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Mary Jane "Sis" Bridgman was born October 3, 1880, near Timbo, in Stone County, Arkansas. She was the daughter of William T. Bridgman and Dicey Jane Maxey. She was named for her mother and her Aunt Mary Catherine Bridgman (b. 1837; d. 1861).
Sis, as she was called by friends and family, was not quite five years old when her mother died in 1885. She was only seven when her father died, leaving her an orphan. The Stone County court awarded guardianship of William T.'s minor children, Thomas, Henry, Rufus, Mary Jane and Hazine, to Rufus M. Broyles of Stone County.
The 1900 Stone County census shows Mary Jane living with the Wise Broyles family, while her sister Hazine lived nearby with the Rufus M. Broyles family. Their brother Henry was shown boarding with the James Broyles family.
Sis married James S. "Jim" Gray on March 16, 1901, at Timbo. Jim Gray was born November 18, 1872, in Izard County, Arkansas. Jim was the son of William Gray, born about 1827, in Mississippi, and Tabitha (last name unknown), born about 1837, in Tennessee. William's father, Richard Gray, born about 1806, in South Carolina, had moved his rather large family to Sylamore Township of Izard County, Arkansas, about 1858.
Jim and Sis settled near Timbo to begin their family. Jim was a farmer. The 1910 Stone County census shows the family living in Sylamore Township on the Mountain View & Timbo Road.
The 1920 Stone County census shows the family in Timbo Township. All seven of their children had been born and appear on the census with them.
The 1930 Stone County census shows the family in Sylamore Township again. Sometime after 1930, Jim moved his family to Okemah, Okfuskee County, Oklahoma. Several of the Gray children moved on to California.
Jim died at Okemah, Oklahoma on January 30, 1934 and is buried in Highland Cemetery in Okemah.
Sis' brother Henry Bridgman lived with her for a time from the mid 30's until his death in 1943.
Sis died in California on September 4, 1962. She is buried at Okemah beside her husband. Her brother Henry, who never married, is buried with her family.
Children of Jim Gray and Mary Jane "Sis" Bridgman
1. Willie T. Gray, b. June 20, 1902, Timbo, Stone Co, AR; d. Aug 1, 1969, McAlester, OK; bur. McAlester; m. Ida ____
2. Troy L. Gray, b. Feb 26, 1904, Timbo, Stone Co, AR; d. Nov 12, 1978, in CA; bur. Highland Cemetery, Okemah, OK; never married
3. Bitha Gray, b. Nov 1, 1906; Timbo, Stone Co, AR; d. Jan 30, 1987, Ontario, CA; bur. Ontario, CA; m. George Shinn in 1939, at Russellville, Pope Co, AR; no children
4. Dennie Gray, b. Dec 20, 1908, Timbo, Stone Co, AR; d. July 20, 1937, Okemah, OK; bur. Highland Cemetery at Okemah; never married
5. Willis Gray, b. July 11, 1911, Timbo, Stone Co, AR; d. Oct 21, 1989, Indio, CA; bur. Indio, CA; m. Alpha L. Armstrong
6. Ellis Gray, b. Sept 4, 1913, Timbo, Stone Co, AR; d. Aug 31, 1990, Montclair, CA; bur. CA; never married
7. Arlie Ann Gray, b. Feb 15, 1917, Timbo, Stone Co, AR; d. Aug 6, 1993, CA; bur. CA; m. Clyde Clark