Lydia was born to Reuben and Mary (maiden name unknown) Bray. She was one of at least eight children though most of her siblings died early. Most records indicate that she went by Lydia although at least one census record says Phebe. Occasionally she is called Lydia Ann Phebe but I am not sure how accurate that is.
Lydia's story is messy, complicated, and quite sad. Like many of us, she may not have always made the best decisions but she lived her life unapologetically and she deserves to be remembered.
On May 31, 1871, when Lydia was only 14 years old, her mother passed away. Her father remarried at some point prior to 1880. It is not known what kind of relationship she had with her father and stepmother.
Lydia was engaged to a man whom she left for William Jackson Young, Sr. This was around 1877 (give or take a year a so). William aka Bill, had quite a tarnished reputation. He was 19 years older than Lydia and had been involved in several petty crimes and once implicated in a murder. He was found not guilty. Also in 1877, Bill's first wife died and he was again implicated in the murder of Lewis Spencer and four of the Spencer children. Of course Bill was jailed and held in Kahoka, Iowa. During this time, Lydia stuck by his side and believed in Bill's innocence. Lydia's father, Reuben, was said to be very dissatisfied with Lydia's choice in men.
In 1879, Bill was acquitted of the Spencer murders and set free. The same day, he married Lydia. They soon returned to Bill's home in Luray, Missouri. Almost immediately, a large vigilante mob of residents stormed their property. They did not agree with the court's verdict and planned to lynch Bill. They succeeded by wounding him multiple times with guns before hanging him. During the this chaos, it is known that Lydia and her stepchildren were also inside the home. So far there has been no indication whether Lydia or the children were hurt.
Shortly after Bill's death, Lydia conducted an interview with a reporter where she stated that she planned to take Bill's case to the Supreme Court and have justice served on the mob. She also stated that she planned to move away from Luray and finish raising Bill's underage children (they were now officially orphans). The reporter brought up that Lydia was a woman of considerable wealth; $10,000-$75,000 in 1881. That's approximately $251,000-$1,886,000 in 2019. The reporter asked if she would be returning to her father, to which Lydia informed him that she most certainly would not! Lastly, the reporter noted that Lydia was a "plucky" and "vivacious" woman.
Lydia is not found in the 1880 census under any of her known aliases. It is possible that she was traveling while the census was being conducted. What is for certain is that her stepchildren are not with her as they can be found in the homes of neighbors and relatives in the Luray area. It is also not clear if this was by Lydia's choice.
It isn't until April of 1881 that Lydia makes the news again. This time, she is found living in Keokuk (Lee County), Iowa. By the indications, Lydia had been living with a Mrs. Orr, who was a divorced woman about 50 years old. By this time, it should be pretty obvious that Lydia has gone through a lot of tragedy. To recap, she's lost her mother, several siblings, her husband, has a strained relationship with her father, and presumably, having to give up her stepchildren. No doubt she was in a difficult place mentally and emotionally.
Based on a few more articles from Keokuk newspapers of the time, Lydia had been asking her doctor for morphine (a common request at the time). Her doctor reportedly denied her request but apparently, Lydia got morphine through another channel as she is believed to have overdosed on it.
Lydia was said to have taken the medication, fell into a deep slumber, and could not be awakened. Also around the time of Lydia's death, a letter arrived at Mrs. Orr's house from Mr. C. Pierce of Earl Station, Illinois. Mr. Pierce seemed to profess quite a fondness for Lydia; offering to visit her and even send money if she needed. He also made mention that he found her sickness to be very mysterious. Perhaps something else was going on with Lydia. There are few odd things about this letter; first, WHO was Mr. C. Pierce, how did be come to know Lydia so well as to know she was very sick and possibly sicker than the newspapers let on? Second, WHY was it addressed "in care of Mrs. Orr" instead of directly to Lydia? Third, Earl Station, IL does not seem to exist.
Upon Lydia's death, Mrs. Orr sent word to Reuben, Lydia's father. To which, Reuben's response was short and curt at best, "Bury there. Mark grave. Write soon. -Signed R. Bray". Based on this telegram from her father, he had no intentions of bringing his 24 year old daughter home for burial. Presumably, Lydia was buried in a pauper's grave by the city.
