In the books' own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. The later printing (1910) is folded below the first. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
From History of Wayne County Ohio (1910), Commemorative biographical record of Wayne County, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, and of many of the early settled families .. (1889)
[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]
The eldest son, Charles M. Gray, after receiving a liberal education in the schools of his native city, engaged in business with Iiis lather, at first as an assistant, and finally as a partner. In 1885 he went to Galion, Ohio, where he established himself in the milling business, in which he remained until recalled to Wooster by his father's death. Since then, in partnership with his mother, 3Irs. J. L. Gray, he has carried on the business established by his father, under its original name — Gray &
Son. He is also manager of the Standard
Oil Company's supply depot at Wooster.
He is a F. & A. M., and a member of the
Royal Arcanum; he is a Republican.
, ylLLIAM Y. ARMSTRONG, a son
[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]
As printed in Commemorative biographical record of Wayne County, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, and of many of the early settled families .. (1889). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
JAMES LLOYD GRAY.
A due measure of success invariably results from clearly defined purpose and consecutive effort in the affairs of life, but in following out the career of one who has attained success by his own efforts there comes into view the intrinsic individuality which has made such accomplishments possible. Such attributes were evidently possessed by James L. Gray, for many years prominent in the commercial and industrial life of the city of Wooster and he succeeded in leaving the indelible imprint of his personality upon the lives of all with whom he came into contact. He was born in Milton, Northumberland county, Pennsylvania, in 1832. His father was of Scotch and his mother of German ancestry. They came to Pennsylvania in what historians are pleased to call “an early day,” the mother dying there when her son, James L., was a small child, consequently he was reared by his uncle, Samuel Blain, who lived on a farm near the birthplace of the subject.
When sixteen years of age, Mr. Gray began life for himself, first obtaining a position as clerk on a steamboat that plied the waters of the Mississippi, for the life of a riverman in those days was a fascinating one and appealed very strongly to the boyish imagination of the subject. This life he followed for three years, during which time he had occasion to ascend and descend all
6o8 the navigable rivers tributary to the Mississippi, one of the most notable and interesting trips being to the Yellowstone Park inquest of furs.
But finally, tiring of life on the river, Mr. Gray returned to his home town, Milton, Pennsylvania, and served an apprenticeship in the saddler's trade, after which he located at New Brighton, Pennsylvania. There he met and afterwards married Eunice Magaw, a native of Beaver county, Pennsylvania, and soon after his marriage he brought his young bride to Wooster, Wayne county, Ohio, where he at once engaged in business, and eventually became one of the leading business men of the county.
Mr. Gray was one of the loyal sons of the North who sacrificed the pleasures of home and opportunities of business to aid in suppressing the rebellion, enlisting in 1864 in Company E, One Hundred and Sixty-ninth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served with credit in the famous Army of the Potomac, having been in the quartermaster's department a part of the time. After the war he returned to Wooster and for a time was superintendent of the Home mills. In 1875 be began dealing in coal, lime and builders* supplies, which business grew until it reached very large proportions and which he continued until his death, which occurred on June 8. 1886, at the age of fifty-four years.
Mr. and Mrs. Gray were the parents of the following children: Charles M. Gray, a well-known resident of Wooster, Ohio: Mrs. Cora B. Plummer, deceased: Mrs. Emma E. Orr, deceased: Mrs. Eunice Jeffries, of Charlotte, North Carolina: William L. Gray, a resident of Wooster.
James L. Gray was a man of pleasing disposition, honorable in public and private life, and he merited the high esteem in which he was universally held. He was a loyal Republican, taking a very active interest in political affairs. He served as a member of the volunteer fire department, which in his day was an important factor in the life of Wooster. Fraternally he was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias and Knights of Honor, and he also belonged to the Grand Army of the Republic. He was one of the pillars of the English Lutheran church, having served as a member of the building committee in the erection of the Tabernacle on North Market street.
As printed in History of Wayne County Ohio (1910). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
Named in this biography: Charles M. Gray (b. 1859)
Their biographies name James L. Gray: Simon Lehman (b. 1840)
The printed record stops around 1910. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.