Biographical Dictionary of Well-Known British Columbians (1890)
Bray, Marshal Bidwell (Nanaimo), eldest son of Ezra Bray, farmer, of Halton
county, Ontario, was born at Oakville, on August 30th, 1840. Mr. Bray is of United
Empire Loyalist stock. His family originally settled in New Jersey, but after the termination
of the war of independence the removed to Canada, and located in Halton country, Ontario
where some representatives still live. Mr. Bray was educated at Oakville grammar school,
and having completed his studies at the age of eighteen years, he subsequently assisted his
father in the management of the farm. In 1862 during the Cariboo excitement he left Ontario
and came to British Columbia. On his arrival he went direct to the mines and remained in that
region till 1876. During that period he mined on most of the now famous creeks of Cariboo, as,
Williams, Antler, Lighting and Grouse. He was in the main unsuccessful in his prospects,
for while he "washed out" a great deal of gold, he lost it again in further efforts. In
1876 he went to Cassiar where he mined during the summer, and where he had pretty fair luck,
finally, however, working his claim out. In the autumn of 1876 he went to Nanaimo where he
obtained a position with the Vancouver Coal Company. He continued in this till 1878, when he
accepted and engagement in the business of Mr. Jas. Abrams, which he held till 1880, when he
was appointed government agent, which position he now holds. He took considerable part in
politics till his appointment as agent, since which time he has not actively interested himself
in this direction. He was married on October 8th, 1883, to Miss Sarah Randle, of Nanaimo,
and has two sons. Besides his position as government agent, Mr. Bray is a registrar of the
Supreme and County Courts, mining recorder, and is also a director of the Nanaimo Telephone
Company. In religion he is a member of the Episcopal Church.
[Dictionary, pp. 109-110].
Biographical Dictionary of Well-Known British Columbians. With a Historical Sketch. By J.B. Kerr (Vancouver, B.C.: Kerr & Begg, 1890).