William was born in Louisiana in the early 1840's. He was the ideal age to have served in the Civil War, but there are so many references to different William Grays serving in the area that it may be impossible to determine his unit. Sometime either before or after the war, he appears to have migrated into Southern Arkansas.
Modesta was born in Tennessee, the ninth child of Benjamin and Chandler Bell on 27 Mar 1842. They married in Magnolia, Columbia County, Arkansas on 20 Jan 1867. Based on the date of marriage, it is fair to assume that William and Rosaline met and courted immediately following the close of the Civil War.
Horton and Mary are never seen in records from this point forward and may have died in childhood. Because of the seperate listing of Marys name, she may been a relative merely staying with the couple. They list their real estate value at $ 200 and personal property at $ 150. A humble sum even for those days.
We know from family archives that the family moved to DeAnn Twp (just north of Hope) in Hempstead Co during the early 1880's. This is where Alonzo was born.
I find it interesting that in their childrens census records in subsequent years, mostknew that Rosaline was from Tennessee. None of the children knew William was from Louisiana.
At the time of his death, nobody knew Williams age and he was simply listed as about 50 years (b:1840). This certainly conflicts with his statement in the 870 census that he was 24 (b:1846). And the age on his marriage certificate: 23 in 1867 (b:1844). It may be fair to assume that Williams parents were early pioneers with little need for calenders or records.
On 27 Apr 1890 William was at a church service where he suffered a "sudden attack of rheumatism of the heart". His obituary is available using the link below.
Modesta followed her husband soon after in 1894. They left their children ranging in ages from 7 to 18 to fend for themselves. They are buried together in Holly Grove Cemetery in Garland Township, Hempstead County, Arkansas. (Garland Twp is where Ezekiel and Roxie Gray were living during this time. It is some distance from their location in Howard County during the 1880 census.)
