 Picture courtesy of Jim Kuntz.
 Picture courtesy of Jim Kuntz.
The Ray House is the only park structure on the original site that dates back to the Battle of Wilson's Creek. Postmaster and farmer John Ray built it in the 1850's. For ten years it served as the Wilson's Creek Post Office, a stopping place on the old Wire Road that connected Springfield, Missouri, with Fort Smith, Arkansas.
In 1861, twelve people were living here. John and Roxanna Ray, their nine children, and a mail carrier. Their slave "Aunt Rhoda" and her four children occupied a small cabin to the rear of the house. On August 10, 1861, they found themselves in the path of war.
The Ray house served as a hospital during and after the battle.
[The Butterfield Stagecoach, stopped here on its way to Elk Horn Tavern, Pea Ridge, Arkansas. It then turned west to San Francisco. The Old Wire Road is still very visible in front of the house.]
National Park Service.
MO-FF, Wilson's Creek Battlefield N.P., 6 miles SW of Springfield, Greene County Missouri
|
Comments () |
|
|
|
|
|
Missouri 
