- ALONZO C. GRAY, vice-president of the Bank of Evansville,
Rock County, occupies a
- conspicuous standing in the community, not merely on account
of the financial relations which he sustains toward the business
of the community, but also because of the personal probity, kindly
disposition and unswerving integrity that have been his most
marked characteristics.
- Mr. GRAY was born in Somerset County, Maine, March 20, 1841,
a son of Robert D. and
- Lurana (TINKHAM) GRAY, natives of Maine and Massachusetts
respectively. Mrs. GRAY was a daughter of Orin TINKHAM, and
a granddaughter of Hon. John TINKHAM, of Massachusetts. Mr.
and Mrs. GRAY were the parents of four children: Orin T., a lawyer
in Boston; Alonzo C., our subject; Clara L. of Norridgewock,
Maine; and a daughter who died in infancy. The father was a
lumberman in Maine until 1850. The mother died in 1845, and
five years later Mr. GRAY went to California and engaged in mining.
He spent fifteen years in the golden West, and then went back
to the Eastern shore of the country, and spent some years in
the city of Boston and in the State of Maine. He spent the closing
years of his life in Evansville, Wis., in the home of his son,
Alonzo C., and died in 1884. His death was the result of a fall,
whereby he broke his hip. He had reached the age of seventy-one
and had reasonable expectations of a longer lease of life. His
wife was a Baptist, but he was without religious affiliations,
though he was a thoroughly honorable and upright man. In early
life he had filled several local offices in Maine, and was well
thought of by his old associates. His father, Capt. Joshua GRAY,
was an officer in the war of 1812. He was a farmer, a man of
marked ability, taking a prominent part in public affairs, and
reached the age of ninety years. He reared a large family.
- Alonzo C. GRAY grew to manhood in his native county, enjoying
all the privileges and
- opportunities that farmer boys were wont to command in those
early days. He received an education that was both broad and
deep, studying at the public schools, attended Anson (Maine)
Academy, and had private instruction at Waterville, Maine. When
he had reached the age of twenty years he felt that he should
apply himself to the work of life, and securing a position in
a shoe factory spent some years within its walls. He was careful
and saving, wisely invested his earnings, and presently had enough
to open a general store for himself at West Bridgewater, Mass.,
but President Lincoln's call at that time for 300,000 men caused
him to lay aside personal aims and to enlist in his country's
defense. He placed his store in charge of his brother, and entered
the Union army as a member of Company D, 58th Mass. Vol. Inf.,
and served until the close of the war. Mr. GRAY was detailed
to assist in the recruiting office at Faneuil Hall, Boston, Mass.,
where he remained until April 28, 1864, when he joined his regiment
at the front, and six days later took his "baptism of fire"
in the battles of the Wilderness. He was at Spotsylvania Court
House and Cold Harbor, and was in front of Petersburg during
the summer and fall of 1864. There he was taken sick and sent
home on a furlough. Before he was able to return to duty the
regiment was coming home on account of the close of the war and
the dawn of peace over all the land.
- Mr. GRAY was married about this time, and came to Evansville,
setting up in business here, and
- the city has been his home to the present time. He clerked
in a general store from 1867 to 1869, and then bought a half
interest in the business with M. V. PRATT, continuing until 1883,
at which time he sold out his general stock, and confined himself
for a few years exclusively to boots and shoes. Finally disposing
of this he turned to real estate, making investments in Chicago
and building some residences there. For a number of years he
has been quite retired from active business cares. For some
eight years he has been vice-president and director of the Bank
of Evansville, and is one of three men in Rock County to whom
is committed the distribution of funds to indigent old soldiers
and their widows and orphans. He is officially connected with
both the Badger State Long Distance Telephone Co., and the Evansville
Telephone exchange, being one of the original promoters of both
enterprises.
- Mr. GRAY and Miss Isabel F. PECKHAM were married Nov. 28,
1866, at West Bridgewater,
- Mass., and the union, singularly happy while it lasted, was
broken by the death of Mrs. GRAY, on Sept. 23, 1878, at the early
age of twenty-nine years. Mr. GRAY's second marriage, on May
18, 1879 was to Miss Emma J. ROWLEY, daughter of Daniel and Calista
(WELLS) ROWLEY. Mrs. GRAY is a lady of many gifts and excellencies
of mind and heart, and has proved in every way a fit companion
for her energetic and enterprising husband. Four children were
born to this union, Orin C., Ellis Wells, Paul Rowley and Isabel
Bernice. Orin C. is a student at Beloit College. Ellis Wells
died when a child of one year and nine months. The two younger
children are at home, and attend school. Mr. and Mrs.. GRAY
are members of the Baptist Church, and he is a member of Union
Lodge, No. 32, A.F. & A.M.; Evansville Chapter, No.35, R.A.M.;
and Janesville Commandery, No. 2, K.T. He is also an active
worker in T. L. Sutphen Post, No. 41, G.A.R., and the Modern
Woodmen of America. Mr. GRAY is a Republican and has received
various honors at the hands of his fellow townsmen. He is alderman
from the Second ward, and has filled that position several terms;
was a member of the old village board of trustees; was city assessor
one year; was president of the school board six years; and has
always taken a deep interest in the local schools. His home
is on Church street, west of First, where he has lived a number
of years.
-
- Taken from "Commemorative Biographical Record of
the Counties of Rock, Green, Grant, Iowa and Lafayette Wisconsin"
(c) 1901, pp. 21-23.
-
- Courtesy of Carol
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