CHARLES O. GRAY

View Portraits of
F.M. Gray and Mrs. F.M. Gray

Charles O. Gray is now successfully engaged in the operation of a farm on section 26, Gower township, where he was born on the 16th of November, 1875, his parents being Francis Marion and Ella (Blanchard) Gray. His father was also a native of Cedar county, born in Iowa township on the 28th of February, 1846, and belonged to an old and prominent family that early became identified with the development of this region. His parents were Ebenezer A. and Eliza (Bolon) Gray, the former a native of Harrison county, Ohio, and the latter of Loudoun county, Virginia. At an early day Mrs. Gray accompanied her parents on their removal to Ohio and there she was married and continued to make her home until 1839, when she came with her husband to Cedar county, Iowa. Here he entered one hundred and sixty acres of land in Iowa township and to the improvement and cultivation of this tract he devoted his energies for many years. Being a gunsmith by trade, he was in the employ of the government for some time, repairing guns used in the Indian wars, specimens of which are now on exhibition in Des Moines, but his attention was mainly given to agricultural pursuits. In his family were eight children, namely: Amanda, who married Daniel Ellyson and is now deceased; Thomas, a resident of West Liberty, Iowa; Alfred, a resident of Atlantic, this state; Mary and Caroline, who died in infancy; Ann, the wife of Joseph Westfall, who died during his service in the Civil war, while her death occurred in Iowa township; F. M., the father of our subject; and William, of West Branch, Iowa.

F. M. Gray, our subject’s father, continued a resident of Cedar county throughout his life and was the owner of the farm upon which his son now resides besides a section of land in the state of Washington, where he spent three winters. He was a stanch supporter of the republican party and its principles and for six years most effectively served as county supervisor. After a useful and well spent life, he passed away on the 26th of April, 1907. In early manhood he married Miss Ella Blanchard, who was born in Stark county, Ohio, but came to Cedar county, Iowa, shortly after the Civil war. Here she died September 19, 1908. She was the daughter of Abraham and Lydia (McClunn) Blanchard, both of whom died in Ohio. Our subject is the younger of the two children born to his parents, the other being Harry B., who is now the owner of a section of land which his father possessed in the state of Washington and also has a homestead which he entered there.

Charles O. Gray was only three years of age when the family removed to the farm in Iowa township in the spring of 1879, their home being about five miles southeast of Springdale, but after 1881 they returned to the old homestead in Gower township now owned and operated by our subject. In January, 1890, however, they removed to Springdale, but after residing there for a few months settled on his grandfather’s old home farm. In March, 1897, Charles O. Gray with his parents and brother again located on the farm which he today owns and occupies and has since given his entire time and attention to its operation. He received a good district school education and also attended the Springdale schools for a time and took a course at the Iowa City Commercial College. He is a progressive and up-to-date farmer and is meeting with excellent success in the operation of his land, consisting of three hundred and thirty acres on sections 25, 26 and 27, Gower township. He has made many excellent improvements upon the place and in connection with general farming carries on stock-raising to some extent.

On the 10th of May, 1905, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Gray and Miss Elma Leech, who was born December4, 1877, on a farm in Johnson county, Iowa, southwest of West Branch, her parents being John and Miriam (Walker) Leech of that place. This union has been blessed by three children, Francis Marvin, Eleanor and Howard. Mr. Gray is one of the prominent and representative citizens of this community and those who have known him from boyhood are numbered among his stanchest friends, a fact which indicates an upright and honorable career.