Gray, Dr. A. L. 1825-1893

GRAY, NELSON

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 7/7/2006 at 15:48:49

"DOC" GRAY DEAD. - The Unionville, Patnam [sic-Putnam] Co., Mo., "Republican" of April 5th, comes to us bringing notice of the death of Dr. A. L. Gray, which occurred on the 3d. He was born April 2d, 1825. Many of the older citizens will remember him as he was a prominent active Democratic politician in Jasper County along in the 50's and candidate for several offices, but was always defeated. He built the home now owned by "Mother" Hunter, and was engaged at one time in the drug business here. He died of nervous prostration, aged 68 years.

After stating that the Dr. was a graduate of the Memphis (Tenn:) Medical Institute, that he first practiced medicine in Iowa City, the "Republican" adds:

Leaving there he went to Des Moines, Iowa, and practiced there in connection with the eminent Dr. Colly. He next moved to Newton, Iowa, where he became acquainted with Miss Mary E. Nelson, to whom he was married on the 5th day of May, 1853. He resided at Newton unitl 1859 when he determined to go farther west, and went to Pike's Peak, then to Denver, then to the Hot Springs, of Los Vegas, in New Mexico. When the war of the Rebellion broke out in 1861 he entered the service and was commissioned surgeon of the 2nd regiment of New Mexico Volunteers, by Gov. Abraham Rencher. He was captured by the rebel forces near Albuquerque and was held for some considerable time as a prisoner, but was released by General Canby. The 1st and 2nd regiments were so depleted in a short time that they were consolicdated, the officers of the 1st holding the offices of the consolidation, and as the Doctor was mustered out; he then came to Leavenworth, Kansas, and from there he came to Macon county, Missouri, where he again entered service in the 42d Regiment Missouri Volunteers, and was commissioned by Gov. Willard P. Hall, as assistant surgeon of the regiment, in which capacity he served to the close of the war. On the 31st of July, 1865 he came to Putnam county, Missouri, where he resided til 1885, when he moved to Jetmore, Kansas. He resided there for about five years when he returned to this county. He was one of the three Commissioners of Registration in this county in 1866-7-8.

In the fall of 1878 he was elected to represent Putnam county in the General Assembly of Missouri and served for two years.

In the fall of 1884 he was chosen by the combined opposition to the Democratic party as a candidate for Congress, and made one of the most thorough and aggressive canvasses against Col. Hatch that that gentleman ever experienced, failing of an election by a few hundred votes in a strongly democratic district. ~ The Newton Journal (Iowa) Wednesday, April 12, 1893