P D Gray

GRAY

Posted By: County Coordinator (email)
Date: 4/15/2010 at 13:14:09

P D Gray, a leading and prosperous citizen of Boone county, has here resided for more than four decades and is now living retired in Beaver. His birth occurred in Maryland on June 27, 1843, his parents being Peter and Elizabeth (Chester) Gray, who were likewise natives of the state. The father, who devoted his attention to general agricultural pursuits in Maryland throughout his active business career, passed away in that state in 1881. The mother was called to her final rest in the year 1852.
P D Gray was reared and educated in the state of his nativity and was a young man of nineteen when on August 22, 1862, he enlisted for service in the Civil war as a member of Company F, Third Maryland Infantry, continuing with that command until the cessation of hostilities between the north and the south. For a period of seven and a half moths he was held a prisoner at Danville, Virgina.
After returning to Maryland Mr Gray there worked as a blacksmith for two years and on the expiration of that period removed to Ogle county, Illinois, where he worked at his trade for a short time. Subsequently he was there employed as a farm hand for three yeras and then followed farming on his own account for one year. At the end of that time he made his way to Iowa, locating in Story county, where he was engaged in agricultural purusits for one year and then came to Boone county. Here he continued in the service of the Chicago & Northwestern Railway for about seven years and afterward again turned his attention to agricultural pursuits, purchasing land at six dollars per acre. He followed farming successfully for about eleven years and was then obliged to abandon the work of the fields because of impaired health, taking up his abode in Beaver, where he has resided continuously since and where he owns considerable property. He is now spedning the evening of life in honorable retirement, having accumulated a comfortable competene during former years of toil.
On January 1, 1868, Mr Gray was joined in wedlock to Miss Mary E Bowers, a daughter of David and Nancy A (Reynold) Bowers, who were natives of Maryland. The father, who spent his entire life in that state, passed away in 1868, while the mother was called to her final rest in July 1902, when ninety-two yeras of age. Mr and Mrs Gray became the parents of twelve children as follows: Orphia J who is the wife of C S Powers, of Moulton, Iowa, Edward E a resident of Bruno, Minnesota, John H living in Ohio, N Anna who is the wife of John Sifrit of Beaver, this county, Charles who makes his home in California, Frank L whose demise occurred in 1878, Daniel A a resident of Des Moines, Iowa, Cynthia A twin sister of Daniel, who is the wife of Calvin Shadle, a farmer of Boone county, Mary E who gave her hand in marriage to George Stubbs of Ogden, Iowa, Blaine E, Arthur W at home and Elsie M the wife of Fred Harten a farmer of Boone county.
Mr Gray is a republican in politcs and his fellow townsmen, recognizing his worth and ablitly, have chosen him for positions of public trust. He has held he offices of notary public, justice of the peace, trustee, assessor and road supervisor of Amaqua township and in these various connections has discharged this duties capably and commendably. He likewise served as postmaster for two terems, proving an efficeint and popular incumbent in the position. Mr Gray is identified fraternally with the Ancient Order of United Workmen and still maintains pleasant relations with his old army comrades through is membership in the Grand Army of the Republic. His religious faith is that of the Methodist church. He has always been interested in the development of the community and has supported all movements calculated to advance the welfare of its citizens. His practical ideas and progressive methods, as manifested in the discharge of his duties in both public and private life, no less than his sterling qualities of character, have won him the esteem and high regard of many.

1914 Boone County History Book