Westchester county, New York. Her father was a newspaper man, who put aside a profitable business at the time of the Civil war in order to defend the Union cause.      Mr. Gray started in business for himself when only fourteen years of age, chopping and hauling wood for two families. He afterward engaged in making ice-cream and for two seasons conducted the business. In 1865 or 1866 he went to work for Captain M. D. Massie at New Canton and remained in his employ for two years and three months. He next took a trip through the west, visiting Kansas and Arizona, after which he returned to Barry, at which time his father was station agent at that place. Mr. Gray then took charge of the railroad and express business and was offered a position by both the president of the railroad and of the express company. Later he entered the employ of Louis Angle, his uncle, with whom he remained until September, 1872, when he took charge of the supply stores of Pike and Hollister. While with his uncle he saved his earnings and built a home for his father and mother. He continued to save his wages and while working on the levee he took time checks for his work and thus lost some six hundred dollars, for the firm failed. Then borrowing one dollar from his uncle, Mr. Gray came to Griggsville on the 11th of March, 1873, and entered the employ of C. M. Simmons, a grocer, for whom he worked for ten months at seventy-five dollars per month. On the expiration of that period he formed a partnership with Bryant and Baxter, the relation being maintained until 1876, when Mr. Gray purchased his partners' interest. The following year, however, he sold out to E. W. Baxter, and gave his attention to the live-stock and grain business, in which he continued until 1870. He then took charge of the Jacksonville packing house at Jacksonville, Illinois, and in 1880, in connection with J. B. Morrison and Charles T. Kenney, he built the elevator at Griggsville. He then had charge of the grain business, which he conducted until 1887, when he went to Kansas City, Missouri, and purchased an interest in a grocery store, but the following year sold out there and returned to Griggsville. Here he took charge of the dry-goods business owned by W. W. Kenney and conducted the store until 1898, when the firm became H. N. Gray & Company, Mr. Gray remaining at the head of the institution and becoming sole proprietor in 1903. He conducted the store with good success until January, 1905, when he closed out the business and is now practically living retired. He owns, however, seven hundred acres of fine land and gives personal supervision to his property. He also has five hundred acres of land in Minnesota and likewise property in Missouri and California.      Unto Mr. and Mrs. Gray have been born two children. Shirley E., who was born April 4, 1877, and served in the Spanish-American war as a member of Battery A under Captain Rumboldt, was graduated from Griggsville high school when seventeen years of age and afterward attended the State University at New York city for two years and at one time taught in Fairport College at Wichita, Kansas, having charge of the classes in chemistry and physics, and is now filling a government position in the Philippine Islands. The daughter, Molly B., born April 30, 1880, is the wife of Walter D. Humiston, assistant auditor of the Twin City Rapid Transit Company of St. Paul and Minneapolis. The children have both been afforded excellent educational privileges and Mrs. Humiston is likewise a graduate of the Griggsville high school.      Mr. Gray is a member of Pike lodge, No. 73, I. O. O. F., and he favors the Episcopal church, of which his wife is a member. In politics he is an earnest advocate of republican principles and served as mayor of the city for two terms. He was also a member of the school board for several terms and alderman for fifteen years and he gave tangible evidence of his devotion to the general good in his active co-operation in many measures that have been of permanent and lasting benefit to Griggsville. Each step in his business career has been carefully and thoughtfully made and as the years advanced he has prospered through his unfaltering diligence, economy and capable management. To those familiar with his history it will seem trite to say that he has risen unaided from a place of comparative obscurity to rank with the leading business men of Griggsville,