THE PERSONAL PHOTOS ON THIS MEMORIAL ARE THE PROPERTY OF CONNIE PUNDY-MARTIN. Please feel free to copy the photos for personal use in your genealogy.
THANK YOU FOR USING THIS CITATION WHEN USING PHOTOGRAPHS OR PERSONAL WRITINGS: Photo/document provided by Connie Pundy-Martin, "Colorful Patterns of a Family Romance Tapestry."
****
A Biographical Sketch of Claude Ray West
A baby boy named "Claude" was born on a very cold day - January 24, 1899 in Coffeyville, Kansas. There is no record of why he was in the orphanage in Topeka, Kansas. A traveling minister who was a good friend of E. R. West often came by to see Mr. West and his wife, Laura. On one visit he told them about so many babies in an orphanage and asked E. R. and Laura, that since they had no children of their marriage, would they like a baby. The Reverend asked if they would go along with him to get a baby, but they said they were busy on their little farm and suggested the reverend bring them a baby. Laura said she had envisioned a little blonde girl but the Reverend brought a "very beautiful dark eyed, dark haired boy and he was all mine the minute I saw him." They added Ray West to his name and called him "Ray."
E. R. "Pa" had two surviving children from his first marriage, Alex and Amy. Their mother Rachel Jones and 2 other children had died. Ray's adoption was finalized in September, 1899 when he was 9 months old. Pa West said Ray learned very well and was ready for 2nd grade when they started him to school at the nearest school, called "Rule School" since it was built on Rule's property about one-half mile down a curving road near Indian Creek. Ray made good grades all his school years. Ma (Laura) had saved all his grade cards.
I asked Ray one day what his first memory was and after a long time, he said "It was when our best horse died." He loved horses. He grew up learning to work on the farm and for neighbors. Hunting for rabbits and squirrels to eat, and he was especially good at cutting wood. After he graduated from 8th grade, he worked for neighbors, shucking corn, cutting wood, plowing, planting and cultivating. At the age of 17, he rode on top of box cars and followed the wheat harvests in Kansas, then on to Minnesota for several years.
In December, 1924, Ray traveled to Phoenix, Arizona to see his Uncle George where he ministered at a little Baptist Mission he had established in downtown Phoenix. Liking the mild winter, Ray got himself a job milking cows for Carl Hanger and his partner at what is now 16th Street and Osborn Road in Phoenix, where they had a dairy. He worked for them until June, 1926. Meanwhile, Mr. Hanger bought a farm about a half mile east of 40th Street on Rosier Road. Ray helped him move his cattle and family there and they lived in tents until they got a house built and some bars for hay and for milking. When his letters from Pa and Ma made him realize they were getting too old to take care of themselves, he came to Western Kansas and worked for Ted and Mina McConnaughey in their wheat harvest at $40.00 a month. But before they could get the next crop planted Pa got sick and Ma stepped on a long rusty nail, so he went home to take care of them. He put up a huge pile of wood for them and built a new cow barn, etc. then worked for his friend, George Ellis. George was a carpenter and they built some houses and barns until the next summer and time for wheat harvest.
Meanwhile, he had been writing to me and one weekend he came on the train to see me. We had met once in the summer of 1920 when he had brought his Mama to Cedar Vale to visit her brother "Than," my Grandfather Moore. Our letters had shown us the innermost dreams of each other, so he asked me that Sunday, when we had gone for a long walk and sat resting on the great roots of a huge cottonwood tree beside Cedar Creek, to be Mrs. Ray West.
--Doris Pauline Pack-West, Aug 1991
[Document owner: Connie Pundy-Martin, granddaughter, "Colorful Patterns of a Family Romance Tapestry"]
THANK YOU FOR USING THIS CITATION WHEN USING PHOTOGRAPHS OR PERSONAL WRITINGS: Photo/document provided by Connie Pundy-Martin, "Colorful Patterns of a Family Romance Tapestry."
****
A Biographical Sketch of Claude Ray West
A baby boy named "Claude" was born on a very cold day - January 24, 1899 in Coffeyville, Kansas. There is no record of why he was in the orphanage in Topeka, Kansas. A traveling minister who was a good friend of E. R. West often came by to see Mr. West and his wife, Laura. On one visit he told them about so many babies in an orphanage and asked E. R. and Laura, that since they had no children of their marriage, would they like a baby. The Reverend asked if they would go along with him to get a baby, but they said they were busy on their little farm and suggested the reverend bring them a baby. Laura said she had envisioned a little blonde girl but the Reverend brought a "very beautiful dark eyed, dark haired boy and he was all mine the minute I saw him." They added Ray West to his name and called him "Ray."
