Ada-Cassia County ID Archives Biographies.....Gray, John J. 1869 - 1920 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/id/idfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 October 12, 2010, 3:46 am Source: See Below Author: S. J. Clarke (Publisher, 1920) John J. Gray On the 21st of March, 1920, John J. Gray passed on to "that undiscovered country from whose bourne no traveler returns." He was then but fifty-one years of age and it seemed that he should have been spared as a factor in the activities of Idaho for many years to come; yet within the years of his residence in this state his life was one of signal service through the vigor which he lent to the pioneer era in making this region habitable, in bringing its resources to light and in stamping his intensely practical ideas upon one of its chief industries that of sheep raising. Such careers are too near us now for their significance to be appraised at its true value, but the future will be able to trace the tremendous effect of their labors upon the development of the institutions of their time. The possibilities of the attainment of notable success afforded in the United States to industry and enterprise were never better illustrated than in the career of Mr. Gray. Coming to Idaho in young manhood, he worked for his living from an early age, dependent on his own hands for whatever the world was to bring him of enjoyment or honors. He died possessed of wealth and received and merited the high regard of all with whom he came in contact. In his later years he removed from Bellevue to Boise, where he owned and occupied one of the finest residences of the capital city. He came to Idaho in 1887 from Utah county, Utah, and began herding sheep in Cassia county, thus taking the initial step which brought him to the position that he occupied as one of the foremost sheepmen of the state. Mr. Gray was born upon a farm in Utah county, Utah, March 23, 1869, and was a son of Joseph R. and Elizabeth (Marshall) Gray, who were of the Mormon faith and who died when he was a little child, his father's death occurring when the son was but six years of age, while the other passed away a few months later. Thus left an orphan, he was reared in the home of an elder half-brother, James Gray, who was also a resident of Utah county. At the age of ten years he began work on a ranch in his native state, working for his board on a place owned by Dick Norman, two miles from Lehi, Utah. He afterward assisted in building the bath house and in constructing the fish ponds and making other improvements at Hot Springs, Utah, four miles from Salt Lake City, being thus employed when but twelve years of age. In the school of experience, however, he learned many valuable lessons and he became a man of broad, practical business education, who in the conduct of his affairs displayed notably sound judgment and keen foresight. During a portion of his youth he worked in a logging camp and he also did some railroad work as a section crew helper. He was but seventeen years of age when he came to Idaho and began work as a sheep herder, being thus employed between the ages of seventeen and twenty-one years, receiving thirty-five dollars per month for two years' labor and forty dollars per month during the last year in which he herded sheep. On attaining his majority he purchased a fourth interest in twenty-four hundred sheep, thus starting in business independently in 1891. In 1893 the widespread financial panic which swept over the country brought disaster to the sheep raisers of Idaho and he soon found himself without funds. In fact his condition was worse than that, for he was left not only without means but with an indebtedness. He was undiscouraged, however, and never lost faith in the sheep industry, but with resolute purpose sought to regain a business footing and eventually became one of Idaho's wealthy men, having "made his stake" in the sheep and cattle industry and through the buying and selling of Idaho lands in Blaine and Minidoka counties. At one period he owned a controlling interest in as many as ninety thousand head of sheep. In September, 1917, however, he closed out the greater part of his sheep and cattle interests for a sum close to the three-quarters of a million mark. He still remained a member of the National Wool Growers Association and retained important live stock interests which returned to him a gratifying annual income. At the organization of the Overland National Bank in 1917 he became one of the stockholders and a director of that institution. On the 6th of November, 1894, at Oakley, Cassia county, Idaho, Mr. Gray was married to Miss Goldie E. Cummins, who was born at Grantsville, Utah, January 21, 1877. They became the parents of six children, of whom four are living. Clarice, the eldest daughter, who obtained her education at St. Theresa's Academy, Boise, is married to Walter J. Gooding, of Gooding Idaho, who was interested with Mr. Gray in the sheep business. The second member of the family, John Golden, received his education at Santa Clara University, Santa Clara, California. He married Miss Elizabeth Gallimore, of San Jose, California, and was also associated with his father in the sheep business. Hazel Rose, a young lady of eighteen, is attending St. Theresa's Academy of Boise and is residing at home. Jack Clifton, nine years of age, is the youngest of the surviving children. Two daughters, Zilfa and Erma, have passed away, the former at the age of four months and the latter at the age of twelve years and seven months, her death occurring in Los Angeles in the winter of 1919, which cast a gloom over the entire family. The interests of Mr. Gray centered in his family and he counted no personal effort on his part too great if it would enhance the welfare and happiness of the members of his own household. Removing to Boise, he purchased what was known as the W. E. Pierce home at the corner of Twenty-first and Irene streets, for which he paid twenty thousand dollars. This is one of the palatial residences of the city. It was erected by Mr. Pierce, a prominent real estate dealer and business man of Boise, who spared no expense in the construction of the building or in ornamenting and beautifying the grounds. The premises cover a full city block, in the midst of which stands a large and handsome two-story residence. It is thoroughly modern in every particular and contains the latest equipment and conveniences known to architecture which are in keeping with the home, and it is surrounded by fine lawns and ornamental trees and shrubbery. Fraternally Mr. Gray was a Mason and a member of the Eastern Star. He likewise held membership with the Elks and with the Eagles, and politically he was a republican. He never sought to figure prominently in any public light but concentrated his attention and efforts upon his business. Unfaltering diligence was supplemented by sound judgment in his career and his progressiveness brought him prominently to the front until his opinions were largely accepted as authority upon matters of sheep raising in Idaho. Starting out to earn his own living when a lad of but ten years, he steadily worked his way upward, overcoming the drawbacks of poverty and lack of education, until his self-acquired knowledge as well as his self-acquired wealth placed him in the ranks of Idaho's representative and honored men. For a third of a century John J. Gray had been a resident of Idaho when on the 21st of March, 1920, death claimed him. He had lived and labored for the upbuilding of the west, had measured up to high standards in his business career, in his love and devotion to his family and in his loyalty to his country, thus displaying the qualities that mark the line of a noble life. He commanded the respect and enjoyed the friendship of all, and he leaves to the present generation an example that is indeed worthy of emulation. Additional Comments: Extracted from: IDAHO DELUXE SUPPLEMENT CHICAGO THE S. J. CLARKE PUBLISHING COMPANY 1920 Photo: http://www.usgwarchives.net/id/ada/photos/bios/gray72nbs.jpg File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/id/ada/bios/gray72nbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/idfiles/ File size: 8.4 Kb