Person:Sarah Gray (52)

Biography of Sarah Zorada Gray

Sarah was born on 28 December 1859 in DeKalb, Alabama, USA the daughter of John Alman Gray and Loretta Jane Keith^[12]. She grew up in DeKalb County, Alabama. Sarah became a school teacher as a profession and taught school for many years^[14]. She met William Josiah Rains in Alabama, son of Josiah Johnson Rain and Susanna Thompson Payne^[10] and they married 29 Aug 1881 in Etowah County, Alabama. Sarah had been living with her brother's family as a "School Mistress" on the 1880 Census Schedule^[4]. In Gerald Post's Book, Alive and Good to Know^[6], he says she also lived in Etowah County, Alabama. William's and Sarah's first child, Mary Susannah, was born in July of 1882^[6].

Three children were born to William and Sarah: Mary Susanna Loretta Rains, Ethel Estel Rains, Miles Cornelius Rains. Her husband passed away on 26 February, 1890 in Paris Arkansas^[6].

New Life in Texas

At some point after the death of her husband, Sarah and her children moved to Texas. It is believed to be for a teaching position, as she taught a subscription school in Sulphur Springs the year she arrived and continued to teach school to support her family^[6]. It was in Hopkins County, Texas that she met Elijah T. Richey, her second husband, who was also widowed. They were married 17 August 1897 in Hopkins County, Texas. Their son, James Albert Richey was born July 4, 1898, but did not live^[6].

Sarah and "E. T." began their lives in Hopkins County, Texas on a farm. He was a Methodist Episcopal Church Minister, she a school teacher. My grandfather told me that he never found a word that she could not spell correctly. Sarah and "E. T." would have one more child together, my grandfather, Paul Gray Richey. In 1939, a surprise Birthday Party was given for her to celebrate her 80th birthday with many in attendance^[15].

She and "E. T" lived out their lives together in Hopkins County. Sarah passed away 3 May 1941^[12] and is buried in Pine Forest Cemetery in Hopkins County beside her husband and several of his children^[13].

Minnie Treadaway Letter

On May 5, 1946, Minnie Rush Treadaway sent a letter with invaluable family history information to Mrs. Maggie Adcock. Please click the following link for additional information on this letter:^[5].

Minnie Treadaway Letter

Family Record of E. T. Richey-Marriages

Family Record of E. T. Richey-Births

Family Record of E. T. Richey-Deaths

Sarah Zorada Richey, ca 1910-1920

Sarah Zorada Gray Richey, 28 Dec 1859 - 3 May 1941

Rains Family Document, ca 1909

E T Richey/Sarah Gray Rains Marriage License

Sarah Richey Death Certificate

Rains_Gray Marriage License

1. ↑ Sarah Z Richey, in Tuck, June E. (June England), and Deborah Tuck Young. Hopkins County, Texas cemetery inscriptions : volume 1. (Sulphur Springs, Texas: D.T. Young and J.E. Tuck, c1985 (Wolfe City, Tex. : Henington Pub.))
   1859 -1941.

   1859 - 1949 buried next to Elijah Truitt Richey, b Jan 21, 1859 , d. Mar 3, 1938

2. ↑ unnamed, in DeKalb, Alabama, United States. 1860 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration Publication M693)
   p 25, Roll M653_9.

   (Unnamed) Sarah Gray, Northern Division, b abt 1859, AL
   John Gray, Age 27, Ritty Gray, age 22, Bucannan Gray, age 6, Nancy Gray, age 3, Nancy Gray, age 9/12 months.
   Note: last child is Sarah Gray (9/12 months). Census taker left name off rolls.

3. ↑ ^3.0 3.1 Dade, Georgia, United States. 1870 U.S. Census Population Schedule
   M593-146 p 508.

   Sarah Z Gray, Militia District 1129, b. abt 1860, AL
   John A Gray, age 36; Loretta J Gray, age 32; William M R Gray, age 13; Nancy E Gray, age 12; Sarah Z Gray, age 10; Polly Ann Gray, age 7; John C Gray age 5.

