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HARRY JAMES DRAY
Vol. 5, p. 1909-1910

The postmaster of Weatherford, Oklahoma, is Harry James Dray, a man
of English birth and parentage, but a resident of America since he
was five years old. He was born in Swansbrook, England, on January
12, 1868, and is the son of A.H. and Susan (SMITH) Dray.

A.H. Dray was born in the vicinity of Swansbrook, where he was
reared and married, and where his children were born. His birth
occurred in 1844, and he died at Lincoln, Nebraska, in 1898. He came
to America in 1873, and his family followed him ten months later. He
was a blacksmith by trade, and when he came to America he made his
way at once to Nebraska City, Nebraska, where he found working the
factory of the Breaking Plow Company. A little later, in 1874, he
went to Essex, Iowa, the family having joined him in 1874, and in
Essex the family settled down to the making of a home in a new land.
The father worked at his trade there until 1887 when he moved to
WaKeeney, in Western Kansas. His next move took the family to
Plattsmouth, Nebraska, where he was employed in the Burlington
Machine Shops, and he was by that company transferred to Lincoln,
where he worked for the Burlington until his death in 1908.

Mr. Dray was democratic in his politics, and a member of the
Episcopal Church. His wife, Susan Smith, was born in the same village
that was his native place, in 1843, and she is now living in Black
Lake, Idaho. They were the parents of a large family of fifteen
children. A. H., Jr., lives in Stockton, California, where he is a
blacksmith. Susan married Allen VOORHEES, a farmer of Mullen, Idaho,
where they have their home. J. P. is a barber of Ely, Nevada. Harry
James was the fourth child. W. S. lives in Savannah, Missouri, where
he is postmaster and the editor of a newspaper. Jennie married C. N.
COOLEY, pastor of the Congregational Church at Black Lake, Idaho.
Nellie married Harry COX, a merchant of Muskogee, Oklahoma. Richard
died young, as did also Minnie, George, Edward and Irving. Frank is a
resident of Black Lake, Idaho, where he is employed as a railroad
machinist. He and his mother have a home there. Margaret married
Morris GRIFFITH, and they live in Livingston, Montana. The fifteenth
child died in infancy.

Harry James Dray attended the public schools in Essex, Iowa, until
1887, when the family moved to WaKeeney, Kansas, and he entered a
printing office there, following an apprenticeship in the printing
business he had served in Essex, while still attending school. He
spent three years in the office of The Tribune in WaKeeney, and in
1890 he went to Plattsmouth, Nebraska, as foreman of the Cass County
Herald. He held that position until 1894, when he went to Auburn,
Nebraska, and was foreman of the Herald there until 1903. In April
1903, he came to Weatherford, Oklahoma, and entered the office of the
Weatherford Republican as foreman, which position he filled for a
year. He then bought the Weatherford Democrat, an opposition paper,
and published it until April 1, 1915, when N. S. DEMOTTE bought an
interest in the paper, and since then has been the editor of the
paper. This is one of the foremost sheets in the county, and is an
influence for good wherever it circulates. It is well managed and has
a wide circulation in the county and state.

Mr. Dray is democratic in his convictions and has served as clerk of
the Weatherford School Board for seven years. In August 1913, he was
appointed postmaster of Weatherford by President Wilson, and is
satisfactorily filling that office at the present time. He is a
member of the Episcopal Church, and is a Mason with Ancient Free and
Accepted Masonic affiliations. He is also a member of the Knights of
Pythias No. 11, Auburn, Nebraska, and is past chancellor commander of
that lodge. He is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, the
Royal Highlanders and the Court of Honor, and in all of them is
popular and prominent, with an instinct for fraternalism and
sociability that makes him welcome in whatever circles he frequents.

Mr. Dray was married in 1903 in Peru, Nebraska, to Miss Emma E.
Randol, daughter of J. P. RANDOL, a retired farmer now living in
Weatherford. They have four children: The first born, Rhea Ruth, died
here at the age of nine years. Edit and Isabelle attend the public
schools, while the youngest child, Margaret, is not yet of school age.

SOURCE: Thoburn, Joseph B., A Standard History of Oklahoma, An
Authentic Narrative of its Development, 5 v. (Chicago, New York: The
American Historical Society, 1916).

Typed for OKGenWeb by Peg Luce, April 2001.