Husband: John Wesley LAY Jr.
Birthdate: 12 Apr 1840
Birthplace: Wayne Co., TN
Death date: 17 Dec 1913
Place of death: Calexico, Imperial Co., CA
Burial: Evergreen Cem., El Centro, CA (201 E. Gillette Rd.)
Father: John Wesley LAY, SR.
Mother: Mary STANFIELD

Marriage date: ABT 1862
Marriage place: Marshall, Searcy Co., ARK

Wife: Martha A. COTTON
Birthdate: 29 Jan 1842
Birthplace: Cove Twp., Searcy Co., ARK
Death date: 07 Mar 1902
Place of death: Wallace, Shoshone, ID
Burial: "9-Mile" Cem. also known as Wards Cem., Wallace, Shoshone, ID
Father: Samuel Bird COTTON
Mother: Arminta "Alimentie" MOORE

CHILDREN

Child No. 1: James Marion LAY
Sex: M
Birthdate: 03 Jan 1863
Birthplace: nr. Marshall, Searcy Co., ARK (or Johnson Co. ARK)
Death date: 01 Jul 1945
Place of death: San Bernardino, San Bndo. Co., CA
Burial: Mt. View Cem., San Bndo. Co., CA
Marriage date: 27 Sep 1885
Marriage place: Mulberry, Searcy Co., ARK
Spouse's name: Winnie Alice KESNER

Child No. 2: Luther Hansford LAY
Sex: M
Birthdate: 01 Oct 1866
Birthplace: Missouri (poss. Springfield)
Death date: 07 Jun 1940
Place of death: Lovelock, Pershing Co., NV
Burial: Lovelock, Pershing Co., NV
Marriage date: Abt. 1890
Marriage place: unknown
Spouse's name: Minerva May (LNU)

Child No. 3: William Perry LAY
Sex: M
Birthdate: 14 Jun 1869
Birthplace: Searcy Co. ARK
Death date: 07 Dec 1938
Place of death: Bakersfield, Kern Co., CA
Burial: Bakersfield, Kern Co., CA
Marriage date: 21 Jul 1902
Marriage place: Council, Adams Co., ID
Spouse's name: Emma WOODS

Child No. 4: John Wesley LAY III
Sex: M
Birthdate: 02 May 1871
Birthplace: Leslie, Searcy Co., ARK
Death date: 22 Aug 1947
Place of death: Medford, Jackson Co., OR
Burial: Siskiyou Mem. Park, Medford, OR
Marriage date: 19 Aug 1902
Marriage place: Indian Valley, Washington Co., ID
Spouse's name: Lillie Drusilla WOODS

Child No. 5: Martha Belle LAY
Sex: F
Birthdate: 24 Jun 1874
Birthplace: Indian Territory, Latimer Co., OK
Death date: 10 Oct 1939
Place of death: Campbell, Santa Clara Co., CA
Marriage date: 26 May 1890
Burial: Oak Hill Cem., San Jose, Santa Clara Co., CA
Marriage place: Sebastian Co. ARK
Spouse's name: David "Dave" HULING

Child No. 6: Idah/Ida Lee LAY
Sex: F
Birthdate: Apr 1875
Birthplace: Indian Territory, Latimer Co., OK
Death date: Abt. 14 Apr 1933
Place of death: Anaconda, Deer Lodge Co., MT
Burial: Anaconda, Deer Lodge Co., MT
Marriage date: 28 Aug 1899
Marriage place: Boise City, Ada Co., ID
Spouse's name: George N. BUCHANON

Child No. 7: Emily/Emely Ruth LAY
Sex: F
Birthdate: Jan 1879
Birthplace: Indian Territory, Latimer Co., OK
Death date: 8 Sep 1922
Place of death: San Francisco, S.F. Co., CA (murdered)
Burial: San Francisco, CA.
Marriage date: 9 June 1900
Marriage place: Boise City, Ada Co., ID
Spouse's name: Frank HARGIS

Child No. 8: Arthur Garfield LAY
Sex: M
Birthdate: 20 Dec 1880
Birthplace: nr. Marshall, Searcy Co., ARK
Death date: 23 Mar 1963
Place of death: Highland, San Bernardino Co., CA
Burial: Montecito Memorial Park, Colton, San Bndo. Co., CA
Marriage date: 20 Dec 1908
Marriage place: Kimbrell Creek, Searcy Co., ARK
Spouse's name: Nettie Jane KIMBRELL

Child No. 9: Charles Clyde LAY
Sex: M
Birthdate: 22 Jan 1883
Birthplace: Marshall, Searcy Co., ARK
Death date: 1 Jan 1936
Place of death: Bakersfield, Kern Co., CA
Burial: Bakersfield, Kern Co., CA
Marriage date: abt 1910
Marriage place: unknown
Spouse's name: Rose C. (LNU)
 
