Biography of E C Gray, Independence Co, AR

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SOURCE: Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Northeast Arkansas. 
Chicago: The Goodspeed Publishing Co., 1889.
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page 673

Hon. E. C. Gray, born in Guilford County, N. C., on the 9th of October, 1830,
is a son of John Gray, a native of Randolph County, of that State, who was
there reared to manhood, educated, and married, the latter event being to Miss
Verlinda Robbins, by whom he became the father of two sons and four daughters.
After following the life of a husbandman in his native State until 1850, he
removed to Arkansas and settled in Independence County, where he became the
owner of 500 acres of land, and died in 1878. His wife had previously expired
in her native State, in 1844. They had been worthy members of the Methodist
Protestant Church. E. C. Gray received an excellent education in Trinity
College, North Carolina, but it was then known by the name of the Union
Institute. After his removal to Arkansas with his parents, in 1850, he was
married to Miss Ann S. Meacham, a native of Independence County, Ark., and
their union resulted in the birth of eleven sons and six daughters. Of this
large family fourteen are still living: Julius B., Aurelius G., Mary M., Sarah
A., Dr. Christopher C., Dr. Elisa J., James E., William A., Queen E.,
Thornsberry A., John W., Virgil O., Aurora, and Lillie. Mr. Gray is a wealthy
planter of Arkansas, being the owner of 1,300 acres of land, of which there are
about 400 acres under cultivation. In 1877 he was elected to represent his
county in the State legislature, and discharged the duties of this office in a
manner very satisfactory to his constituents. He has also served as justice of
the peace, and during the late war (in 1862) enlisted under Col. Dobbins, in a
company of Arkansas cavalry. He was discharged at Jacksonport in 1865, and
after his return home resumed tilling the soil. His wife is a member of the
Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and, although not a member of any church, he
is a liberal contributor to churches and schools.