Sarah E. Ray Sans

Sarah E. Ray was born in 1854 (some records say 1856), daughter of James Ezekiel Ray and Lavina Jane Thomas Ray, both originally from Missouri.

JOURNEY TO CALIFORNIA (1859): When Sarah was about 6 years old, her father James led a wagon train of fourteen ox-drawn wagons to California by the northern route. One story is told that young Sarah found an Indian baby next to a river and brought it back to the wagon. Her parents were alarmed and took the Indian child back, fearing hostile Indians would come looking.

The family crossed Donner Pass and arrived in the Sacramento Valley after a six-month trip. Her father tried mining in the gold fields, then they settled in Woodbridge near Stockton. They later moved to southern Monterey County and to Reliz Canyon, then James homesteaded 160 acres near Bryson (between Jolon and Bradley).

MARRIAGE: In 1870, at age 16, Sarah married Charles Sans (age 32) near Soledad.

Her mother Lavina had asthma and most often smoked a pipe which she believed helped her malady.

CHILDREN: Had six children with Charles: Alice (b. 1874), Edward (b. 1875), Charles Uriah (b. 1876), Alvie Winfield (b. 1879), Myrtle Rae, and James Frank (b. 1886).