Montgomery-Labette-Lyon County KS Archives Biographies.....(Flora) GRAY, Harriette Amanda September 17, 1869 - June 17, 1856ME ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ks/ksfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Bill Boggess billboggess@webtv.net January 23, 2006, 5:35 am Author: Bill Boggess HARRIETTE AMANDA (Hattie A) FLORA (1869KS-1956ME), apparently named for both of her grandmothers, was born Friday, 17 September 1869, according to 1926, Volume II and subsequent editions of "The Abridged Compendium of American Genealogy", and 19 June 1956, obituary in "The Courier-Gazette", of Rockland, Maine --- and according to William G Cutler's writings of 1883, "... the first white child born in Montgomery County, Kansas.", and as afore stated, married 6 December 1886 to "Frisco's" Carl Raymond Gray (1867AR-1939DC). Harriette spent over 52 of Carl's 56+ years of railroad career with him. His first half was with "Frisco", Saint Louis & San Francisco RR, starting at age 15 in Rogers, Arkansas, then Oswego, then Wichita where first son Carl Raymond (1889KS-1955MN) was born, then Neodesha, son Russell Davis (1899KS-1875NJ) born at Wichita. Son Howard Kramer (1901MO-1955MN) born Saint Louis. Carl is on page 479 in Volume I and sons Carl Jr & Howard are in Volume III, "Who was Who in America", sons also in Volumes 27 & 29 "Who's Who in America", each, plus Harriette are in "The Compendium of American Genealogy". Harriette taught Bible Classes from the get-go and was first women to be nation-wide on radio, WOW - Omaha, with a Bible Class. Friends hosted Gray's Golden Wedding Anniversary party, with 1,400 guest in Omaha, found in 21 December 1936 issue of "Life" Magazine's, pages 68-72. She was selected "American Mother of 1937" ("Time" Magazine, 3 May 1937, page 17) by Golden Rule Foundation. Carl became president of Union Pacific RR 1920, vice-chairman 1937 ("Time" Magazine, 26 Apr 1937, page 74), and selected as Trustee at Colby College, Waterville, ME in 1938, his father's 1855 Alma Mater. He received honorary LL D degrees from University of Maryland, 1916, University of Arkansas, 1929, Washington and Jefferson College, and at Sioux Falls college in 1937. Carl was found dead in his bed at Mayflower Hotel, Washington D C Tuesday, 9 May 1939. He had dinner with two of his sons, evening before 70th anniversary celebration for cross-country railroads of 10 May 1869. His death was announced while movie "Union Pacific" was being shown at Strand theater. Harriette died after 3 weeks in Knox Hospital, Rockland, Maine, 17 June 1956, both buried with second son, Russell, his wife and their son in Druid Ridge Cemetery, Baltimore, Maryland.  Carl Raymond Gray included his step-sister-in-law, "Mrs Elmer Clark" (Linnie C), in his 1939 will, but she's not found in aunt Harriette (FLORA) Gray's 1956 will, in which many of us were included. October 1989, a RR Caboose was dedicated at Oswego, Kansas in memory of Harriette & Carl Gray and Hobart Holmberg Young. Their life story follows his parents: , also Gray's tombstone at Druid Ridge Cemetery, Baltimore, MD. Additional Comments: Cutler's statement of 1st born in Montgomery County, (bio Flora): File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ks/montgomery/bios/floragra116bs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/ksfiles/ File size: 3.6 Kb