San Diego County Biographies
 
JOHN H. GAY, JR.

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm


is a native of the parish of Iberville, Louisiana, born March 21, 1853. His 
father, Edward J. Gay, was born in Liberty, Virginia, but moved to St. Louis, 
Missouri, in 1821, and was among the first settlers of that town. His 
grandfather was a native of Stanton, Virginia, and was a pioneer merchant in St. 
Clair County, Illinois. His son, Edward J. Gay, succeeded him in the business, 
and was there as merchant all his life, but had business in St. Louis, Missouri, 
and in New Orleans, Louisiana. They were of English and French descent, and a 
branch of the family are descended from Pocahontas. Mr. Gay's great-grandfather 
was a soldier in the Revolution, under General Washington. Mr. Gay's grandmother 
was Sophia Mitchell. She was a member of a family whose male members were 
Methodist preachers for many years. His mother, Lovina (Hynes) Gay, was the 
daughter of Colonel Andrew Hynes, who was on the staff of General Jackson in his 
wars with the Indians and at the battle of New Orleans. Mr. Gay's father and 
mother were married in Tennessee. He received his early education at home, and 
in 1871 was sent to Washington and Lee College, and was there three years. 
General R. E. Lee was president of the college. After leaving college he engaged 
on the sugar plantation in Louisiana, and was there from 1874 to 1885, and then 
on account of his health came to California, landed in San Francisco, and 
visited nearly every county in the State, and settled in San Diego County in 
1886. He bought a ranch at Linda Vista, fourteen miles north of San Diego He has 
a section of land and is spending considerable money in developing water. His 
water storage is a success and when generally adopted will revolutionize the 
agricultural condition of the county. Mr. Gay was married December 20, 1877, to 
Miss Rebecca P. Connell, a native of Mississippi, born September 6, 1854. She 
was a daughter of Mr. Lemuel P. Connell, a native of Mississippi; he was a 
planter and a lawyer, and is now at Natchez, Mississippi. Her mother was Fanny 
E. Turner, a daughter of Judge Edward Turner. The family were of English 
descent. Mr. Gay is a member of the Methodist Church, South.
 
SOURCE:  An Illustrated History of Southern California:  Embracing the Counties 
of San Diego, San Bernardino, Los Angeles and Orange, and the Peninsula of Lower 
California� Chicago:  The Lewis Publishing Company, 1890.  p.-  324-325