Arthur A. Gray Biography


	This biography appears on pages 387-388 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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				ARTHUR A. GRAY.  

	Arthur A. Gray is a member of the Gray Construction Company, 
prominently associated with the improvement of Watertown. In fact many 
of the most important buildings of the city have been erected by this 
company and Mr. Gray is therefore ranked with the leading and 
successful business men of the eastern part of the state. He was born 
in Brooklyn, Green county, Wisconsin, October 29, 1864, and is a son of 
Alhanon and Janet Gray. The father, who was a farmer by occupation, 
died when his son Arthur was but seven years of age but the mother is 
still living, making her home at Oregon, Wisconsin.  

	In the acquirement of his education Arthur A. Gray attended the 
public schools and high school and also a select school at Dayton, 
Wisconsin. When his textbooks were put aside he entered upon an 
apprenticeship to the carpenter's trade under Robert Hankinson, of 
Brooklyn, with whom he remained for four years. He then began 
contracting on his own account, in Brooklyn. In 1887 he removed to 
Plankinton, South Dakota, where he remained for one season. Returning 
to Wisconsin he settled at Belleville, where he carried on business for 
a number of years, and in June, 1897, he came to Watertown. A list of 
the buildings with which he has been connected in his business capacity 
indicates his high standing as a contractor and builder. He erected the 
Kampeska Hotel, the J. J. Case building, the high school, the northwest 
and the southeast ward schools, the Elks Club and the Commercial Bank, 
all of Watertown. He also does a large amount of work in Montana and 
Minnesota. He was the builder of the courthouse in Walworth county, 
South Dakota, also in Hyde county and Sully county, South Dakota, the 
high school at Pierre, the high school at Redfield, the courthouse in 
Faulk county and the courthouse at Rosebud, Montana. He is thoroughly 
acquainted with every phase of building — the scientific principles as 
well as the practical features of the work — and his understanding of 
architectural laws is evidenced in the fine appearance of many of the 
buildings which he has erected. He is also the owner of a farm of five 
hundred and sixty acres in Codington county.  

	On the 18th of March, 1886, Mr. Gray was married to Miss Julia F. 
Southwick, a daughter of Marshall Southwick, who removed from Rutland, 
Wisconsin, to Plankinton, South Dakota, in 1881. To Mr. and Mrs. Gray 
have been born seven children: Gladys, now the wife of Roy L. Rose, of 
Watertown; Earl, a postal clerk, living in Watertown; Vernice, the wife 
of Roy Klinge; Lucille, now Mrs. Rudolph Martin, of Watson, Minnesota; 
Lucien, a brick mason; and Nettie and Morris, both at home. The 
religious faith of the family is that of the Episcopal church.  

	In politics Mr. Gray is an independent republican and fraternally 
he is connected with the blue lodge and chapter of Masons at Watertown, 
the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, the Modern Woodmen of America 
and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. When there is a leisure 
moment in his busy life he enjoys a fishing or hunting trip and he also 
finds rest and recreation in motoring. He is interested in everything 
pertaining to South Dakota and believes firmly that there is 
opportunity for great empire building in this state, for its natural 
resources have scarcely been touched, much less exhausted, and it 
remains to the prosperous and progressive citizens to make of the state 
what they will. Mr. Gray cooperates in every movement for the public 
good and while he is guided in his business career by the laudable 
ambition to attain success, at the same time he never loses sight of 
his opportunity to further the public welfare by advocating a class of 
buildings that will add to the beauty, adornment and attractiveness of 
the city.