John "Gray" Blount Nelson was born in North Carolina. He was married once to Caroline Bishop, who was born in 1832 in South Carolina. The couple were reared in the Palmetto state and married there. After residing in Tennessee for some time, they came to Arkansas and located in Bickles Cave, Izard Coujnty (now StoneCounty). Gray was always a farmer, and was prominent in the affairs of his section, holding the office of justice of the peace for a number of years. During the Civil War he was in the Confederate service with the 8th Arkansas four years, and during this time participated in many battles. He was captured at Chickamauga and taken to Camp Douglas near Chicago, where he was kept until the close of the war. He was always a Democrat in politics and a worthy member of the Baptist Church.

To this union four known children were born: 1. Mary, born April 29, 1851 2. William Henry "Dick", born December 17, 1862 3. Julia, born 1857 4. Martha, born 1894.

Caroline Nelson died in 1873 in Izaard County (now StoneCounty), Arkansas. Gray died after 1894.

References:
Census records
A Reminiscent History of Arkansas - Goodspeed - 1894





John G. B. Nelson's Civil War Records