Ironically, this is not the end of Lydia's story. Just one month later, her father, Reuben, supposedly committed suicide. In an article ran by the Cincinnati Gazette Daily, it reported that Lydia died "in a house of ill fame". Mrs. Orr did not appear to be running a brothel or other questionable or illegal activities. Per the 1880 census, she was a clairvoyant; a fortune teller and NOT a Madame of the Night. The same article also goes on to more or less blame Lydia's choice in men for her father committing suicide. Unlikely story, especially when you read how her father died (he shot himself with a double barrel shotgun. It was also noted that Reuben had been a victim of extorsion). Perhaps it was his guilt over turning his back on his daughter at her death. Who knows.
If you think Lydia's story is over now, you'd be wrong. Just two months after Lydia died, her 11 year old stepson, Early Clay Young, drowned. It is not known to me at this time if Lydia's body was ever reinterred elsewhere. Lydia does not appear to have ever had any children of her own.
Lydia Bray Young's life was short, passing at just 24 years old; seeming without any loved ones to comfort her.
(This information and bio has been complied by a dedicated Bray descendant. A great deal of effort and time has gone into this memorial. Please be courteous. Thank you!)
Lydia's story is messy, complicated, and quite sad. Like many of us, she may not have always made the best decisions but she lived her life unapologetically and she deserves to be remembered.
On May 31, 1871, when Lydia was only 14 years old, her mother passed away. Her father remarried at some point prior to 1880. It is not known what kind of relationship she had with her father and stepmother.
Lydia was engaged to a man whom she left for William Jackson Young, Sr. This was around 1877 (give or take a year a so). William aka Bill, had quite a tarnished reputation. He was 19 years older than Lydia and had been involved in several petty crimes and once implicated in a murder. He was found not guilty. Also in 1877, Bill's first wife died and he was again implicated in the murder of Lewis Spencer and four of the Spencer children. Of course Bill was jailed and held in Kahoka, Iowa. During this time, Lydia stuck by his side and believed in Bill's innocence. Lydia's father, Reuben, was said to be very dissatisfied with Lydia's choice in men.
In 1879, Bill was acquitted of the Spencer murders and set free. The same day, he married Lydia. They soon returned to Bill's home in Luray, Missouri. Almost immediately, a large vigilante mob of residents stormed their property. They did not agree with the court's verdict and planned to lynch Bill. They succeeded by wounding him multiple times with guns before hanging him. During the this chaos, it is known that Lydia and her stepchildren were also inside the home. So far there has been no indication whether Lydia or the children were hurt.
Shortly after Bill's death, Lydia conducted an interview with a reporter where she stated that she planned to take Bill's case to the Supreme Court and have justice served on the mob. She also stated that she planned to move away from Luray and finish raising Bill's underage children (they were now officially orphans). The reporter brought up that Lydia was a woman of considerable wealth; $10,000-$75,000 in 1881. That's approximately $251,000-$1,886,000 in 2019. The reporter asked if she would be returning to her father, to which Lydia informed him that she most certainly would not! Lastly, the reporter noted that Lydia was a "plucky" and "vivacious" woman.
Lydia is not found in the 1880 census under any of her known aliases. It is possible that she was traveling while the census was being conducted. What is for certain is that her stepchildren are not with her as they can be found in the homes of neighbors and relatives in the Luray area. It is also not clear if this was by Lydia's choice.
It isn't until April of 1881 that Lydia makes the news again. This time, she is found living in Keokuk (Lee County), Iowa. By the indications, Lydia had been living with a Mrs. Orr, who was a divorced woman about 50 years old. By this time, it should be pretty obvious that Lydia has gone through a lot of tragedy. To recap, she's lost her mother, several siblings, her husband, has a strained relationship with her father, and presumably, having to give up her stepchildren. No doubt she was in a difficult place mentally and emotionally.
Based on a few more articles from Keokuk newspapers of the time, Lydia had been asking her doctor for morphine (a common request at the time). Her doctor reportedly denied her request but apparently, Lydia got morphine through another channel as she is believed to have overdosed on it.
