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         WILLIAM GRAY, a pioneer of Louisa County, of 1840, was born in Stratford-on-Avon, England, in the month of October, 1824, and is a son of James Gray. In 1832 he emigrated with his parents to America, settling in Baltimore, Md., but later removed to Columbus, Ohio, where he made his home until 1840, and then settled in Columbus City Township, Louisa County, where he engaged in farming. In 1847 he was united in marriage with Miss Sarah Stronach, a daughter of William Stronach, and a native of Maryland, she having come to Iowa the spring pre- . . .

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. . . vious. Two children were born of their union, sons: J. Edward, who became the husband of Miss Jennie Daudy, is engaged in farming, and lives on the old homestead in Columbus City Township; William H. wedded Miss Celia Gray, who was a daughter of James A. Gray, but her death occurred April 4, 1882, leaving one child, a daughter, Verna C., now aged seven years, and William H. was again married May 30, 1883, to Miss Mary Lieitia Northey, daughter of Gilbert Northey, formerly a resident of Columbus Junction, now living in Spirit Lake, Iowa. Mrs. Gray was born in Wisconsin, and one child graces the union, Ernest H., born Nov. 11, 1886.

Our subject received his education in the common schools and studied law in the State University of Iowa, being graduated from that institution in the class of ’76. He formed the existing partnership with Ezra B. Tucker, under the firm name of Gray & Tucker, and began practice on the 7th of August, 1876. This firm does an extensive law practice, and also a large amount of business in the way of preparing abstracts of titles, having full sets of abstracts of Louisa County. In his political views Mr. Gray is a Republican, and is now serving his tenth year as Justice of the Peace, and his eighth year as Clerk of the School Board of the Independent School District of Columbus Junction.