Bray, Thomas James

BRAY, FARRELL, RYAN

Posted By: Gary Norris (email)
Date: 12/1/2012 at 08:36:44

Not the boundaries of Grinnell or even the confines of the state mark the limits of Thomas James Bray's reputation as a pleader of the bar. In this connection he has become widely known as an able and distinguished lawyer, having gained an eminent position as a member of the legal profession.
He was born in North Danville, Vermont, August 31, 1877, and is the eldest of the nine children of Thomas E. and Nora (Farrell) Bray, who were natives of Vermont, their parents having removed from Canada to the Green Mountain state. In 1890 the father came with his family to Iowa, settling in Grinnell, where he was engaged in the live-stock business up to the time of his death, which occurred on the 30th of December, 1908. The mother is still living and makes her home with her son Thomas.
In the state of his nativity Thomas J. Bray spent the first thirteen years of his life and then left New England for the middle west in company with his parents. His early education, acquired in the public school of Vermont, was supplemented by study in the Grinnell high school, from which he was graduated with the class of 1895. He afterward pursued a course in shorthand and for three years was employed as a stenographer in a Grinnell lumber yard, after which he was made official shorthand reporter for the sixth judicial district, in which capacity he served for six years. During that time his interest in the law was aroused and he began reading in preparation for the bar, to which he was admitted on the 3d of June, 1904.
He then located for practice in Grinnell on the 1st of January, 1905, as a member of the law firm of Boyd & Bray, their partnership continuing until September 1,1910, when the present firm of Bray & Shifflett was formed. He is faithful to his clients, fair to his adversaries and candid to the court. In many cases he has exhibited the possession of every faculty of which a lawyer may be proud - skill in presentation of his own exidence extraordinary ability in cross-examination, persuasiveness before the jury, strong grasp of every feature of a case, ability to secure favorable rulings from the judge, unusual familiarity with human nature and untiring industry.
On the 18th of June, 1907, Mr. Bray was married to Miss Myrna E. Ryan, of Des Moines, who died on the 14th of May of the following year. His political support is given to the republican party and he has been a prominent figure in Iowa politics for a number of years. He was one of the originators of the progressive movement in the party in this state and was one of the managers of Senator Cummins' campaigns. In 1901 he made the first public speech against the political railroad pass in Iowa and has lived to see the course which he advocated became a law. He was a member of the interstate commerce convention held in Chicago in October, 1905, and was of one of the originators of the pledge requiring all the delegates to sign an agreement to support Roosevelt's rate bill before accepting their credentials, which resulted in the Rump convention and was the means of creating a public sentiment which forced the bill through congress. Mr. Bray, however, has never sought nor held public office himself, yet has served as chairman of the republican county central committee, and is untiring in his efforts to secure the adoption of the political principles in which he so firmly believes.
He is also deeply interested in agriculture and development along that line and he owns a large tract of land east of Grinnell, where he carries on farming pursuits on a scientific basis. He belongs to Marshalltown Lodge, No. 312, B.P.O.E. of Marshalltown, Iowa, is a member of the Catholic church and the Knights of Columbus. From a poor boy he has worked his way upward, largely providing for his own education and winning in his life that success which is the result of earnest, persistent effort, intelligently directed. While various interests claim his attention and have been promoted through his activity, his attention is chiefly given to his profession and his practice is a very extensive one, extending from New York to California. He is a most eloquent, earnest and able pleader and his work is largely given to pleading his cases before the courts. He has a comprehensive knowledge of the law, eloquence expressed in well modulated tones, and the sympathetic quality of his voice combined with wide understanding of legal principles enables him to not only sway but to convince auditors and the court.

History of Poweshiek County Iowa
- A Record of Settlement, Organizations, Progress and Achievement, Vol. II
written by Prof. L. F. Parker.
Published by The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., in 1911
Pages 608-609