J.D. and H.B. Fray farm (part a), Tract 138, Madison County

The 1920s survey

Timber (white oak, chestnut oak, poplar, red oak, misc). 1,018 acres, valued at $1,632. The state paid $2,482.

Today

Landmarks on this map (2)

House sites and family graves are never marked. Pins show only public places, from USGS place names and other public sources.

Landmarks in this tract: Buzzard Rocks · USGS place names, Climbing Rose Falls · USGS place names

The National Park Service has no case file online for this tract.

Papers from the Madison County circuit court’s proceedings to take the land for the park, scanned by JMU Libraries.

Fray, JD and HB
The file at JMU Libraries, opens in a new tab PDF, opens in a new tab
In the file: Claimant Worksheet, Tract Assessment, Owner Claim, LOB9 (pages 175, 299, 302, 303)
Courtesy of the Madison County Circuit Court Clerk and JMU Libraries, Histories along the Blue Ridge. Licensed CC BY-NC 4.0, opens in a new tab.

Other tracts whose owners shared the name. A shared name doesn’t always mean a shared family.

G.W. Hurt's apple trees valued
G. W. Hurt's claim included 15 apple trees valued at 80 cents each.
From the records How we know
Fund amount for condemnation proceeds
The fund arising from the condemnation of the tract was stated to be Four Hundred and Ten dollars.
From the records How we know
Claimants of the condemnation fund
H. B. Fray and the estate of J. D. Fray claimed the fund arising from the condemnation of the tract.
From the records How we know
Ownership claim by Fray heirs
H. B. Fray and the heirs of J. D. Fray claimed the entire award for Tract 138-IV as owners of the land, saying John Henry Sowers was in possession of it under a lease.
From the records How we know
1906 deed for 1100 acres
A 1906 deed from Geo. W. Hurt and Lucy Ellen Hurt conveyed 1100 acres to John D. Fray and H. B. Fray for ten dollars.
From the records How we know
Award of $2,482 for Tract 138
The court ordered the payment of $2,482.00, which had been paid into court as just compensation for Tract No. 138.
From the records How we know

Source: National Park Service, Shenandoah National Park, Historic Land Tracts.