NEWSPAPER ARTICLES ABOUT COL. GEORGE N. GRAY – HIS OCCUPATIONS – HIS HOME – HIS FAMILY – HIS DEATH – Researched by Sharon M. Kouns
I.R. July 5, 1877 – We learn that Col. Geo. N. Gray will sell Lawrence Furnace cold blast metal. His engagement with Quinnemont continues.
July 5, 1878 – Col. and Mrs. Gray purchased the home today. The home was purchased from Elizabeth Ferguson. [NOTE: Nearly 110 later, The Lawrence County Historical Society purchased this home in 1988 and is currently the Lawrence County Historical Society and Museum.]
I.R. Oct. 10, 1878 – The tower on Col. Gray’s house begins to be “appearable.”
I.R. Oct. 31, 1878 – Col. Gray’s residence on the corner of Adams & 6th streets will soon be completed and will be one of the most attractive in that locality.
I.R. Nov. 28, 1878 – Col. Gray has returned from his visit to Quinnimont.
Ironton Register, December 5, 1878
THREE RESIDENCES – WORKING TO BE “AT HOME” ON CHRISTMAS
Nice residences are things to be encouraged, for, while in the process of construction, they employ labor and afterward inspire the people with good taste and add to the beauty of the town.
At present, there are three large dwelling houses receiving their finishing touches, and their proprietors, with their good wives, are now happily anticipating the good cheer of Christmas within the warm and happy walls.
GRAY’S – The first is Col. Geo. N. Gray’s, situated on the corner of Adams and Sixth streets. It was the house built and formerly occupied by James Ferguson but now so completely remodeled and enlarged as to make, in fact, a new residence. It is a handsomely appearing house, every feature being very attractive. It is a brick, painted a light stone color. We give below the ground plan of the house: (layout shown in the paper)
(Diagram is lettered as follows:) AAAA, porches; BB, front and back staircase halls; C, side vestibule, 8×10 feet; E, dining room, 16×20 feet; E, laundry, 12×16 feet; L, sitting-room, 15×15 feet; M, parlor, 16×24. Also, china and other closets in the first story. The second story contains six chambers with closets and a bathroom.
A tasty campanile affords an extensive view of the city and suburbs. The bath, sink, and lavatory are supplied with hot and cold water; the front doors are walnut, with real bronze hardware; walnut and iron mantles. (Note – Campanile is a free-standing bell tower; pronounced like companeelee – Vestibule is a passage, hall, or room between the outer door and interior of a building – smk)
I.R. Dec. 19, 1878 – John C. Clarke will make some slight improvements in his residence, which Col. Gray vacates this week, before occupying it.
I.R. Dec. 19, 1878 – Col. Gray moves into his new residence this week.
I.R. Sept. 1, 1881 – Col. and Mrs. Gray left Tuesday for Toledo and the lake. Col. Gray will extend his trip to Chicago and other points West on business.
I.R. Nov. 24, 1881 – One day last week, Rev. Alexander Rankin, who is sojourning for a few days at Col. Gray’s, paid us a visit. . . (see Alexander Rankin)
I.R. March 9, 1882 – FIRE – Last Sunday, at one o’clock in the afternoon, the alarm of fire was sounded. The flames had attacked Col. Gray’s handsome residence on 6th st. The house was nearly enveloped with smoke before the alarm was given. The smoke was issuing from the roof in volumes, but no flame was seen. There was slight rain at the time, and the roof was very wet.
The first person who arrived tried to gain access to the attic by way of the tower, but the smoke was so thick that a person couldn’t endure two breaths of it. Not until the fire companies arrived could the flames be got at. The boys bravely mounted the roof, chopped holes in it, and inserted their hose. At the first access of air, the flames spouted up, but a well-directed stream of water soon quenched the flames and put out all the fire.
It was hard to get at the burning timbers. One roof had been built over another, and under the inner roof, the fires were nestled. The fire companies worked nobly and under the most adverse circumstances. The streets were in horrid condition, mud everywhere, and the roofs slippery and dangerous, yet the firemen went in to put out that fire, and they did it.