E. R. "Pa" had two surviving children from his first marriage, Alex and Amy. Their mother Rachel Jones and 2 other children had died. Ray's adoption was finalized in September, 1899 when he was 9 months old. Pa West said Ray learned very well and was ready for 2nd grade when they started him to school at the nearest school, called "Rule School" since it was built on Rule's property about one-half mile down a curving road near Indian Creek. Ray made good grades all his school years. Ma (Laura) had saved all his grade cards.
I asked Ray one day what his first memory was and after a long time, he said "It was when our best horse died." He loved horses. He grew up learning to work on the farm and for neighbors. Hunting for rabbits and squirrels to eat, and he was especially good at cutting wood. After he graduated from 8th grade, he worked for neighbors, shucking corn, cutting wood, plowing, planting and cultivating. At the age of 17, he rode on top of box cars and followed the wheat harvests in Kansas, then on to Minnesota for several years.
In December, 1924, Ray traveled to Phoenix, Arizona to see his Uncle George where he ministered at a little Baptist Mission he had established in downtown Phoenix. Liking the mild winter, Ray got himself a job milking cows for Carl Hanger and his partner at what is now 16th Street and Osborn Road in Phoenix, where they had a dairy. He worked for them until June, 1926. Meanwhile, Mr. Hanger bought a farm about a half mile east of 40th Street on Rosier Road. Ray helped him move his cattle and family there and they lived in tents until they got a house built and some bars for hay and for milking. When his letters from Pa and Ma made him realize they were getting too old to take care of themselves, he came to Western Kansas and worked for Ted and Mina McConnaughey in their wheat harvest at $40.00 a month. But before they could get the next crop planted Pa got sick and Ma stepped on a long rusty nail, so he went home to take care of them. He put up a huge pile of wood for them and built a new cow barn, etc. then worked for his friend, George Ellis. George was a carpenter and they built some houses and barns until the next summer and time for wheat harvest.
Meanwhile, he had been writing to me and one weekend he came on the train to see me. We had met once in the summer of 1920 when he had brought his Mama to Cedar Vale to visit her brother "Than," my Grandfather Moore. Our letters had shown us the innermost dreams of each other, so he asked me that Sunday, when we had gone for a long walk and sat resting on the great roots of a huge cottonwood tree beside Cedar Creek, to be Mrs. Ray West.
--Doris Pauline Pack-West, Aug 1991
[Document owner: Connie Pundy-Martin, granddaughter, "Colorful Patterns of a Family Romance Tapestry"]
THE PERSONAL PHOTOS ON THIS MEMORIAL ARE THE PROPERTY OF CONNIE PUNDY-MARTIN. Please feel free to copy the photos for personal use in your genealogy.
THANK YOU FOR USING THIS CITATION WHEN USING PHOTOGRAPHS OR PERSONAL WRITINGS: Photo/document provided by Connie Pundy-Martin, "Colorful Patterns of a Family Romance Tapestry."
****
A Biographical Sketch of Claude Ray West
A baby boy named "Claude" was born on a very cold day - January 24, 1899 in Coffeyville, Kansas. There is no record of why he was in the orphanage in Topeka, Kansas. A traveling minister who was a good friend of E. R. West often came by to see Mr. West and his wife, Laura. On one visit he told them about so many babies in an orphanage and asked E. R. and Laura, that since they had no children of their marriage, would they like a baby. The Reverend asked if they would go along with him to get a baby, but they said they were busy on their little farm and suggested the reverend bring them a baby. Laura said she had envisioned a little blonde girl but the Reverend brought a "very beautiful dark eyed, dark haired boy and he was all mine the minute I saw him." They added Ray West to his name and called him "Ray."
E. R. "Pa" had two surviving children from his first marriage, Alex and Amy. Their mother Rachel Jones and 2 other children had died. Ray's adoption was finalized in September, 1899 when he was 9 months old. Pa West said Ray learned very well and was ready for 2nd grade when they started him to school at the nearest school, called "Rule School" since it was built on Rule's property about one-half mile down a curving road near Indian Creek. Ray made good grades all his school years. Ma (Laura) had saved all his grade cards.
I asked Ray one day what his first memory was and after a long time, he said "It was when our best horse died." He loved horses. He grew up learning to work on the farm and for neighbors. Hunting for rabbits and squirrels to eat, and he was especially good at cutting wood. After he graduated from 8th grade, he worked for neighbors, shucking corn, cutting wood, plowing, planting and cultivating. At the age of 17, he rode on top of box cars and followed the wheat harvests in Kansas, then on to Minnesota for several years.
