- ADDISON J. RAY, Secretary of the Janesville Cotton Mills,
is a native of New York, and was
- born in Otsego County, on the 18th day of April, 1820. His
parents were David and Artalissa (BURLINGAME) RAY. His father
was born in Berkshire County, Mass., and his mother in Rhode
Island. The family removed to the former place when Addison was
a child. He was educated in the public schools and was employed
in the cotton mills form early boyhood until he was twenty-two
years of age, when he engaged in the hardware and drug business,
at North Adams, Mass. The succeeding twenty years of his life
were spent by him in that line and ten years in the manufacture
of cotton goods, when he was induced to came to Janesville to
assist in organizing and operating a cotton manufacturing business.
He reached Janesville in 1874 and took an active part in the
organization of the Janesville Cotton Manufacturing Company during
that year. In 1874, he was chosen local agent of the company
and general business manager, which position he held during the
existence of the old company, and since the organization of the
present Janesville Cotton Mills in March, 1886, has held the
position of Secretary of the company, his duties being the same
as formerly. A history of this enterprise may be found on another
page of this work.
- On the last day of the year 1845, at North Adams, Mass.,
Mr. RAY was united in the holy bonds
- of matrimony with Miss Sarah H. WELLS, a daughter of Orson
WELLS, Esq., of that town. They have three children, one son
and two daughters - Mary R., the eldest, is the widow of Mr.
George STEVER, and resides at Janesville; Orson WELLS, the son,
is living in Chicago, Ill.; Fannie J. is the wife of Charles
L. CLARK, of Janesville. Mr. and Mrs. RAY and family are members
of the Methodist Episcopal Church of this city. Mr. RAY is a
stalwart Republican, and while he is an earnest supporter of
the principles and policy of that party, he has never sought
or desired public office. During the late Civil War, he served
ten months as a musician in the regimental band of the 10th Massachusetts
regiment. He enlisted in June, 1861, and was mustered out under
a general order doing away with regimental bands.
-
- Taken from "The Portrait and Biographical Album of
Rock County, Wis." (c)1889, pp. 577-578.
-
- Courtesy of Carol
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