Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 4.djvu/585

 VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY

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then in private schools of Petersburg and Ashland finished his preparatory studies. In 1887 he entered Randolph-Macon Col- lege from whence he was graduated A. B., class of "93." Then in pursuance of his settled purpose he entered the University College of ^ledicine at Richmond. Virginia, in 1894, pursuing a full course until he grad- uated ^I. D. with the class of "97." He took post-graduate courses at Polytechnic Col- lege of Medicine, New York City, in 1898 and 1899, 'I'ld "^^'^s interne at New York General Hospital for a time. After complet- ing his years of preparation he chose Bote- tourt county. \"irginia, as a location and there practiced until 1906 when he began general practice in Ashland, Virginia, where he is well established, honored and popular. He is health officer of Ashland and of Han- over county, using his skill to prevent by sanitary precaution the more common scourges that beset public health. He is a member of the Virginia Medical Society, and the Richmond Academy of Medicine, taking deep interest in these societies so valuable to the modern • physician. He is physician to his alma mater, Randolph- Macon, Ashland being the seat of that famed institution. Dr. Ray is a Alason, an Odd Fellow, belongs to the Junior Order of American Mechanics ; is a communicant of the Methodist Episcopal church, and in poli- tical faith is a Democrat.

Dr. Ray married, June 10, 1903, Carrie Lee White, born in Albemarle county, Vir- ginia, June 10, 1880, daughter of George W. and Annie (\\"eyland) W^hite. Children: Alfred Chambers (2). born July 13, 1904; Mrginia Scott, born December 22, 1906 ; George Henry, born Alay 15, 1908; Edward Scott, born June 12, 191 1 ; James Enos, born February 11, 1913. All but the eldest were born in Ashland.

John Greene Corley, of Richmond, Vir- ginia, head of the great musical house doing business under the style of The Corley Company, Incorporated, is a native of Ten- nessee, and is descended from an English family, which Barber (an English author- ity) says was of Norman origin. It is evi- dent that, from a very ancient period, there has been a disagreement as to the form of the Corley name among its holders. Also there is a difference of opinion among the genealogists as to its derivation. One

authority says that it is of Norman origin, derived from the locality of "Cuilly" in Nor- mandy. Another says it is from the Irish "Macauley" or "Macawley." It is, of course, impossible at this time to be certain of the derivation of a name eight hundred years old, about which the doctors dififer. The Cawleys seem to have been established in county Sussex, England, in 1600, and it is probable that the Tennessee family came from that county. In Cheshire, England, three spellings were found in 1600: Corley, Cawley and Colley. It will be seen from this that the difficulties existed in England before they were transferred to Tennessee. The Cawley coat-of-arms (which is the original form of this name) is thus de- scribed : "Sable a chevron ermine between three swans' heads, erased at the neck ar- gent."

The Corley family of Tennessee was founded by two "Cawley" brothers who came to America just prior to the revolu- tionary period. These brothers differed as to the proper spelling of their name, and William Cawley (or Corley) claimed that the proper way to spell the name was "Corley," his brother, however, spelled the name "Colley," and settled in ]\Iiddle Ten- nessee.

(I) William Corley. the great-grand- father of John Greene Corley, served in the revolutionary army under the command of General Wayne, and after the conclusion of the war married a Miss Roundtree, of Ken- tucky, and settled in Smith county, Tennes- see. By this marriage there were five sons and six daughters, namely : R. Dudley, John J., Larkin, Seth, William, Patsy, Re- becca. Bettie, Mary. Nancy and Fannie. He lived to be quite an old man and drew a pension as a revolutionary soldier.

(II) John J. Corley, grandfather of John Greene Corley, was a prominent farmer and stock raiser of Davidson county, Tennes- see, and as a young man bought property in Davidson county, near Nashville. He mar- ried Ellen Newhouse. Of this marriage there were three sons and one daughter : John Buchanan, Joseph W., Seth D., Eliza- beth Corley.

(III) John Buchanan Corley, father of John Greene Corley, married Harriet Lowe, daughter of Pinkney E. Lowe, Esq., of Hartsville, Tennessee. Major John Greene Lowe, brother of Harriet (Lowe) Corley,