Biographical Sketch of Fincelius R. Gray, Lafayette County, Missouri

>From "History of Lafayette County, Mo., carefully written and compiled
from the most authentic official and private sources" St. Louis, Mo.
Historical Company, 1881.
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Fincelius R. Gray, born in Harrison county, Kentucky, July 30, 1806. 
Worked on a farm with his father till November, 1827.  Joined the Pres-
byterian church November 25, 1827.  Was taken under care of Ebenezer
Presbytery as a candidate for the ministry in April, 1831.  Was licensed
to preach the gospel on October 9, 1833, came to Missouri in November,
1833, traveled over the country between the Mississippi and the Missouri
rivers till January, 1834, and there being then in the country, no Pres-
byterian minister between Lexington and St. Charles, he accepted an 
invitation to supply the church in Columbia, and continued in that charge
until September, 1835, visiting and supplying as far as practicable, the 
several churches in Callaway, Boone and Howard counties. Married Margaret
Ferguson in Franklin, Howard County, August 12, 1835.  He spent the 
following winter in Kentucky, returned to Missouri in June, 1836, and 
spent the summer and fall in Franklin; went to Marion county in December,
and supplied the Greenfield church for one year.  In 1837 he took charge 
of New Providence and Newark churches, the one located in Marion county,
and the other in what is now Knox county.  In 1846 he went to Indepen-
dence, and continued to supply that church until September, 1850; then he
went to Kentucky, and remained there, supplying the churches of 
Versailles and Greer's Creek until March, 1859.  Then he returned to 
Missouri, and took charge of the Tabo church, in Lafayette county; this
church prospered until the civil war came on, under the effects of which
the church was scattered and almost broken up, its membership being re-
duced from over 100 to less than 20.  The charge of this church was
relinquished in February, 1865; then leaving his family here, he went to
Kentucky and did not return until August.  When he returned the new
constitution was just going into effect, containing an iron clad oath, 
which all ministers of the gospel were required to take.  That oath he
could not take, and therefore ceased to preach or to exercise any of the
functions of a minister until that was declared unconstitutional by the
supreme court of the United States.  During this time he cultivated his
little farm and made a support for his family by daily labor as a simple
farmer.  After the oath was set aside he resumed ministerial work, and 
supplied the two (now little) churches of Tabo and Prairie.  After a few
years the Prairie church was relinquished.  The Tabo congregation having
concluded to pull down their house of worship and remove it to Higgins-
ville, he preached in a school house in the neighborhood until the church
was ready to be occupied; he continued to supply the Higginsville church
until he was partially paralyzed in 1878.  Since then he has been unable
to preach or to do other work of a minister of the gospel.  He is living
on his farm in section 10, township 49, range 26, with his children.

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