawyer, Col. Stokley, a man of fine presence, but of no great ability, was elected to congress on the Whig ticket. Although not a Whig, Ray joined a crowd in which was Johnson and Moore, who were celebrating Stokley's election, and the party had a royal good time. Late in the night, Johnson got awful thirsty and must have a drink. Moore suggested the river and the party at once adjourned to the river banks. Then a new difficulty confronted them. They had no tin cups in the crowd. Moore again came to the rescue and suggested that they walk in up to their noses and drink like horses, and although the water was very cold the party at once acted on the suggestion. Years afterwards when Johnson was on his death bed, Ray and Moore called on him and the three men had a hearty laugh over the time when the "drank like horses." Ray is the only one of the trio surviving now, and his friends are glad to know seems good for many years yet.
The doctor has been a life-long Democrat and in his day enjoyed the friendship of such men as Clement L. Vallandingham and Allen G. Thurman and has a fund of interesting ancedotes of the former. He was formerly in the legislature from this county.
Dr. James Boone Ray, Jr., MD
January 26, 1846 - April 7, 1915
Click here for a photo of Dr. Ray
James Boone Ray, Jr., MD, was the son of James Boone Ray, Sr., MD and Hannah Dunlavey Ray. He received his early education in the common schools and attended the South Grammar School at Columbus during the winter of 1859. He attended Armstrong's Select School in Columbus during the summer of 1860. The next year, he attended a select school taught by a Mr. Finley.
He entered Ohio University at Athens, Ohio in the spring of 1862 and remained until the spring of 1864 when he enlisted in Company F, 140th Ohio Volunteer Infantry in the Civil War. On May 2, 1864 he was made First Sergeant. He was mustered out on September 3, 1864.
He returned to Ohio University in 1865 and remained there until the spring of 1867. He read all of the classics in the regular course. He then took up the study of medicine and after a year, entered the Medical College of Ohio at Cincinnati. He was graduated in the spring of 1872. He taught school several winters while attending literary and medical schools.
He first located at Sciotoville in the fall of 1872. In 1877, he removed to California in Pike County, Ohio where he practiced until the spring of 1880 when he moved to Harrisonville.
He practiced medicine in Harrisonville until 1895 and was associated with his father there.
In March of 1895 he moved to Portsmouth where he practiced until April 1899. He moved back to Harrisonville.
From 1893 to 1897 he was a member of the Board of Pension Examining Surgeons of Scioto County. He was a member of the Hampstead Memorial Academy of Medicine, the Ohio Medical Society and the American Medical Association. Dr. Ray took an interest in political affairs as a member of the Democratic party.
He was united in marriage September 28, 1871 to Maria Wheeler, daughter of Isaac Wheeler. They had one son, William Alexander Ray, MD, who worked with his father in the practice of medicine.
The Portsmouth Times, April 7, 1915, p. 7
Dr. J. B. Ray
Death removed a prominent Scioto County citizen Wednesday morning when Dr. J. B. Ray, of near Harrisonville, succumbed to an illness that has kept him bedfast since last December. His condition during the past few weeks had been extremely grave, and during the past week his death was hourly expected. The end came at 10:20 o'clock.
James Boone Ray was the son of James B. Ray, Sr., M.D. and Hannah Dunleavy Ray, and was born in Scioto County January 26, 1846. He received his early education in the common schools and attended the South Grammar School at Columbus during the winter of 1859, and Armstrong's Select School in Columbus during the summer of 1860. He entered the Ohio University at Athens, Ohio, in the spring of 1862, and remained until the spring of 1864, when he enlisted in Company F, 140th OVI on May 2, 1864, and was made First Sergeant. He was mustered out September 3, 1864. He returned to the University in 1865 and remained until the spring of 1867. he then took up the study of medicine, and after a year, entered the Medical College of Ohio at Cincinnati and was graduated in the spring of 1872. He taught school several winters while attending literary and medical schools.
He first located in Sciotoville in the fall of 1872. In 1877 he removed to Stockdale, in Pike county, where he practiced until the spring of 1880, when he removed to Harrisonville where he practiced until 1895, being associated with his father. In March 1895, he came to Portsmouth where he practiced until April 1899 and then moved to his present location in Harrisonville. A few years later he again moved to Portsmouth and had an office on 11th Street. He moved back to Harrisonville about four years ago, where he remained until his death.
From 1893 to 1897 Dr. Ray was a member of the Board of Pension Examining Surgeons of Scioto County. He was a member of the Hempstead Memorial Academy of Medicine of this city, the Ohio Medical Society and the American Medical Association.
Dr. Ray always took much interest in political affairs as a member of the Democratic party and at the time of his death held the office of member of the board of deputy supervisors of elections.
He was a natural sportsman and took great delight in hunting and fishing. While a lover of the sports he was also a student, both of professional matters and general subjects. he was a man of manly principles and integrity was the marked characteristic of his life. he enjoyed a wide acquaintance in this and neighboring counties, and his death will be mourned by a wide circle of friends.
Dr. Ray is survived by his aged mother, Mrs. Hannah Ray, now in her 95th year, who resides with her daughter, Mr. J. H. Whitt of Columbus, a sister of the deceased, his widow, and one son, Dr. W. A. Ray of Jackson, Ohio. Mrs. O. E. Emory of Waverly is a cousin of the deceased.
Dr. Ray was a member of the Wheelersburg Lodge of Masons and that order will have charge of the funeral, which will be held at the residence near Harrisonville, next Sunday morning at 11 o'clock. Interment will be in the Bennett Cemetery of Harrisonville.