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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Lonoke County, Arkansas published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1889.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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Daniel L. Gray has become prominent in Lonoke County’s affairs, not alone because of his wealth, but by reason of the many estimable traits of character which attend his everyday life. He is a native of Kentucky, and was born June 16, 1847, being a son of Rev. D. L. Gray, Sr., whose clerical fame was by no means local. The latter was born, reared and educated in South Carolina, becoming a minister of the Old School Presbyterian Church, to which his whole life was given. He moved to Kentucky when a young man and there met and married Miss Kate Foster, a granddaughter of Ex Gov. Adair, she being his second wife. Mr. Gray was one of the first settlers in Jacksonport, but afterward, moving to Kentucky, lost his first wife. Following his second marriage he resided in the Blue Grass State for some time, going thence to Memphis, where after a short period moved again, this time coming to Arkansas, in 1855, and locating in Des Arc. Rev. Mr. Gray was an able minister of the church until his death, and his was a noble work; never thinking of self, he was always ready to help the needy, finding his highest delight in guiding others in the Way of Life. His death, which occurred in 1862, left a vacancy in the church that never could be filled. He also owned and managed a plantation which was very finely cultivated. D. L. Gray, Jr., grew to manhood in Prairie County, remaining with his father until his death, after which he continued to reside at home with his mother till 1872. He was the oldest of five children by the last marriage, himself and a sister, Mary (wife of B. S. Pillow, of Austin, Tex.), being the only ones now living. Daniel received good common-school advantages and was a bright, intelligent scholar, characteristics which marked his career in military life, also, for he served in the staff department of the army during the last year of the war. The old home place in Prairie County is still in the possession of Mr. Gray, and this he values very highly, not alone for its intrinsic worth, but for old association’s sake. In 1872 he went to Little Rock and engaged in the grocery business, in which he was very successful for eleven years, enjoying a trade of upward of $100,000, annually (retail). April 25, 1877, Mr. Gray was united in marriage with Miss Lucy J. Dodge, a daughter of Dr. R. L. Dodge, one of the old pioneers of the State and a man of influence and wealth, whose portrait appears elsewhere in this volume. Mrs. Gray was born and reared in Little Rock, where she received an excellent education in the best schools of that city, and in New York, where she remained for two years in school. To this couple three sons have been born: William Dodge, Daniel, Jr., and Clifton Welch, aged eleven, nine and six, respectively. Mr. Gray is quite an extensive land owner, having a large farm in Richwoods Township and also in Prairie County, 400 acres being in the latter place, and 1,300 acres in Lonoke County. He owns an elegant residence in Little Rock, where he now lives. Mr. and Mrs. Gray are members of the Presbyterian Church, and the former is a member of the K. of H. and K. of P. One who knows him well says: “He is indeed a worthy son of an honored sire, being beloved by those who know him best, and honored and respected by all for his genial qualities, his friendly spirit and his unusually fine physique and social qualities.”

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This family biography is one of 143 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Lonoke County, Arkansas published in 1889.  For the complete description, click here: Lonoke County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

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