My Genealogy Hound

PETER GRAY, farmer; P. O. Troy. This gentleman deserves a place in history, as he is a prominent farmer, and his influence in his neighborhood is considerable; he is a native of Virginia, and was born in Morgan Co. in 1837; when he came to Montgomery Co., Ohio, in 1858, his worldly possessions amounted to $50; he stopped among strangers, and commenced work at $13 per month; the next year, he was employed in farming the land of his former employer, and for his share received one-third of all he raised; he continued on this farm for nine years, and by economy had managed to lay by a nice little sum; he then came to Troy and commenced work for Reuben Michaels, receiving 80 cents per day when he worked, and his board when he did nothing; during this time, he formed an acquaintance with, and afterward married, Miss Josephine Byrkett, daughter of Solomon and Catharine Byrkett; in January following, they commenced housekeeping in an old washhouse on the Favorite farm; in March, he rented and moved upon a farm in the immediate vicinity; after working this place one year, he purchased the farm where he now resides, paying for the same $75 per acre; he now owns 100 acres of nice land, of which 90 acres are in cultivation; all this was accumulated by his own hard labor. Their children are named respectively James P., John H. and Maggie E.; James P. was born March 19, 1871; John H. April 11, 1873, and Maggie H. Sept. 15, 1877; the schoolhouse across the way affords them an excellent opportunity for obtaining an education. Mrs. G. is a member of the Christian Church, and will surely rear her children in accordance with its teachings. Politically, Mr. Gray is a Republican, and his business integrity has made him one of our solid men; from $50 in 1858, to $10,000 in 1880, is a fitting exhibit of his industry.