Bray, Theodore (1841-1902)

BRAY

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 9/16/2019 at 01:55:44

Theodore Bray
Feb 19, 1841 - Mar 26, 1902

(From the 1891 Biographical History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, p.650)
THEODORE BRAY, proprietor of the Pacific Livery, Sale and Feed Stables, was born in Jersey City, New Jersey, February 19, 1841, son of John and Eliza J. (STRUBLE) BRAY, of Irish and German origin. He was reared to farm life in his native state, educated at the public schools, and in a private college at Deckertown, that state, graduating April 10, 1861. Four days afterward, he enlisted in Company I, Harris Light Cavalry, under General Kilpatrick, and served four years and nine days, being mustered out at Washington, District of Columbia. He was taken prisoner in the Shenandoah Valley, and nine days after this was exchanged; but he was again captured at Iuka, Mississippi, and was in prison eight months at Vicksburg. The principal battles in which he was engaged were those of Fair Oaks, Fairfax Courthouse, Corinth, Shiloh, Lookout Mountain, and other skirmishes.
After the War, he spent a year in Chicago as foreman of a livery barn; then was a year in the same business at St. Louis; and then ten months for himself at Rockford, Illinois. Selling out at the latter place, he came to Bowen, Iowa, where for one winter he ran a pack line. In August 1877 he came to Council Bluffs, where he has since made his home.

Here he first engaged in railroading on the Sioux City & Pacific line, contracting and making the first grade into Sioux City. Two years afterward, he returned to Council Bluffs, and since then has been engaged in the livery business, in which he gives general satisfaction and is doing a prosperous business, having now a stock of about 35 horses, with a good number of vehicles, etc.

He is a Republican and a member of Lodge No. 166, F.&A.M.; of Abraham Lincoln Post G.A.R.; and also of the Veteran Firemen's Association, he being one of the charter members in 1868.

He was married in 1866 to Cynthia A. ALLEN, at Hamilton, Canada, who was born in that province in 1843, and they have two children: Charles, engaged in real estate and loans in Omaha but residing in Council Bluffs; and Nettie A., a graduate of 1890 at the Sisters' School. The family are Catholics.