Louisiana AHGP

Part of the American History and Genealogy Project

John E. Gray

John E. Gray enjoys the reputation of being a substantial and progressive planter and an intelligent and thoroughly posted man on all matters of a public, as well as private nature. Although young in years he has shown sound judgment in the management of his business affairs and is now in independent circumstances.

He is a native of this parish and was born in October, 1803, being the sixth of nine children, the other members of the family being: Joseph (a resident of Ward 2), James S. (a resident of Magnolia, Arkansas), Mary (now Mrs. John Gibson, of this ward). Mattie (wife of Will Gibson, also residing here), Sallie (wife of D. P. Owens), and Ludie, Irene and Walter (residing with John E.).

The father of these children, Albert Gray, was born in Georgia in 1826, and after reaching maturity in that State moved to Alabama, where he was married to Miss Harriet E. Barrow, a native of that State, and daughter of Josiah Barrow, and in 1854 moved with her to Claiborne Parish, Louisiana, where he engaged in planting, owning at the time of his death in 1886, about 900 acres of land. He served in the Southern Confederacy under Gen. John Young, was an old time member of the A. P. & A. M, and for many years he and his wife were members of the Missionary Baptist Church. His father, James Gray, was a North Carolinian, and is one of two brothers who served in the War of 1812, afterward settling in Georgia. The family are of Irish extraction, but for several generations have been residents of America.

The subject of this sketch and all his brothers and sisters, except the eldest two, were born on the old homestead on which he is now living. He was married in January, 1888, to Miss Maggie E. Wilson, a daughter of James and Arabella (Keeton) Wilson, and to them one child has been born, Arabella.

Mr. Gray and his wife are members of the Missionary Baptist Church, and politically he is a Democrat. He is the owner of the old homestead, which comprises 512 acres, 200 of which are under cultivation, and on this he does a general farming.

Biographical Sketches| Claiborne Parish

Source: Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Northwest Louisiana, Southern Publishing Company, 1890