The peculiar location of the flames made necessary a great flood of water, which in a little while streamed down in torrents through the second and first-story ceilings. Luckily, however, all the furniture had been carried out-the carpets, bedding, bureaus, chairs, and books- all taken to neighboring houses or lodged in the stable.
The damages are mostly to the house and will amount to about $1000. About one-fourth of the house will have to be re-roofed, eight or ten ceilings will have to be replastered, and about the same number of rooms re-papered. The residence had only recently received its finishing touches.
The fire originated in a spark from the kitchen chimney, which lodged under the edge of the deck roof and burned its way under the deck. In the morning, the girl had built a big fire, putting in so many kindlings as to make a roaring blaze. She was made to shovel out some of the fire as it was too big. The fire from the spark got under the roof and smoldered till noon. The real estate is fully insured. The personal property which is not insured is damaged considerably.
I.R. March 16, 1882 – The damage to Col. Gray’s house was fixed at $1000.00.
I.R. March 16, 1882 – Card of Thanks to Firemen by Geo. N. & Eliza Gray.
I.R. March 23, 1882 – In repairing his residence, Col. Gray will put a handsome bay window in front of the house.
I.R. Oct. 11, 1883 – Col. Gray’s watch stopped while he was speaking at Etna furnace, and he spoke for three hours. But the audience held the fort.
I.R. March 25, 1886 – Rev. John Rankin died at the residence of his grand-daughter, Mrs. Col. Gray, last Thursday (March 18, 1886) … (see sketch on Rev. John Rankin – smk)
I.R. Jan. 20, 1887 – Col. Gray has sold his interest in the Gallia Furnace property to the present company.
I.R. May 3, 1888 – Railroad Men Coming. – The committee of the Board of Trade appointed to meet the Directors of the O. & N. W. R. R., at Cincinnati Tuesday, performed the service assigned to them. Gen. Enochs, Col. Gray, Leo Ebert, W. M. Kerr went.
They met the Directors at their meeting held at the Burnet House and presented the attractions of this region for a railroad route and provided the directors with a supply of vital statistics and other literature throwing light upon the situation. Gen. Enochs and Col. Gray made extended remarks, and they were listened to with great attention.
They gave a cordial invitation to the Directors to visit Ironton and look over the situation for themselves, and this invitation the gentlemen accepted, and so they will arrive here Thursday night and remain over Friday as the guests of the Board of Trade. They will be taken out on the Iron Railroad and in carriages to various points adjacent to Ironton so as to see the variety and extent of our minerals and the magnitude of our industries.
Among the gentlemen expected are Hon. Geo. West, President of the road, Messrs. McNeale, Hunt, Phelps, Letcher, and others. We are sure the Board of Trade will give their guests a cordial welcome and make their visit instructive.
I.R. August 04, 1888 – Col. Gray and his son Charley left for Kansas last Monday. They enter the banking business at Quenemo. Mrs. Gray and other members of the family accompanied them as far as Cincinnati, where the whole party rested a day to attend the Centennial.
I.R. November 21, 1889 – Col. Gray has sold his fill land below the town to E. S. Willard and H. B. Wilson. This is the tract where the black band ore is found.
I.R. Feb. 6, 1890 – Col. Gray tells us a “Two Dogs” story that has some fun in it. The other day, he was crossing a piece of his land near town, when he saw the tail of a dog wriggling from a hole in the ground. He approached, and saw it was a dog digging for some animal. The canine was very busy, making the dirt fly. Near the hole was another dog, with his head and paws very dirty, apparently resting.
The two dogs were probably taking turns in digging out some animal. Col. Gray approached within a few feet of the dogs and, after watching them with interest for a few moments, concluded to give them a good scare, so he suddenly shouted: “What are you doing here!” He had hardly got the words out of his mouth, when both dogs sprang up and grabbed him, each dog taking a leg, and he had a pretty desperate fight to get away. He succeeded in scaring himself worse than he did the dogs.
I.R. Feb. 13, 1890 – Col. Gray and W. A. Murdock have proposed to pay the rent of the W. C. T. U. reading room for one year. The ladies propose to increase their library facilities.