Lydia was said to have taken the medication, fell into a deep slumber, and could not be awakened. Also around the time of Lydia's death, a letter arrived at Mrs. Orr's house from Mr. C. Pierce of Earl Station, Illinois. Mr. Pierce seemed to profess quite a fondness for Lydia; offering to visit her and even send money if she needed. He also made mention that he found her sickness to be very mysterious. Perhaps something else was going on with Lydia. There are few odd things about this letter; first, WHO was Mr. C. Pierce, how did be come to know Lydia so well as to know she was very sick and possibly sicker than the newspapers let on? Second, WHY was it addressed "in care of Mrs. Orr" instead of directly to Lydia? Third, Earl Station, IL does not seem to exist.
Upon Lydia's death, Mrs. Orr sent word to Reuben, Lydia's father. To which, Reuben's response was short and curt at best, "Bury there. Mark grave. Write soon. -Signed R. Bray". Based on this telegram from her father, he had no intentions of bringing his 24 year old daughter home for burial. Presumably, Lydia was buried in a pauper's grave by the city.
Ironically, this is not the end of Lydia's story. Just one month later, her father, Reuben, supposedly committed suicide. In an article ran by the Cincinnati Gazette Daily, it reported that Lydia died "in a house of ill fame". Mrs. Orr did not appear to be running a brothel or other questionable or illegal activities. Per the 1880 census, she was a clairvoyant; a fortune teller and NOT a Madame of the Night. The same article also goes on to more or less blame Lydia's choice in men for her father committing suicide. Unlikely story, especially when you read how her father died (he shot himself with a double barrel shotgun. It was also noted that Reuben had been a victim of extorsion). Perhaps it was his guilt over turning his back on his daughter at her death. Who knows.
If you think Lydia's story is over now, you'd be wrong. Just two months after Lydia died, her 11 year old stepson, Early Clay Young, drowned. It is not known to me at this time if Lydia's body was ever reinterred elsewhere. Lydia does not appear to have ever had any children of her own.
Lydia Bray Young's life was short, passing at just 24 years old; seeming without any loved ones to comfort her.
(This information and bio has been complied by a dedicated Bray descendant. A great deal of effort and time has gone into this memorial. Please be courteous. Thank you!)
Lydia was born to Reuben and Mary (maiden name unknown) Bray. She was one of at least eight children though most of her siblings died early. Most records indicate that she went by Lydia although at least one census record says Phebe. Occasionally she is called Lydia Ann Phebe but I am not sure how accurate that is.
Lydia's story is messy, complicated, and quite sad. Like many of us, she may not have always made the best decisions but she lived her life unapologetically and she deserves to be remembered.
On May 31, 1871, when Lydia was only 14 years old, her mother passed away. Her father remarried at some point prior to 1880. It is not known what kind of relationship she had with her father and stepmother.
Lydia was engaged to a man whom she left for William Jackson Young, Sr. This was around 1877 (give or take a year a so). William aka Bill, had quite a tarnished reputation. He was 19 years older than Lydia and had been involved in several petty crimes and once implicated in a murder. He was found not guilty. Also in 1877, Bill's first wife died and he was again implicated in the murder of Lewis Spencer and four of the Spencer children. Of course Bill was jailed and held in Kahoka, Iowa. During this time, Lydia stuck by his side and believed in Bill's innocence. Lydia's father, Reuben, was said to be very dissatisfied with Lydia's choice in men.
In 1879, Bill was acquitted of the Spencer murders and set free. The same day, he married Lydia. They soon returned to Bill's home in Luray, Missouri. Almost immediately, a large vigilante mob of residents stormed their property. They did not agree with the court's verdict and planned to lynch Bill. They succeeded by wounding him multiple times with guns before hanging him. During the this chaos, it is known that Lydia and her stepchildren were also inside the home. So far there has been no indication whether Lydia or the children were hurt.
Shortly after Bill's death, Lydia conducted an interview with a reporter where she stated that she planned to take Bill's case to the Supreme Court and have justice served on the mob. She also stated that she planned to move away from Luray and finish raising Bill's underage children (they were now officially orphans). The reporter brought up that Lydia was a woman of considerable wealth; $10,000-$75,000 in 1881. That's approximately $251,000-$1,886,000 in 2019. The reporter asked if she would be returning to her father, to which Lydia informed him that she most certainly would not! Lastly, the reporter noted that Lydia was a "plucky" and "vivacious" woman.
