My Genealogy Hound

Prof. Oliver Crosby Gray, A.M., LL.D., was born In Lincoln County, Me., December 30, 1832, the son of Dr. Peter T. Gray and grandson of Rev. Thomas Gray, who was a clergyman of the Unitarian Church, and who spent a long, useful life in his ministerial work in Maine and Massachusetts. Dr. Peter T. Gray was a native of Massachusetts, a graduate of the medical department of Cambridge University, and an eminent physician of Jefferson, Me. His wife, Elizabeth (Kennedy) Gray, was a lady of unusual attainments, and the daughter of Nathaniel Kennedy, a worthy citizen of Waldoborough, Me., who dated his ancestry back to early Scotch-Irish settlers in that State. Prof. Oliver C. Gray was the eldest of a family of three sons: Thomas K. is a druggist at Minneapolis, Minn., and a man of wealth, and John D. is a druggist of Stockton, Cal. The boyhood days of Prof. Gray were spent in his native state, and in 1849 be entered Waterville (Me.) Classical Institute, where he spent two years in a preparatory course. In August, 185l, he entered Colby University, graduating with the class of 1855 in a thorough literary and classical course, taking his A. B. After graduating he went to Minneapolis, where he had charge of the public schools, and was the first superintendent of those schools. He remained here two years, and then spent two years as principal of the Monticello Academy, of Wright County, Minn. After this he was located for one year at Princeton, and took charge of the female academy in Dallas County, Ark., but the breaking out of the war caused him to leave his charge at that place and accept a responsible position in the Confederate army. After the war he resumed his labors at Princeton, and there remained two years, after which he accepted the position of professor of mathematics in St. John’s College, Little Rock, Ark. Here he remained seven years and was president of the college the last three years of his stay, resigning his position to accept the position of professor of mathematics in the A. I. U., which position he held until 1885. During the seven years in St. John’s and eight and a half years in the A. I. U., he served as commandant of cadets, and this, including four years in the war, makes a total of nineteen and one half years in military service. In 1886 Prof. Gray was placed in charge of the public schools of Fayetteville, and held the superintendency until May, 1888. During his incumbency of St. John’s College, in 1869, he was made M. A. by his Alma Mater, and in 1884 he had the degree of Doctor of Laws conferred upon him by that university. He was elected to the office of mayor of Fayetteville, and filled the position from 1886 to 1888. He was married in Cushing, Me., to Miss Virginia L. Davis, a lady of education and refinement, who died in full communion with the faith of the Presbyterian Church. She had been a teacher of art in the A. I. U. for several years, and died In 1886, leaving a son and daughter: Carl R., a young man of unusually good business qualities, who is now holding the responsible position of commercial agent of the ‘Frisco Railroad, with headquarters at Wichita, Kas., and Ethel, a student of the Lewis Academy at Witchita, Kas. Prof. Gray is a charter member of Frontier Lodge 1626, K. of H., and was representative to the Grand Lodge this year. He is a Mason, knighted in Hugh De Payne Commandery, Little Rock, Ark., made in Princeton Lodge No. 16, Princeton, Ark., and to the thirtieth degree of the Ancient Scottish Rite at Little Rock in 1872. In July, 1888, he was re-elected to his old chair of mathematics in the A. I. U., which position he now holds.