In December, 1924, Ray traveled to Phoenix, Arizona to see his Uncle George where he ministered at a little Baptist Mission he had established in downtown Phoenix. Liking the mild winter, Ray got himself a job milking cows for Carl Hanger and his partner at what is now 16th Street and Osborn Road in Phoenix, where they had a dairy. He worked for them until June, 1926. Meanwhile, Mr. Hanger bought a farm about a half mile east of 40th Street on Rosier Road. Ray helped him move his cattle and family there and they lived in tents until they got a house built and some bars for hay and for milking. When his letters from Pa and Ma made him realize they were getting too old to take care of themselves, he came to Western Kansas and worked for Ted and Mina McConnaughey in their wheat harvest at $40.00 a month. But before they could get the next crop planted Pa got sick and Ma stepped on a long rusty nail, so he went home to take care of them. He put up a huge pile of wood for them and built a new cow barn, etc. then worked for his friend, George Ellis. George was a carpenter and they built some houses and barns until the next summer and time for wheat harvest.
Meanwhile, he had been writing to me and one weekend he came on the train to see me. We had met once in the summer of 1920 when he had brought his Mama to Cedar Vale to visit her brother "Than," my Grandfather Moore. Our letters had shown us the innermost dreams of each other, so he asked me that Sunday, when we had gone for a long walk and sat resting on the great roots of a huge cottonwood tree beside Cedar Creek, to be Mrs. Ray West.
--Doris Pauline Pack-West, Aug 1991
[Document owner: Connie Pundy-Martin, granddaughter, "Colorful Patterns of a Family Romance Tapestry"]
THANK YOU FOR USING THIS CITATION WHEN USING PHOTOGRAPHS OR PERSONAL WRITINGS: Photo/document provided by Connie Pundy-Martin, "Colorful Patterns of a Family Romance Tapestry."
****
A Biographical Sketch of Claude Ray West
A baby boy named "Claude" was born on a very cold day - January 24, 1899 in Coffeyville, Kansas. There is no record of why he was in the orphanage in Topeka, Kansas. A traveling minister who was a good friend of E. R. West often came by to see Mr. West and his wife, Laura. On one visit he told them about so many babies in an orphanage and asked E. R. and Laura, that since they had no children of their marriage, would they like a baby. The Reverend asked if they would go along with him to get a baby, but they said they were busy on their little farm and suggested the reverend bring them a baby. Laura said she had envisioned a little blonde girl but the Reverend brought a "very beautiful dark eyed, dark haired boy and he was all mine the minute I saw him." They added Ray West to his name and called him "Ray."
E. R. "Pa" had two surviving children from his first marriage, Alex and Amy. Their mother Rachel Jones and 2 other children had died. Ray's adoption was finalized in September, 1899 when he was 9 months old. Pa West said Ray learned very well and was ready for 2nd grade when they started him to school at the nearest school, called "Rule School" since it was built on Rule's property about one-half mile down a curving road near Indian Creek. Ray made good grades all his school years. Ma (Laura) had saved all his grade cards.
I asked Ray one day what his first memory was and after a long time, he said "It was when our best horse died." He loved horses. He grew up learning to work on the farm and for neighbors. Hunting for rabbits and squirrels to eat, and he was especially good at cutting wood. After he graduated from 8th grade, he worked for neighbors, shucking corn, cutting wood, plowing, planting and cultivating. At the age of 17, he rode on top of box cars and followed the wheat harvests in Kansas, then on to Minnesota for several years.
In December, 1924, Ray traveled to Phoenix, Arizona to see his Uncle George where he ministered at a little Baptist Mission he had established in downtown Phoenix. Liking the mild winter, Ray got himself a job milking cows for Carl Hanger and his partner at what is now 16th Street and Osborn Road in Phoenix, where they had a dairy. He worked for them until June, 1926. Meanwhile, Mr. Hanger bought a farm about a half mile east of 40th Street on Rosier Road. Ray helped him move his cattle and family there and they lived in tents until they got a house built and some bars for hay and for milking. When his letters from Pa and Ma made him realize they were getting too old to take care of themselves, he came to Western Kansas and worked for Ted and Mina McConnaughey in their wheat harvest at $40.00 a month. But before they could get the next crop planted Pa got sick and Ma stepped on a long rusty nail, so he went home to take care of them. He put up a huge pile of wood for them and built a new cow barn, etc. then worked for his friend, George Ellis. George was a carpenter and they built some houses and barns until the next summer and time for wheat harvest.
Meanwhile, he had been writing to me and one weekend he came on the train to see me. We had met once in the summer of 1920 when he had brought his Mama to Cedar Vale to visit her brother "Than," my Grandfather Moore. Our letters had shown us the innermost dreams of each other, so he asked me that Sunday, when we had gone for a long walk and sat resting on the great roots of a huge cottonwood tree beside Cedar Creek, to be Mrs. Ray West.
--Doris Pauline Pack-West, Aug 1991
[Document owner: Connie Pundy-Martin, granddaughter, "Colorful Patterns of a Family Romance Tapestry"]
Gravesite Details
Known to all as Ray.
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