4. ↑ ^4.0 4.1 DeKalb, Alabama, United States. 1880 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration Publication T9)
   p. 568D, Roll12, E.D. 54.

   Sarah Gray, Enumeration District 54, b. about 1858, Alabama. School Mistress
   William Gray, age 23; Manerva Gray, age 24; Loretta Gray, age 2; Pearlly Gray, age 4 months. (This is actually William Kelly Gray); Sarah Gray (sister to William), age 22; William (Michael)Gray, age 76 (The younger William's grandfather).

5. ↑ ^5.0 5.1 Minnie Treadaway Letter. (Family Letter).
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5} Sarah Zorada Gray Rains, in Post, Gerald Virtrue, and 1904-1977. Alive and Good to Know, 386 pps: Dedicated to Family and Comunity Historians and to everyone who is alive and good to know. (Dallas, Texas 75234: APSWIN, Inc. 14418 Hague, Dallas, Texas 75234, 1988)
   p 71.
7. ↑ Hopkins, Texas, United States. 1900 U.S. Census Population Schedule
   Roll T623_1646, Page 10A.

   E. T. Richey, b. Feb 1859, Texas, Justice Precinct 2, Hopkins, Texas
   E. T. Richey, M. age 41, Married 3 years, Farmer; S. Z. Richey, F. age 37, b. Dec 1862 AL; Alva Richey, F. age 17, b. Sept 1882 TX; Sylvanus Richey, M. age 16, b. Mar 1884 TX; S. L. Rains, F. age 17, b. July 1882 AL; E. E. Rains, F. age 15, b. Sept 1884 AL; A. G. Rains, F. age 13, b. May 1887 AL

8. ↑ Hopkins County, Texas. 1910 U.S. Census Population Schedule
   P 11B.

   Richey, Lige (Elijah), E. D. 0059, Justice Precinct 2, Hopkins, Texas
   Lige (Elijah) Richey, M age 52, b. TX; Sarrah Richey, F age 48, b. AL; Andrew Richey, M age 17, b. TX; Paul Richey, M age 8, b. TX

9. ↑ Hopkins County, Texas. 1920 U.S. Census Population Schedule
   P10A.

   Richey, Elijah, E. D. 69, Justice Precinct 2, Hopkins, Texas, Farmer
   Elijah Richey, M age 61, b. TX; Sarah Richey, F age 58, b. TX, Paul Richey, M age 18, b. TX

10. ↑ ^10.0 10.1 Hopkins, Texas, United States. 1930 U.S. Census Population Schedule
    P 5A.

    Richey, Lige (Elijah), E. D. 0012, Justice Precinct 2, Hopkins, Texas
    E. T. Richey, M age 71, b. TX; S. Z. Richey, F age 70, b. AL;

11. ↑ Hopkins, Texas, United States. 1940 U.S. Census Population Schedule
    P 11A.

    Richey, Paul G, E. D. 112-2, Sulphur Springs, Hopkins, Texas, Attendant in Radio Shop
    Paul G Richey, M age 38, b. TX; Irene I Richey, F age 41, b. OK; Mattie R Richey, F age 16, b. TX; Saraha Z Richey, F age 80, b. AL; mother

12. ↑ ^{12.0 12.1 12.2} Sarah Zorada Richey, in Texas, United States. Texas Deaths, 1890-1976. (FamilySearch)
    23346-1941, 3 May 1941.

    Father: John Alhman (John Alman Gray) and Laineta Keath (Loretta Keith) and cause of death is "Old Age".

13. ↑ ^13.0 13.1 Find A Grave.

    Sarah Gray Richey

14. ↑ ^14.0 14.1 Sarah Zorada Gray, Teacher's License, 3rd Grade
15. ↑ ^15.0 15.1 Surprise 80th Birthday Dinner