Thomas Edward Bray
Born March 5, 1844
Died December 30, 1908
Thomas fought with honor in the following battles: Wilderness, VA, May 6-9, 1864; Spottsylvania, VA, May 12-15, 1864; Spottsylvania, VA, May 31, 1864; Bethesda Church, VA, June 3, 1864. 7,000 Union Soldiers Casualties at Cold Harbor In 30 Minutes. Thomas was seriously injured in the upper thigh by a minie ball at the battle of Cold Harbor. His brother, Henry, carried him to the rear of the line so he could receive medical attention immediately. At dawn, on June 3, 1864, the II and XVIII Corps, followed later by the IX Corps, of which the 17th Regiment was a part, were in battle along the Bethesda Church-Cold Harbor line and were slaughtered at all points. 7,000 Union soldiers were injured or died. According to National Archives Records, Thomas was sent immediately to USA General Hospital, in Washington DC. He stayed there until July 12, 1864 when he was admitted to Sloan USA Hospital, in Montpelier, VT. He returned to duty on April 29, 1865, after a hospital stay of 10 months. He was promoted from a private to a corporal on July 1, 1865, and mustered-out near Alexandria, VA, on July 14, 1865. He was due $240.00.
After the war, Thomas worked on the family farm in N. Danville, VT. There he met and married Mary Elizabeth Coveney, daughter of Brainard and Mary Welch Coveney, on December 25, 1869. Their daughter, Mary Agnes, was born in 1874. Diphtheria struck down both mother and child: Mary Elizabeth, 23 years old, died June 8, 1875 and Mary Agnes, just a year and a half, died June 15, 1875.
On September 18, 1876, in St. Johnsbury, VT, Thomas married Honora Teressa Farrell, daughter of James and Rosanne Hart Farrell. Thomas lived with his family in N. Danville, VT and farmed there until moving to Grinnell, Iowa, in 1891, where he entered the livestock business. Thomas died in Grinnell, Iowa, on December 30, 1908, at the age of 64 years and is buried in Hazelwood Cemetery. According to the Grinnell Herald, January 1, 1909, "Thomas died after an illness of 13 months. He was a prominent member of the Gordon Granger post, G.A.R. He was a member of the Catholic church all his life and was a man extensively engaged in the livestock business. This work grew to large proportions and all with whom he had dealings will bear witness to his high sense of integrity and honor. His word was always his bond."
Source: VermontCivilWar.Org Database