Lydia is not found in the 1880 census under any of her known aliases. It is possible that she was traveling while the census was being conducted. What is for certain is that her stepchildren are not with her as they can be found in the homes of neighbors and relatives in the Luray area. It is also not clear if this was by Lydia's choice.
It isn't until April of 1881 that Lydia makes the news again. This time, she is found living in Keokuk (Lee County), Iowa. By the indications, Lydia had been living with a Mrs. Orr, who was a divorced woman about 50 years old. By this time, it should be pretty obvious that Lydia has gone through a lot of tragedy. To recap, she's lost her mother, several siblings, her husband, has a strained relationship with her father, and presumably, having to give up her stepchildren. No doubt she was in a difficult place mentally and emotionally.
Based on a few more articles from Keokuk newspapers of the time, Lydia had been asking her doctor for morphine (a common request at the time). Her doctor reportedly denied her request but apparently, Lydia got morphine through another channel as she is believed to have overdosed on it.
Lydia was said to have taken the medication, fell into a deep slumber, and could not be awakened. Also around the time of Lydia's death, a letter arrived at Mrs. Orr's house from Mr. C. Pierce of Earl Station, Illinois. Mr. Pierce seemed to profess quite a fondness for Lydia; offering to visit her and even send money if she needed. He also made mention that he found her sickness to be very mysterious. Perhaps something else was going on with Lydia. There are few odd things about this letter; first, WHO was Mr. C. Pierce, how did be come to know Lydia so well as to know she was very sick and possibly sicker than the newspapers let on? Second, WHY was it addressed "in care of Mrs. Orr" instead of directly to Lydia? Third, Earl Station, IL does not seem to exist.
Upon Lydia's death, Mrs. Orr sent word to Reuben, Lydia's father. To which, Reuben's response was short and curt at best, "Bury there. Mark grave. Write soon. -Signed R. Bray". Based on this telegram from her father, he had no intentions of bringing his 24 year old daughter home for burial. Presumably, Lydia was buried in a pauper's grave by the city.
Ironically, this is not the end of Lydia's story. Just one month later, her father, Reuben, supposedly committed suicide. In an article ran by the Cincinnati Gazette Daily, it reported that Lydia died "in a house of ill fame". Mrs. Orr did not appear to be running a brothel or other questionable or illegal activities. Per the 1880 census, she was a clairvoyant; a fortune teller and NOT a Madame of the Night. The same article also goes on to more or less blame Lydia's choice in men for her father committing suicide. Unlikely story, especially when you read how her father died (he shot himself with a double barrel shotgun. It was also noted that Reuben had been a victim of extorsion). Perhaps it was his guilt over turning his back on his daughter at her death. Who knows.
If you think Lydia's story is over now, you'd be wrong. Just two months after Lydia died, her 11 year old stepson, Early Clay Young, drowned. It is not known to me at this time if Lydia's body was ever reinterred elsewhere. Lydia does not appear to have ever had any children of her own.
Lydia Bray Young's life was short, passing at just 24 years old; seeming without any loved ones to comfort her.
(This information and bio has been complied by a dedicated Bray descendant. A great deal of effort and time has gone into this memorial. Please be courteous. Thank you!)
Lydia's story is messy, complicated, and quite sad. Like many of us, she may not have always made the best decisions but she lived her life unapologetically and she deserves to be remembered.
On May 31, 1871, when Lydia was only 14 years old, her mother passed away. Her father remarried at some point prior to 1880. It is not known what kind of relationship she had with her father and stepmother.
Lydia was engaged to a man whom she left for William Jackson Young, Sr. This was around 1877 (give or take a year a so). William aka Bill, had quite a tarnished reputation. He was 19 years older than Lydia and had been involved in several petty crimes and once implicated in a murder. He was found not guilty. Also in 1877, Bill's first wife died and he was again implicated in the murder of Lewis Spencer and four of the Spencer children. Of course Bill was jailed and held in Kahoka, Iowa. During this time, Lydia stuck by his side and believed in Bill's innocence. Lydia's father, Reuben, was said to be very dissatisfied with Lydia's choice in men.