I.R. April 3, 1890 – J. H. Nixon sold to Col. Gray the two acres belonging to the Rogers estate just above the Witman foundry lot. Price $2400.
I.R. May 1, 1890 – Col. Gray and Capt. Bay sold to Frank Neekamp and others through J. P. Shaw the tract of land they bought off the Rogers estate some weeks ago. The tract lies just above the old corporation line. There are about two acres of it. Mssrs. Gray and Bay bought it a few weeks ago and sold it for $3000.
I.R. May 8, 1890 – HECLA FURNACE – Will start up early in June. Everything is about ready, but the roads are so bad that work is discouraging. Col. Gray moved out there this week and will live in the manager’s house this Summer.
I.R. Dec. 25, 1890 – Will Page is visiting Col. Grays.
I.R. May 14, 1891 – Col. Gray has gone to his Symmes Creek farm to spend a week and engineer some improvements.
I.R. May 21, 1891 – Col. Gray has bought S. B. Steece’s possessions in Sedgwick and will drain them and make them blossom like the rose.
I.R. June 18, 1891 – Col. Geo. N. Gray is the nominee for County Commissioner.
I.R. July 23, 1891 – Col. Geo. N. Gray is building a large hay stable on his farm below the town.
I.R. July 23, 1891 – Col. Gray will be the orator of the day at the Memorial Hall cornerstone ceremonies.
I.R. Sept. 10, 1891 – Col. Gray will speak at Lawrence Township Friday, Sept. 11th, and at Russells Place Saturday, Sept. 12.
I.R. Sept. 24, 1891 – Col. Gray will be with Hon. H. S. Bundy on his stumping tour in this county.
I.R. Nov. 5, 1891 – Col. Gray has just had a brick addition built to his residence on 6th street.
I.R. Nov. 12, 1891 – Col. Geo. N. Gray is still confined in his house with rheumatism of the eye.
I.R. Dec. 3, 1891 – Col. Gray is out of the house this week, but he has to keep his eye pretty well bundled up.
I.R. Dec. 17, 1891 – Col. Gray went out Tuesday to invoice the merchandise in the Etna and Vesuvius furnace stores. When Mr. Pleumer made an assignment, these stores were closed and have been closed ever since. They contained a good many staple dry goods and groceries, which must have become a little stale by this time.
I.R. Dec. 24, 1891 – One of the joyful events of Christmas is the Silver Wedding of Col. and Mrs. Geo. N. Gray, which will occur at their residence on the night of the 25th. A large number of invitations have been issued.
I.R. Dec. 24, 1891 – Mrs. Cleveland and daughter, Eloise, Misses Dixie Mitchel, and Jean McKibben, all of Augusta, will spend Christmas at D. Nixon’s. They come to attend the Gray silver wedding. Miss Belle Nixon, who has been at Mrs. Cleveland’s for some weeks, will also come.
I.R. Dec. 31, 1891 – SILVER ANNIVERSARY – The 25th anniversary of the marriage of Col. and Mrs. Geo. N. Gray was most happily celebrated Christmas night. Their beautiful home was quite filled with guests, though owing to the prevailing sickness, there were many regrets sent. Among the regrets, we noticed cards of Hon. Chas. Foster, Secretary of the Treasury, on whose staff Col. Gray once served.
There were also pleasant letters from Rev. J. H. Young, who married them, and from Rev. H. Calhoun, their old pastor. It was a delightful evening. Among those from abroad, we observed Mrs. Cleveland and daughter of Augusta, Mr. and Mrs. Sam Nigh and Mrs. R. W. Magee, Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Ricker, Mr. and Mrs. E. M. Lawton, Miss Birdie Hansom, and Mrs. James Ferguson. (NOTE from smk – There was an epidemic of Grippe going around the community at his time – I believe that was a type of flu – need to look up).
I.R. Jan. 21, 1892 – Col. Gray has turned one of his side verandahs into a beautiful little conservatory, and Mrs. Gray says a large coal oil lamp furnishes sufficient heat on the coldest nights.
I.R. March 26, 1892 – Col. Gray proposes to tile the old Pratt farm near Getaway, of which he is the owner, this Spring.
