Joab Gray was born on a Williamson County farm on December 29, 1863 to Henry Gray and Mary A. Goodall, daughter of early county pioneer Joab Goodall. Joab had a younger brother, born in 1867, named John W. Gray and one sister born in 1880, named Nannie Gray.
In the 1870 and 1880 federal census records, the Gray family was living in Township 9, Range 3 which was then called Marion Township. This township, which no longer exists, contained most of both of the current East and West Marion Townships. Though it isn’t positive, it is highly likely that the Gray farm was located just to the southeast of Marion in the same area as the Joab Goodall property.
It’s interesting to note that in the 1880 census, Henry 52, Joab 16 and John 13 were all listed as farmers. Also, in this census, his sister Nannie was one month old and unnamed, listed only as infant.
In the 1880’s Joab started dealing livestock, specializing in horses and mules and operating a livery stable on N. Van Buren St. out of a wooden barn that had been built in 1855. This location would become Joab Goodall’s stock barn in 1901. This Joab Goodall, referenced, is also the grandson of Joab Goodall, the pioneer, making he and Gray cousins.
In 1898, Joab was elected to the position of Williamson County Sheriff which he held until 1902.
By 1900, Joab’s father, Henry, had passed away and the entire family, minus Henry, was still living on the family farm. His mother, Mary, now a 55 year old widow, was quite capable of running the farm herself and is listed as a farmer. Brother John W. Gray assists with care of the farm while sister Nannie is attending school. They have a live in 30 year old farm laborer to help by the name of William Pulley.
In 1904, sister Nannie married Roscoe Parks and they made a home at 400 E. College in Marion. Around the same time as Nannie’s marriage, mother Mary moved into a home at 208 E. College just down the street. Mary supported herself by dealing in real estate.
In the 1910 census, Joab, now 46, and his brother John, now 43, are living with their mother Mary on E. College Street. Both of the brothers have entered into a partnership called Gray Brothers dealing in horses and mules, with mine mules their specialty, according to the attached ad from 1913.
The brothers were widely known as buyers of animals for military use during World War I when they shipped horses and mules from Marion by the railroad carload.
When the 1920 census rolled around, both brothers, now in their fifties and unmarried, are still living with their widowed mother Mary, now aged 75. Joab is listed as a mule buyer and John is now engaged with his brother in law Roscoe Parks in the operation of a coal mine.
Jerry Parks, Joab’s grandnephew, indicated that both Joab and John had large farms just east of Marion in these days. This was confirmed on a 1920 plat map which revealed farm ownership by both Joab and John just east of the fairgrounds in Sections 17 and 20. The latter section is located where the Old Creal Road joins old route 13 and included the property where the Marion Airport was later located. Section 17 was north of Section 20 and lay on the north side of old route 13.
Brother John Gray served on the Williamson County Fair Board.
The 1922 Marion business directory reflects a partnership between the kings of mule dealers in this area and also cousins when Joab Goodall and Joab Gray partnered in the mule and horse business with a location at 108 thru 112 W. Union Street.
Joab was also associated in the lumber business with another of his cousins, George H. Goodall.
In 1925, Joab married a lady named Ella and they bought and operated an apartment house at 402 W. Main Street.
The 1930 census finds the couple at this location and Joab claims a value of $5,000 for the property. He is now 66 years old and listed himself as a stock buyer. They have seven renters in the apartment and it is managed by his wife Ella.
In 1934, his mother Mary passed away. At this time, her daughter Nannie Gray Parks and her family were also occupying her home on E. College St.
In the 1940 census, Joab and Ella are still at 402 W. Main Street. Joab is now 76 and has retired since the last census. Joab now claims a value of $2,500 on his property. They have five renters in their building. Ella’s sister Nan Reid, an 82 year old widow is living with them.
By 1947 the marriage of Joab and Ella dissolved in divorce and they separated. Ella remained in the W. Main property and Joab who was in ill health went to live under the care of his sister Nannie Gray Parks, the city librarian at 208 E. College Street.
Joab Gray died in his sister’s home on E. College St on July 2, 1950 at 86 and was buried in Rose Hill Cemetery. His brother John Gray died April 23, 1957. Both brothers were members of the Christian Church on N. Market as his family had been since its inception.
(Federal census records, Joab Gray Obituary, MDR; Marion Street Directories, IRAD; Marion City Cemetery Records; compiled by Sam Lattuca on 05/09/2013)