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John T. Gray History of Rush County Indiana
Brant & Fuller
Chicago
JOHN T. GRAY, the subject of this biography, is the grandson of John Gray, who, with,
his family, was among the first pioneer settlers of Union Township in the fall of 1833.
They came from Bourbon County, Ky., the family consisting of six children. They
were: Samuel and Margaret, by his first wife, whose maiden name was Jane Purdy; Jane,
William J, Elizabeth D. and Alice A., by his second wife. Prior to his removal, John Gray
had purchased a part of the farm now owned by John T. Gray, his grandson. Here he
resided until his death. During life, his principal occupation was farming; but he also
gave some attention to stock-raising. He died in the fall of 1854, a member of the
Presbyterian Church. His wife survived him until March. 1871. Her maiden name was
Margaret Dick. William, who was the fourth child, and who was the father of John T.
Gray, was born in Bourbon County, Ky., on September 17 1825. At the age of eight years
he came to this county. At the age of twenty-one he began life on his own responsibility,
and on September 19, 1846, was united in marriage with Cynthia A. Allen, daughter of
John and Susan (Kirkpatrick) Allen. The former was born in Virginia, and the latter in
Kentucky, but were married in Green County, Ohio, where Cynthia was born November
2, 1820. In 1834 they came to Rush County, and settled in Washington Township.
William Gray and wife began housekeeping in a log house which stood on the farm
owned by our subject. He resided in this county until the spring of 1870, when he
removed to Daviess County, Indiana, and thence to Tennessee, in the spring of 1875,
locating near Gallatin, where he died on July 17, 1876. His wife still survives him. He
was a member of the Christian Church. During life he owned some very fine horses:
Aleck, Charley and Tuckahoe, which he purchased at the sale of his father's personal
property. Tuckahoe lived until he was twenty-four years old. These horses were sired by
a horse owned by Joseph Gray, known as Aleck, then by William Gray; Jerry, of
Archy-Lightfoot stock; Dick, of Bedford stock; Tom, of Gray Traveler stock; Jake, of
Proud American stock; and from the latter he raised three stallions, and last Tom-Hal,
sired by Shawhan. Tom Hal, sired by Bald-Stocking, who paced ninety miles in ten
hours and forty minutes. Bald-Stocking was sired by an imported Torn-Hal, a bay-roan
horse fifteen and one-half hands high. Bald Stocking lived to be thirty-two years old, and
was never known to lie down until the day of his death. Gray's Tom-Hal was purchased
by William Gray when he was four years old, and was kept in the Gray family until he
was twenty-seven years and six months old, when he died. His last season was the most
successful, and he was owned by John T. Gray at the time of his death. He was of fast
stock, and his colts have developed good speed. He was the sire of the dam of St. Denis,
record 2:23; Buffalo Girl, 2:12W; Jerome Turner, 2:17 1/4; and sired Little Gipsy, record
2:22; Limber Jack, pacer, 2:18W; Bay Billy, pacer, 2 :I3 1/4; Mattie Bond, pacer, 2:27k;
Syalger, trotter, 2:3I~4. John T. Gray was born in a log cabin on the farm where he now
resides, July 11, 1847. He was the oldest in a family of five Sons: John, Joseph V., James
W., Washington and Garrett D., of whom Washington is deceased. John grew to
manhood on the farm, receiving a fair education. As his father was a horseman, it became
necessary for John, in early life, as he was the eldest, to assist in caring for the horses.
Therefore his early training in this respect was exceedingly good, and has placed him
among the foremost horsemen in the county at the present time. On August 13, 1868, he
was married to Mary C. McCrary, daughter of Samuel and Elsie (Parish) McCrary, the
former a native of County Antrim, Ireland, and was a boy when he came to this country.
Samuel and Elsie McCrary were married September 11, 1828, in Fayette County, and the
former resided in this vicinity until his death, March 19, 1881. His wife still survives him.
Mrs. Gray was born in Washington Township, February 2, 1851, and was reared here.
This union has been blessed with four children; Charlie I., Flora M., Bessie Pearl, and
Samuel W., all living. Mr. and Mrs. Gray are members of the Christian Church; also
Charlie and Flora. Mr. Gray, besides caring for his farm, owns and controls probably the
most noted breeding barns in the county. It was established by John Gray in 1835, and
has continued ever since. After him came William Gray, and then his son, John T., who
owns it at present. It now contains six stallions, two imported draft horses: Favory and
Coco, the former one of the most noted Norman draft horses in America; two
Hambeltonian general purpose horses named Medock, Sr., and Medock, Jr.; Frank
Hale, one of the best bred horses in the west, sired by Ben Franklin, by Daniel Lambert,
by Ethan Allen, by Black Hawk, dam by Lapham's Horse, by Hill's Black Hawk, and
sired and raised in Vermont, and is five years old; he is 15 hands high and weighs
1080 pounds; Tom Hal, a two-year-old, sired by Gray's Tom Hal; dam by Davy Crocket,
and shows great speed as a pacer. Mr. Gray gives his whole attention to his fine horses.
He is an honest and upright citizen, and owns a comfortable home. Politically, he is a
Democrat. Lora1957@aol.com Related Genealogy Resources: Search OneGreat Family for Gray Surname New England Early Genealogy for Gray Surname Family Tree Connection for Gray
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