I.R. MAY 05, 1892 – Col. Gray has put 100 head of stock cattle on the Etna lands.
I.R. May 05, 1892 – Col. Gray’s and D. Nixon’s families go to Ripley today to attend the erection of a bust of the late Rev. John Rankin over his last resting place. The occasion will be a family reunion for which relatives from all parts of the country will come.
I.R. June 02, 1892 – Col. Gray proposes to build an alcove in the Memorial Hall library and stock it with books in History. He expects to spend at least $500 on this contribution to the library. There is a noble benefaction, and posterity will have occasion to bless Col. Gray for excellent judgment and abounding generosity.
I.R. July 07, 1892 – THE PIONEERS – THEIR DINNER ON THE FOURTH
… When this agreeable part of the program was ended, the most enjoyable and patriotic speeches were made by Col. Gray and Revs. C. Alderman and J. M. Kelly. Really, they were a most happy part of the day’s entertainment. They overflowed with patriotism and youthful ardor. They were the grandest features of the day’s celebration in Ironton, for they rescued the noble anniversary from mere sport and selfishness and raised it to the heights of noble inspirations and suggestion…
I.R. July 07, 1892 – Real Estate Transfers – Sheriff Law. Co. to Geo. N. Gray, land … $223.
I.R. January 11, 1894 – Col. Gray resigns as County Commissioner, and Mr. Frank Gibbons takes his place.
I.R. Oct. 10, 1895 – Col. and Mrs. Geo. N. Gray is attending the Presbyterian Synod at Chillicothe.
Ironton Weekly Republican, Saturday, May 30, 1896
COL. GEO. N. GRAY HURT
HE IS THROWN FROM A WAGON AND SUSTAINS CONCUSSION OF THE BRAIN
Col. Geo. N. Gray met with a serious mishap at Etna Furnace Thursday. He was thrown from a spring wagon in which he was riding and, striking his head on the road, suffered concussion of the brain.
It was thought for a time that he was dangerously hurt, but at this writing, he is much better, and it is hoped he will speedily recover and suffer no bad consequences from his painful experience.
About noon Col. Gray, who had gone out to Etna on business matters, and John Brown, his local agent at Etna, were driving along the road in a spring wagon going to Brown’s home for dinner.
Their horse suddenly began capering and trying to run and in one of its jumps, jerked the wagon suddenly, causing the seat to turn over, throwing Col. Gray out. The colonel, in his fall, struck his knee on the wheel and then struck the ground violently with the left side of his head. He got up, however, and walked after the wagon, which was finally brought to a stand, but declined to get in, saying he would walk. But his incoherent talk and peculiar actions attracted attention and showed that his brain was affected.
He was then helped to Mr. Brown’s house, and by the time he reached it, he was entirely out of his mind and recognized no one.
Dr. E. E. Wells was summoned, and an examination showed that the unfortunate man had sustained no broken bones but was suffering from concussion of the brain, and it was several hours before the colonel became rational again. The shock had affected his heart’s action, and grave consequences were feared.
The news was sent to the family here in the afternoon, and Mrs. Gray and sons Charles and George went out to Etna, taking Dr. Dunn with them. The latter returned late last night, leaving Col. Gray somewhat better.
This forenoon, Mr. Charles Gray came in from Etna and reported that his father is steadily recovering from his bad shock and though very sore, he has no bad symptoms, and will probably be able to come home this afternoon.
I.R. June 11, 1896 – Col. Gray has completely recovered from his tumble from the express at ______ but is still taking care of himself.
I.R. Nov. 18, 1897 – Col. Gray has built himself a neat lil’ frame off at the rear of his home lot.
I.R. Oct. 12, 1899 – Sale of real estate of W. D. Kelly; hill lands to Mary F. Kelly, *homestead to Geo. N. Gray; reported and confirmed.
*This home he purchased and donated to the city of Ironton as the Charles S. Gray Deaconess Hospital in memory of his son, who had died in 1898.
