The Gray Families of Knox County, Ohio

JAMES E. GRAY, M. D.

The practice of medicine entails perhaps more trying situations than that of any other profession, and those who succeed in this line are deserving of the highest credit, for they must not only be well versed in the science, but must possess personal qualities that win the confidence and respect of the public. A case in question is that of Dr. James E. Gray, of North Liberty, Knox county, one of the best known and most successful physicians of a locality long noted for the high order of its medical talent, for his reputation extends throughout the locality of which this history treats. The qualities that have made him eminent in his chosen vocation are proper intellectual training, thorough professional knowledge and a utilization of the various attributes essential to success.

Doctor Gray was born in Holmes county, Ohio, September 30, 1864. He is the son of George W. and Harriet J. (Quillan) Gray, the father born in Killbuck township, Holmes county, on March 8, 1837, and the mother was born in Harrison county, Ohio, February 8, 1844. The paternal grandparents were George and Mary Gray, who were natives of Maryland, the grandmother dying when young of an injury. George Gray came from Maryland to Holmes county, Ohio, and here became the owner of two farms, each of one hundred and sixty acres. The maternal grandparents, James and Elizabeth Ouillan, were natives of Harrison county, this state, both born in 1818; his death occurred in 1907, while her death occurred in 1905.

The Doctor’s father grew up in Holmes county, Ohio, and was educated in the district schools there and he has always lived in Mechanic township, that county, being still engaged in farming there, owning an excellent place. He is a plasterer by trade. He and his wife are members of the Free Methodist church.

Eleven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. George W. Gray, eight sons and three daughters, namely: Dr. James E., of this review, is the oldest; Mrs. Aurilla Leibensburger, of Oklahoma; Charles R. is living in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio; Mrs. Alverna Ryan and Mrs. Fannie Heddin also live at Cuyahoga Falls; Walter C. lives on a farm in Killbuck township, Holmes county, Ohio; Clyde is a plasterer, living at Akron, Ohio; Noble lives at Enid, Oklahoma; Chloe is living in Cuyahoga Falls; Floyd and Don are the youngest of the family.

Dr. James E. Gray first attended Gray’s Ridge district school in Mechanic township. Holmes county, Ohio, then attended the high school at Millersburg. Then he taught school for a period of fifteen years in the district schools near his home, having begun to teach when only seventeen years old. He met with success as a teacher and his services were in great demand in the rural schools of Holmes county. During the last few years of his teaching he did the preliminary work for a medical course, studying under Doctor Ouittard at Killbuck, Ohio. He then took a two years’ course at the Starling Medical College at Columbus, Ohio, then spent two years at the Illinois Medical College at Chicago, from which he was graduated in 1898, having made an excellent record for scholarship. He then practiced for one year in Chicago with a specialist in gynechology, then located at Danville, Knox county, Ohio, remaining there two and one-half years, then in February, 1901, he came to North Liberty, where he has continued in the successful practice of his profession to the present time, building up an extensive and ever growing practice, covering a wide range of territory. He has taken a very high rank among his compeers in this part of Ohio, in the medical fraternity, and, having ever been a student, he has kept well abreast of the times in all that pertains to his profession

Doctor Gray and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and liberal supporters of the same. Fraternally, he is a member of the Maccabees. He belongs to the county and state medical associations, taking much interest in each.

The Doctor's domestic life began on July 28, 1889, when he was united in marriage with Estella Gray, who was born in Holmes county, Ohio, near Glenmont, on June 11, 1867. She is the daughter of Henry B. and Rachael Gray, the father a farmer near Glenmont. He and his wife were natives of northern Pennsylvania.

Five children have been born to Doctor and Mrs. Gray, namely: Sylvia, born June 24, 1890; Walter II, born September 1, 1892; Dow, born December 3, 1893; Frances, born April 3, 1895; James, born December 5, 1897.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

CHARLES M. GRAY, D. D. S.

In a locality ranking high for its professional talent, whose dentists take conspicuous places among their colleagues throughout the state, is Dr. Charles M. Gray, who is located at Mt. Vernon, Knox county, where he is enjoying a lucrative practice and, although a young man, is rapidly taking his position as one of the representative citizens of this locality whose interests he seems to have at heart.

Doctor Gray was born April 23, 1879, in Muskingum county, Ohio, the son of James and Medolia (Hicks) Gray, both natives of Muskingum county, w'here the father was a successful farmer and prominent in public affairs, being an ardent Republican. For many years he served as justice of the peace. He stood high in the county and his character was above reproach.

Charles M. Gray grew to maturity on the home farm, which he worked during the crop seasons, and attended the district schools in the winter time, remaining under the parental roof until he was twenty years of age, when he took a position as foreman of the decorating department of the J. B. Owens Pottery Company at Zanesville, Ohio, where he remained three years, having as many as forty men under him, and his services were eminently satisfactory to the management. In 1904 he left this establishment, and, having always had a desire and ambition to become a dentist, he entered the office of Dr. J. J. Hill, of Zanesville, and later that of Dr. Charles Hill, of Wheeling, West Virginia, having spent a year in the office of the former and a year and a half in that of the latter. In the fall of 1906 he entered the dental department of the Starling Medical College, at Columbus, Ohio, to complete his dental course, and he remained a student there three years, graduating there with a splendid record in the spring of 1909. Soon afterward he located at Mt. Vernon, opening a neat office for the practice of his profession at No. hi 1-2 South Main street and he has since remained in the same location. His office is admirably arranged, modern in every appointment and all equipment is thoroughly up-to-date, his apparatus being of the best and latest models. Notwithstanding the fact that he has been in Mt. Vernon a comparatively short time. Doctor Gray has built up a very large and lucrative patronage which is continually growing, he and his assistant being kept constantly busy.

Personally, Doctor Gray is a genial and affable gentleman and, being skilled and honest in his work, he has no trouble in securing and retaining patients.

Adhering to the political faith of his father, Doctor Gray is a Republican, but is not active in political affairs, though he is always interested and well informed on public matters. Fraternally, he is a member of the Masonic order and has attained to the Knight Templar degree. He affiliates with the Methodist Episcopal church. He has remained unmarried.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.