GRAY CEMETERY
(Written by Marcella KINCAID CAMPBELL)
The Gray Cemetery is located in the south-east part of Harrison Township, Clay County, Indiana, in Section 3 on the north side of SR 157 and the west side of the County Line RD between Clay and Owen Counties. It is on land currently owned by the Communication Workers of America. It is not visible from the road. Names on stones were copied by Ivan LOVE. (Date unknown)
Herbert and Marcella CAMPBELL visited this cemetery in the summer of 1995. Robert STICKLES, who lives on SR 157, took us through his pastures, and we climbed the fence into the woods. This cemetery is on a small knoll and is overgrown by large trees and thick vines. We found only five stones visible. Possibly there are more under the vines. We are not certain who presently owns this land.
Max LOWE, who used to live in the brick house on SR 157, told us that as a child he would drive cattle up the county line road and that the cemetery was visible from the road. It is my understanding that at some time the areas was mined and the cemetery was left intact, but has never been taken care of.
The comment of Mr. LOVE when he read the cemetery was, “This cemetery is in bad shape and many stones are missing.”
*Nancy GRAY John A. Son of
1828-1901 Wm. & Polly GRAY
Died May 24, 1849
Aged 11 yrs 10 mo 17 days
*Charlotte SWIFT * Geo. M. TIPTON
1844-1883 Died
July 21, 1865
Aged 52 y 5 m 9 d
Mary Wife of * Eliza Daughter of
William GRAY G.M. & D.M. TIPTON
1801 – 1890 Oct 26, 1858
Aged 8 m 26 d
* Stones visible in 1995 Pictures of tombstones are available at the library.
According to the History of Clay County by Blanchard (1884), William GRAY, a native of Kentucky and a Scotch-Irish descent and his wife, Mary (GROSS) GRAY, a native of North Carolina and of German descent, moved from Monroe County, IN and settled in Harrison Township in Clay County, IN, in 1848.
They had the following children: Andrew GRAY, born about 1820; Nancy GRAY, born about 1824; James S. GRAY, born 18 October 1833 in Monroe County; Charity J. GRAY, born about 1834; Newton B. GRAY, born about 1842; Green Paris GRAY, b. 8 February 1845 in Monroe Co.; and John A. GRAY, born about 1838.
James S. GRAY married Phoebe J. MOODY 20 December 1855 in Clay Co., IN. From the information from Blanchard, they lived on the original Gray Farm where the cemetery is located. James and Phoebe had three children: Ralph D., born about 1859; Mary C. “Mattie,” born about 1868; and Emily I., probably born and died between 1870 & 1880.
Ralph d. GRAY married Tabitha E. GARVIN and lived on the Gray Farm. They had three children: Nellie Lee, born in 1881; Goldie G., born 19 October 1885; and Hardy H. born 21 September 1889. Hardy died 15 February 1916. Ralph died in 1944 and Tabitha died in 1950. All are buried in Beech Cemetery in Owen County near Coal City, IN. Ralph and Tabitha GRAY are the couple remembered by their neighbor in the 1930’s and referred to in the story.
Nellie GRAY married Elmer Curtis LOVE and had six children and lived in the Coal City area. They are Hazel who married a SUMMERLOT; Trula Jane who married first a RAY then second a TIPTON; Homer, Elmer C., William A., and Ivan LOVE. Goldie GRAY married Carl R. KRIEBLE and lived in Linton, IN. They had two children: Merle and Alice R. KRIEBLE
Nellie GRAY LOVE died 18 July 1945 and Goldie G. GRAY KRIEBLE died 19 November 1953. Both are buried in Beech Cemetery in Owen County.
Charity J. GRAY married Henry GRIM in Clay County on 23 May 1869. Green Paris GRAY married Edith I. WHITE on 8 August 18679.
(William GRAY died sometime between 1860 and 1870. Mary died in 1890 and is buried in the Gray Cemetery. I assume that William is buried there too.)