S.W.I. May 14, 1907 – COL. GRAY – IS DANGEROUSLY ILL AT HIS HOME – ON SIXTH STREET – The Attending Physician Stated Monday That There Was Little or No Hope For His Recovery. Family Has Been Summoned. – Col. George N. Gray is at death’s door. His condition last night was very critical. Col. Gray’s life was despaired of as late as one o’clock this morning. Early Monday evening, his attending physician stated that the patient was better than he was Monday morning but that there was little hope for his recovery.
Semi-Weekly Irontonian, May 21, 1907 – COL GRAY – SUBMITS TO FINAL CALL EARLY FRIDAY MORNING – Col. Geo. N. Gray, aged 69 years, died at 4 a.m. Friday at his home on the corner of Sixth and Adams streets after an illness dating back several years. The direct cause of his death was uremic poisoning; his last illness was serious from its inception. His passing removes a highly respected and esteemed citizen from this community, one whose loss will be keenly felt in social and financial circles.
Col. Gray was born on February 10, 1838, in Pennsylvania. At 18, he came to Ohio and landed on Pine Creek, this county. After paying for his night’s lodging and breakfast, he had but ten cents remaining. He immediately procured employment on a farm with a farmer on Pine creek, whereby frugal and injudicious use of his earnings, he was able to save enough and return to Waynesburg College, Pennsylvania, and received a diploma from the institution, which was the height of his ambition.
He then returned to Pine Creek and taught school. While teaching in 1861, the call came for volunteers to abolish the Rebellion. He at once resigned from his position as a school teacher, enrolled his name for service in the 53rd regiment, Ohio Volunteers, and was with this regiment at the battle of Shiloh and other battles. He afterward served in the navy and was in several severe battles.
After the war, he became interested in the iron business, first as a clerk at Mt. Vernon furnace and then at Hecla furnace. Afterward, he partnered with W. D. Kelly and others to run Hecla. Then Vesuvius furnaces with W. C. Amos and others. Then he went to Timmimont furnace in West Virginia, returning to Ironton in 1877. Then he went to Rockrum furnace, Ala. Afterward, he became engaged in the banking business at Quenemo, Kansas.
During his career in the iron business, he manufactured the highest grade of cold-blast charcoal iron. He was probably the best-posted and most skillful manufacturer of cold-blast charcoal in the Hanging Rock iron region. He did more to establish and maintain the high reputation of that particular kind of iron than any man in the region.
He accomplished this by extraordinary care in selecting stock and not permitting any iron to go into the market that was not up to the standard. He was also largely identified with manufacturing stone coal and coke pig iron. He was an important and able assistant in this region’s iron enterprises and the New River region of W. Va.
In recent years, he has been employed in caring for the large land interest of the Ironton Coal and Iron company and his own large land interests.
Col. Gray was happily married to Eliza Ann Humphreys on Dec. 25, 1866. As a result of this union, three sons and one daughter blessed his home. They are John of Philadelphia, George of Grand Rapids and Miss Emma at home, and Charles S., deceased.
“As the father, so the sons” was exemplified in Col. Gray’s boys, as they all saw military service in the Spanish-American war. Capt Charles Sedgwick Gray of the United States Navy surrendered his young life in defense of humanity and the flag, falling to the dread disease of typhoid fever, dying in Garfield Hospital, Washington, D. C., September 3rd, 18__.
In honor of his memory, Col. Gray and his family donated the city of Ironton, a half square, together with the building appropriately named the Charles S. Gray Deaconess Hospital.
Col. Gray connected himself with the Presbyterian Church of this city in 1872, where he had been a ruling elder for many years. His interest in the conversion of sinners, the development of Christian character, and the enlargement of Christ’s wisdom were strong and constant.
Pure in person, he had no place for the frivolous or impure. While his character was unusually symmetrical, faithfulness was probably the most noticeable element. He was a loving and true husband, an affectionate and faithful father. A good neighbor, a valuable and loyal citizen, and a constant Christian, could man have a greater eulogy than a good name among his fellow citizens? Col. Gray needs no towering monument to perpetuate his memory.
REMAINS OF COL. GRAY WAS LAID TO REST AT WOODLAND – MANY OF HIS OLD FRIENDS ATTENDED THE OBSEQUIES, WHICH WERE HELD AT THE GRAY HOME.
