Ebenezer Bray

Ebenezer Bray
Bray c. 1858
Member of the Minnesota House of Representatives from the 19th District
In office
December 2, 1857 – December 6, 1859
Personal details
Born(1817-08-29)August 29, 1817
Androscoggin County, Maine, U.S.
DiedMarch 14, 1891(1891-03-14) (aged 73)
Hennepin County, Minnesota, U.S.
Other political
affiliations
Democrat

Ebenezer Bray (August 29, 1817 – March 14, 1891) was an American physician, politician, and early citizen of both Carver, Minnesota and Norwood Young America, Minnesota who served as single term in the Minnesota House of Representatives during the 1st Minnesota Legislature. Bray was the father of Minnesota Prohibition Party candidate Newton Bray, who ran unsuccessfully for Minnesota's 4th congressional district during the 1898 United States House of Representatives elections against Frederick Stevens.

Early life

Bray was born on August 29, 1817, in Androscoggin County, Maine. Bray moved to Minnesota Territory around 1857 and settled in Carver, Minnesota. While in Minnesota, Bray was a member of the board of directors of the Winona Normal School (now Winona State University), alongside Lieutenant Governor William Holcombe, J.D. Ford, and Alfred Elisha Ames.

Political career

Bray was elected on October 13, 1857, to serve in the Minnesota House of Representatives representing Minnesota's 19th House district alongside Ernst Heyd of Scandia township in Carver County. At the time the 19th House district included Carver County and Wright County. Bray served in the 1st Minnesota Legislature from December 2, 1857, to December 6, 1859. During his term Bray was the chair of the Elections Committee. Bray was a member of the Minnesota Democratic Party.

Bray later served on the city council for the city of Carver, Minnesota, from 1865 to 1866.

Personal life and death

Bray was married to Angeline Noyes in Excelsior, Minnesota, in 1859. Bray died on March 14, 1891, and is buried in Excelsior.

References

  1. ↑ University of Minnesota Libraries (April 6, 1946). "Newton Bray". Minnesota Historical Election Archive. Retrieved October 7, 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "Ebenezer Bray". Minnesota Legislators Past & Present. Retrieved October 7, 2026.
  3. ↑ von Walter, John (2016). "Carver Historic District". p. 163. Retrieved October 7, 2026.
  4. ↑ Ruggles, C.O. (1910). Historical Sketch and Notes: Winona State Normal School: 1860-1910. Written in Connection with the Preparation for the Celebration of the Fiftieth Anniversary of the Opening of the Institution, June 5-8, 1910 (PDF). Winona: Jones & Kroeger Co. p. 21.
  5. 1 2 "Nineteenth Senatorial District". Saint Croix union. October 23, 1857. p. 2. LCCN sn83016847. Retrieved October 7, 2026.
  6. ↑ "Ernst Heyd". Minnesota Legislators Past & Present. Retrieved October 7, 2026.
  7. ↑ Neill, Edward Duffield (1882). History of the Minnesota Valley: Including the Explorers and Pioneers of Minnesota. Minneapolis: North star publishing company. pp. 354.
  8. ↑ Heatwhole, Joel P. (1892). The Northfield news almanac and bureau of information. Northfield: Joel P. Heatwhole. pp. 102.
  9. ↑ "Past City Council Members: 1857 to Present". cityofcarver.com. February 12, 2019. Retrieved October 7, 2026.
  10. ↑ "Married - At Excelsior". December 2, 1859. December 2, 1859. p. 7. LCCN sn83016751. Retrieved October 7, 2026.