Claude E. Gray Biography


	This biography appears on pages 437-438 in "History of Dakota Territory" 
	by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. IV (1915) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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				CLAUDE E. GRAY.  

	Much of the responsibility in connection with the direction of 
the affairs of the Black Hills Wholesale Grocery Company devolves upon 
Claude E. Gray, who is vice president and general manager of the 
concern, and he has fully demonstrated his ability to meet the demands 
made upon his energy and judgment.

	His birth occurred on the 31st of January, 1879, in Troy, Iowa, 
and his parents are James Herbert and Maria (Cox) Gray, pioneers of the 
Hawkeye state. The father accompanied his father, Simon Gray, upon the 
latter's migration from Pennsylvania to Iowa in 1867. Mr. and Mrs. 
James Gray still reside upon the homestead near Milton, Iowa, which 
Simon Gray entered from the government.  
Claude E. Gray, the second in a family of three children, completed the 
course in the public schools of Troy, Iowa, and subsequently attended 
normal school at Bloomfield during the summer sessions and taught 
school in the winter. He prepared himself for business life by 
attending the Gem City Business College of Quincy, Illinois, after 
which he was for two years stenographer with the Centerville Black Coal 
Company of Centerville, Iowa. Later he was for the same length of time 
employed by the E. H. Schloeman Commission Company of Chicago. Upon 
removing to Sioux City, Iowa, he became associated with the wholesale 
grocery house of Warfield, Pratt, Howell Company as stenographer, but 
was soon promoted to the claim department and was later made a 
salesman.  

	Mr. Gray first came to South Dakota in 1908, in which year he was 
assigned the territory embracing the northeastern part of the state. In 
February, 1911, he went to Rapid City as salesman for the Black Hills 
Wholesale Grocery Company and later in the same year bought an interest 
in the business and was chosen vice president. In 1914 he became 
general manager and in the short time that he has filled that important 
position has satisfied the directors that he is the right man for the 
place, his knowledge of business conditions, his enterprise and sound 
judgment enabling him to so direct its affairs as to secure good 
dividends and at the same time build for the future. The company has 
developed into the most important one in its line in the western 
section of the state and its continued prosperity is assured. 

	Mr. Gray was united in marriage on the 22nd of June, 1904, to 
Miss Florence L. Spooner, a daughter of Fred and Abbie (Hill) Spooner, 
of Centerville, Iowa, and their two children are Miriam and Marjorie. 

	Mr. Gray is stalwart in his allegiance to the republican party 
and fraternally is connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, 
the Elks and the United Commercial Travelers. His religious faith is 
that of the Congregational church, to which his wife also belongs, and 
she is active in the work of the church, especially in the Ladies Aid 
Society. She is also a member of the Fortnightly Club and is interested 
in various local charitable associations. Mr. Gray finds his chief 
recreation in hunting and fishing and is greatly interested in all 
sports and athletics, having taken a prominent part in college 
athletics. He is considered one of the most prominent and successful of 
the city's younger business men and there is encouragement for all who 
desire to achieve success in the fact that he has advanced to his 
present important position through hard work and strict attention to 
the matter at hand. His personal character is such as to inspire 
confidence and the conviction that he can be relied upon has been no 
unimportant factor in his attaining an honorable place in business 
circles of Rapid City.