The last sad rites over all that is mortal of Col. Geo. N. Gray were held Monday afternoon at the Gray home on South Sixth Street. They were very largely attended and were most impressive in their character.
The services were in charge of Rev. L. O. Richmond, late pastor of the Presbyterian church, who came here from Shelbyville, Ind., to serve his old friend and advisor thus. Rev. Richmond’s remarks were full of feelings and were fraught good influences to be gleaned from the deceased’s life.
A choir composed of Mrs. F. A. Bixby, Miss Bess Moulton, Messrs. Carl Moulton, and E. C. Moody most beautifully rendered “Rock of Ages,” “Jesus Lover of My Soul,” and “Near my God to Thee.”
The honorary pallbearers were David Nixon, S. B. Steece, E. B. Willard, Capt. Wm. Bay, John Hamilton, E. J. Bird, H. H. Campbell, and John Moulton. The active pallbearers were C. A. Thompson, Dr. W. E. ______, A. R. Johnson, David ______, and Chas. Edgerton and E. S. Culbertson. Interment occurred at Woodland. The floral tributes were numerous and elegant, so many in fact that a special carriage was necessary to take them to the cemetery.
Morning Irontonian, Thursday, Sept. 11, 1924
MRS. ELIZA ANN GRAY IS CLAIMED BY DEATH
Surrounded by those she loved, whose tender and tireless ministrations, however, were powerless to keep her longer with them, Mrs. Eliza Ann Gray, widow of George N. Gray and one of this city’s pioneer residents, Wednesday morning at 10:45 answered the call of the Master and ere the sun of a newborn day had reached its zenith her spirit had quietly winged its way to the great beyond and the eternal rest so richly merited by almost four score years of a life replete with good works and the cardinal virtues of faith, hope, and charity.
The end came peacefully at the old family home on South Sixth street after an illness of two days, which had its inception in an attack of heart trouble but was greatly complicated by the weakness of long-standing due to her advanced years. Mrs. Gray was stricken with a heart attack Sunday evening but responded to careful nursing and seemed destined to survive the attack. She retained perfect consciousness throughout, and the end came without warning of the hour named.
Eliza Ann Humphreys was born in Ripley, Ohio, on June 8, 1845. She moved with her parents, John Wilson and Eliza J. Humphreys, to Hecla Furnace in 1855, her father at that time being actively identified with the iron industry in that section.
There she met Col. George N. Gray, whom she was wed on Christmas day, 1866. To their union was born John, of Philadelphia; George, of Chattanooga; Mrs. Earle Stewart, of this city, and Charles Sedgwick Gray, who died in Washington on September 3, 1898, while in the service for his country as a lieutenant in the Spanish-American war.
His death was a severe shock to the parents. As a memorial to him, they presented the city of Ironton, the Deaconess Hospital property known as the Charles S. Gray Deaconess Hospital. Mrs. Gray took an active part in forming the Deaconess Society.
Mrs. Gray was a direct lineal descendant of John Rankin of Ripley, Ohio, one of the originators of the underground tunnel for fugitive slaves, which preceded the civil war. For a number of years, he made his home here with Colonel and Mrs. Gray. She was a lifelong member of the Presbyterian church and ever-active in its welfare.
Coming from a family who “have been identified with industrial and manufacturing projects she had, and retained until her death, a keen and intelligent interest in this regard being manifested by membership in the Chamber of Commerce. In social circles, she was also prominent and, even in later years, maintained much interest in the activities of her friends.
It may truly be said that her passing is a distinct loss to this city and an occasion of sorrow to friends, almost without number, whom we join in an expression of sincere sympathy to those who are left to mourn their loss.
The funeral services will be held at the family home at 3 o’clock, Friday afternoon by ____ B. R. Weid, of the Presbyterian church, assisted by Rev. Mr. L. O. Richmond, formerly of this city but now of Columbus. The interment will be in Woodland Cemetery.
Mr. and Mrs. John Gray of Philadelphia and Mr. and Mrs. George Gray of Chattanooga arrived yesterday to attend the funeral.
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