 
Documentation:
* JOHN WESLEY LAY, JR. was originally drafted by the Confederate Army. He deserted (date unknown) then joined the Union Army as a Pvt. with Company F (Campbell Company), 45th Arkansas Militia out of Searcy County) from 26 Nov to 20 Dec 1861. Also served as Pvt. in Co. "I", 3rd Arkansas Cavalry, Union Army, enlisted 17 Dec 1863 in Pope Co., ARK. Discharged at Lewisburg, ARK. Applied for invalid pension in 1887.
   Widow (2nd wife Rachel) applied for pension in 1916.
* JOHN was born 12 April 1840 in Wayne Co., Tennessee to John Wesley Lay, Sr., and Mary Stanfield Lay. He married circa 1862 to Martha Cotton, daughter of Samuel Bird Cotton and Arminta "Alimentie" Moore Cotton. This young man would grow to be 6 foot tall, (according to his pension records).
* In 1866 John and Martha took their young family to Springfield, Missouri, returning to Marshall, Searcy Co., Arkansas the next year, staying in Arkansas until 1887, then moved to Caston, Indian Territory, Oklahoma.
   Several of their children were born here. In 1891, the family moved to Eufaula, Indian Territory, Oklahoma.
   This family in 1892 removed to Indian Valley, Washington Co., Idaho.
   John was a farmer and laborer in the fruit orchards around the area.
   The next move was to Boise, Ada Co., Idaho in 1895. The family before 1902 was found in Wallace, Shoshone Co., Idaho. There in 1902, Martha Cotton Lay died, and is buried in the "9-Mile" Cemetery.
   1904, John and the remaining members of his family moved back to Searcy Co., Arkansas. There John married again, to Rachel Kimbrell. He died of pneumonia, 17 Dec. 1913 in Calexico, Imperial Co., California, and was buried 18 Dec. 1913 in Evergreen Cem., El Centro, California. His granddaughter, Helen Lay Dalgleish discovered there was no headstone for John, and contacted the military for a headstone to honor this Civil War veteran. The headstone was erected in 1995.
* 3 Dec 1906, John W. Lay, Sr. (no age given) of Marshall; Reinstatement: Info. from the journal of the International Order of Odd Fellows, Marshall Lodge, No. 190, Marshall, Ark. (Original property of James J. Johnston, 2333 East Oaks Dr., Fayetteville, ARK 72703
* We have no known photos of John Wesley Lay, Sr., and hope someone in our extended family has one they will be willing to share.
* (Info: Helen Lay Dalgleish; J. Gilbert Lay (now dcsd) of Cook Stn., MO, author of "LAY FAMILY OF AMERICA";
* Roy Lay of Medford, OR.,
* Census records: Searcy Co., ARK, Ada Co., ID;
* Civil War pension papers;
* Death certificate for John Wesley Lay, Jr.)
* 1870 Census: Bear River Twp: Searcy Co., ARK (6 Aug 1870) LAY, JOHN W. 30 Farmer P.P. $400 b.TN MARTHA A. 28 b.AR James M. 7 b.AR Louther H. 3 b.MO Wm. T. 1 b.AR Sarah A. 11 b.TN
* Per Helen (Lay) Dalgleish:
The pension papers reveal that his height was 6 feet, eyes blue, dark hair, fair complexion, occupation was farmer. His pension stopped at his death, and Ellen had to reactivate it by applying for the widow's pension. He used a "stick" to get around due to pain in his back and right leg. His second application I learned that he and his family left Eufala, Indian Territory 1891 and arrived in Indian Valley, Idaho 1892, was in Boise 1895 to 1901, Arkansas from 1904 to 1910. Then he left Arkansas in 1910 for Idaho, as this application was dated 18 April 1910 at Council, Washington Co., Idaho. Ellen went with him to Idaho, but she soon returned to Arkansas? JW Lay applied a 3rd time on 10 June 1912 at Lindsay, CA. I possess a letter written by Gpa Lay from Mulberry, AR and dated October 1, 1911 to a Mr. Hollebaugh at Marshall, AR on behalf of my parents who had purchased a 3-acre tract of land from M. A.
   Sanders, deceased. Mr. Hollabaugh was an heir. Gpa stated that he had made arrangements for Garfield & family to move to Mulberry, and that Garfield couldn't leave because he hadn't been able to sell the land.
* I recall that my folks along with Uncle Jim Lay and his family moved from Covina to Lindsay, CA traveling over the Ridge Route in wagons and team of horses. I don't believe Charles was in the family yet, as my notes say that trip took place in 1908. That brings up another memory.
* Marion Buckner, son of Arkie & Joe Buckner was born in Lindsay. Arkie & Joe made that famous trip. Marion said that Hansford and family came to visit them while they were living in Lindsay. I haven't been able to sort out all the places the "families" moved to. Mom & Dad were in Arkansas when Charles was born in 1909, & Ruth in 1912. Arkie & Joe were in Mulberry, Arkansas when Ruby was born in 1911. Uncle Jim & family, Arkie & Joe, my folks, Grandpa JW Lay were all living in Calexico when Gpa died there in 1913.
* 1870 Census: Bear River Twp., Searcy Co., ARK (6 Aug 1870) shows Sarah A. Lay age 11, b. TN living with older brother John & family.
* The 1880 Census of Searcy Co. AR for Wiley's Cove TWP reveals that Wesley & Martha Lay, and children were living there. Listed were James, Hansford, William, John, Bell, Idah, and Emley. My Dad came along in December of that same year.
* Apparently JW had a difficult time living in Arkansas after the Civil War, so they spent some time living in Indian Territory. Apparently he was alienated from former friends, and maybe even family. There were cases where families were divided by the war.