Sarah Jane (Dodge) Bray (1843-1923)

SARAH JANE⁸ (DODGE) BRAY (James⁷, Benjamin⁶, John⁵, Thomas⁴, Josiah³, ‘Lt.’ John², Richard¹) b. 11 Mar 1843 in Rangeley (then known as Township 3 Range 2), Franklin County, Maine; d. 9 Sep 1923 in Buena Vista, Chaffee, Colorado. She married Benjamin D. Bray in 1873. He was b. Sep 1837 in Maine to Darius and Mary (Ditson) Bray.

In the 1850 and 1860 Censuses, Sarah J. Dodge was listed in Plantation #4 (later Perkins Plantation) with her family. She attended school growing up and was a Domestic. In 1870, she was living in Lewiston, Maine, working at a textile mill. In 1873, she married Benjamin D. Bray. Benjamin had left Maine sometime before 1860, first living in Nebraska and then settling on Cottonwood Creek, west of Buena Vista, Colorado, in 1868, joining his brother Josiah Bray, who had settled there in 1860. Sarah's sister, Mary Ann (Dodge) Bray, had also moved to Colorado in 1873 with her husband Ezekiel Bray. It is possible that Sarah traveled to Colorado with her sister and married Benjamin D. Bray when she arrived. When Sarah’s parents, James and Rachel Dodge, died on Aug. 6, 1877, her sister, Emily Bean, acted as her attorney and took care of the legal work on her behalf (Androscoggin County Records vol. 86 pg. 178 & vol. 90 pg. 547). Sarah received $100 for her share of their real estate and $56 for her share of their personal estate.

By 1874, Benjamin owned 160 acres in Cottonwood Creek and had established a ranch there. Their brand was recorded on Aug. 17, 1878. In the 1885 Colorado Census, they owned 200 acres of land, 25 of which was cultivated. Their farm was valued at $2,000 and the livestock, which included one horse, two mules, two milk cows and 12 poultry, was valued at $350. By 1900, they had moved to the town of Fairplay in Park County, Colorado, where they were listed in the census. Benjamin was listed as a miner and Sarah was keeping house. They had been married for 27 years and had three living children out of four born to them.

In the 1910 Census, Sarah Bray was living in Buena Vista with her daughter Isadora Bell. She had been married for 38 years. On Oct. 12, 1912, Benjamin Bray left his wife, children and family while living in Fairplay and committed suicide. His remains were found two years later in Sacramento Gulch, four miles outside of Fairplay. He had been living with his daughter Susan Stephens. His remains were buried in Fairplay. In the 1920 Census, Sarah Bray is listed in Buena Vista living with her daughter Isadora Bell. She died on Sep. 9, 1923 at the age of 80. She is buried in Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Buena Vista. Children:

i. Susan Bray; b. Mar 1874, Buena Vista, Chaffee, Colorado; d. Jan 1937, Denver, Colorado. She m. Edmund Stephens 2 Aug 1893. They had five children.

ii. Isadora Bray; b. 1 Jun 1876, Buena Vista, Colorado; d. 17 Jun 1962, Colorado. She m. William E. Bell 3 Oct 1897. They had two children.

iii. Nettie Bray; b. Jun 1881, Buena Vista, Colorado; d. Oct 1961 in Colorado. She m. Fredrick A. Walker 27 Jul 1900. They had two children.

Benjamin & Sarah Bray had four children – three living according to the 1900 Census.

 1850 Census - Plantation #4, Franklin County, Maine

 1860 Census - Perkins Plantation, Franklin County, Maine

 1870 Census - Lewiston, Androscoggin County, Maine

 1885 Colorado Census - Buena Vista, Chaffee, Colorado

 1900 Census - Fairplay, Park County, Colorado

 1910 Census - Buena Vista, Chaffee County, Colorado

 1920 Census - Buena Vista, Chaffee County, Colorado

 Gravestone for Sarah Jane (Dodge) Bray. She is buried at Mt. Olivet Cemtery; Buena Vista, Chaffee County, Colorado

Gravestone for Benjamin D. Bray. He is buried at Fairplay Cemetery; Fairplay, Park County, Colorado