In 1879, Bill was acquitted of the Spencer murders and set free. The same day, he married Lydia. They soon returned to Bill's home in Luray, Missouri. Almost immediately, a large vigilante mob of residents stormed their property. They did not agree with the court's verdict and planned to lynch Bill. They succeeded by wounding him multiple times with guns before hanging him. During the this chaos, it is known that Lydia and her stepchildren were also inside the home. So far there has been no indication whether Lydia or the children were hurt.
Shortly after Bill's death, Lydia conducted an interview with a reporter where she stated that she planned to take Bill's case to the Supreme Court and have justice served on the mob. She also stated that she planned to move away from Luray and finish raising Bill's underage children (they were now officially orphans). The reporter brought up that Lydia was a woman of considerable wealth; $10,000-$75,000 in 1881. That's approximately $251,000-$1,886,000 in 2019. The reporter asked if she would be returning to her father, to which Lydia informed him that she most certainly would not! Lastly, the reporter noted that Lydia was a "plucky" and "vivacious" woman.
Lydia is not found in the 1880 census under any of her known aliases. It is possible that she was traveling while the census was being conducted. What is for certain is that her stepchildren are not with her as they can be found in the homes of neighbors and relatives in the Luray area. It is also not clear if this was by Lydia's choice.
It isn't until April of 1881 that Lydia makes the news again. This time, she is found living in Keokuk (Lee County), Iowa. By the indications, Lydia had been living with a Mrs. Orr, who was a divorced woman about 50 years old. By this time, it should be pretty obvious that Lydia has gone through a lot of tragedy. To recap, she's lost her mother, several siblings, her husband, has a strained relationship with her father, and presumably, having to give up her stepchildren. No doubt she was in a difficult place mentally and emotionally.
Based on a few more articles from Keokuk newspapers of the time, Lydia had been asking her doctor for morphine (a common request at the time). Her doctor reportedly denied her request but apparently, Lydia got morphine through another channel as she is believed to have overdosed on it.
Lydia was said to have taken the medication, fell into a deep slumber, and could not be awakened. Also around the time of Lydia's death, a letter arrived at Mrs. Orr's house from Mr. C. Pierce of Earl Station, Illinois. Mr. Pierce seemed to profess quite a fondness for Lydia; offering to visit her and even send money if she needed. He also made mention that he found her sickness to be very mysterious. Perhaps something else was going on with Lydia. There are few odd things about this letter; first, WHO was Mr. C. Pierce, how did be come to know Lydia so well as to know she was very sick and possibly sicker than the newspapers let on? Second, WHY was it addressed "in care of Mrs. Orr" instead of directly to Lydia? Third, Earl Station, IL does not seem to exist.
Upon Lydia's death, Mrs. Orr sent word to Reuben, Lydia's father. To which, Reuben's response was short and curt at best, "Bury there. Mark grave. Write soon. -Signed R. Bray". Based on this telegram from her father, he had no intentions of bringing his 24 year old daughter home for burial. Presumably, Lydia was buried in a pauper's grave by the city.
Ironically, this is not the end of Lydia's story. Just one month later, her father, Reuben, supposedly committed suicide. In an article ran by the Cincinnati Gazette Daily, it reported that Lydia died "in a house of ill fame". Mrs. Orr did not appear to be running a brothel or other questionable or illegal activities. Per the 1880 census, she was a clairvoyant; a fortune teller and NOT a Madame of the Night. The same article also goes on to more or less blame Lydia's choice in men for her father committing suicide. Unlikely story, especially when you read how her father died (he shot himself with a double barrel shotgun. It was also noted that Reuben had been a victim of extorsion). Perhaps it was his guilt over turning his back on his daughter at her death. Who knows.
If you think Lydia's story is over now, you'd be wrong. Just two months after Lydia died, her 11 year old stepson, Early Clay Young, drowned. It is not known to me at this time if Lydia's body was ever reinterred elsewhere. Lydia does not appear to have ever had any children of her own.
Lydia Bray Young's life was short, passing at just 24 years old; seeming without any loved ones to comfort her.
(This information and bio has been complied by a dedicated Bray descendant. A great deal of effort and time has gone into this memorial. Please be courteous. Thank you!)
Gravesite Details
possibly buried in a pauper's in Lee Co., Iowa.
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