In the book's own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
Born 1849, Lee County
From The history of Nodaway county, Missouri, containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, etc., biographical sketches of its citizens (1882)
CHARLES F. GRAY, section 33, post office Gaynor City. The subject of this sketch was born in Lee County, Illinois, March Sr 1849, and was raised to manhood in his birthplace, spending his boyhood days on a farm. At the age of twenty years he emigrated to Missouri,, locating in this county, where he has since resided. He has eighty acres of land that will average with any in the county, sixty acres of which are under cultivation. Mr. Gray was married February 23, 1 87 1, to Miss Mary A. McLaughlin. They have two children: Nellie and Gracie. Mr. G., for the first two years and a-half of his residence here worked at the trade of bridge building, and in 1869 settled where he now resides..
As printed in The history of Nodaway county, Missouri, containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, etc., biographical sketches of its citizens (1882). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
The printed record stops around 1882. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.