Nevada
County
Biographies
GEORGE A. GRAY
George A. Gray, an undertaker and
embalmer of Nevada City, was born in Nevada County on the 18th of
May, 1853. His father, John H. Gray, was
a native of New York and a representative of the fourth generation of the
family in America. Prior to that time
his ancestors lived in England. In 1850,
when the tide of emigration was carrying many eastern men to the Pacific coast,
he came to California and for some time was engaged in farming in Solano
County, whence he came to Nevada County in 1851, devoting his energies to
agricultural pursuits and in mining in this locality. August 28, 1852, he married Miss Eliza J.
Jenkins, who was born in Wisconsin July 6, 1834. Her parents resided in Cornwall, England, and
in the early ‘30s came to the United States, settling in Wisconsin. Mr. and Mrs. Gray became the parents of five
children, all born in Nevada County. The
father died June 4, 1897, and the mother is living in San Francisco.
George A. Gray, the eldest of the
family, was reared and educated in the place of his nativity, and in 1880
established the undertaking business, which he has since successfully carried
on, having a well equipped establishment and carrying an excellent line of
goods. He has also served his fellow
townsmen in public office, having been elected county coroner in 1889 for a
two-year term. At this writing he is
serving as deputy coroner under Henry Daniels.
He has also served for two terms as the city treasurer, retiring from
that office in 1894.
On the 24th of November,
1895, Mr. Gray led to the marriage altar Miss Ida C. Young, of Washington,
Guernsey County, Ohio, a daughter of William Young,
who came to California in the latter part of the ‘50s. They have three children: Earl V., Clarence R. and Elsie E. Mr. Gray is identified with both the
subordinate lodge and encampment of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, has
filled all of the local offices and is past district deputy. He is a charter member of the Knights of Pythias Lodge, in which he has served in many official
capacities, and is a member of the N. S. G. W., Hydraulic Parlor. He is also a member of Nevada Lodge, No. 13,
A. F. & A. M. In politics he is an
earnest Republican, deeply interested in the success of the party. He is a man of most genuine worth, whose
courtesy is unfailing and whose integrity is above questions. Without ostentation or any desire for place,
he has labored most earnestly for the welfare of Nevada City, and his efforts
have rebounded to its credit and benefit.
Transcribed by
Gerald Iaquinta.
Source:
“A Volume of Memoirs and Genealogy of Representative Citizens of Northern
California”, Pages 349-350. Chicago Standard Genealogical Publishing Co. 1901.
© 2010
Gerald Iaquinta.
Golden Nugget Library's Nevada County Biographies