From "History of North Washington" Published 1904

Transcribed by: Candy Grubb (candyg@theofficenet.com)
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SAMUEL GRAY
	Samuel Gray is the genial and popular proprietor of the hotel in
Keller, Ferry county.  In addition to operating this, he gives his 
attention to mining.  He was born in Lafayette, Indiana, on July 17, 1840,
being the son of David R. and Sarah (Tadford) Gray, natives of Ohio.  They
were early settler of Indiana and there remained the balance of their lives.
The mother died in 1847 and in 1851 the father married Elizabeth Mires.  
To the first marriage, four children were  born, William, Samuel, John L,
and Ellen, deceased.  By the last marriage one son was born.  In very early
days our subject crossed the plains with his grandparents, who located in
the Mohawk valley, Oregon, in 1853.  There Samuel was educated in the
common schools and at the age of fourteen assumed the responsibilities of
life for himself.  Two years after we find him in Corvallis with an uncle,
J.B. Congle, operating a saddler's store.  For three years he conducted that
business, then went to California and became a cook on a steamer in 1859,
and returned to Portland.  The next year he went to Orofino, Idaho, and
mined for a short time.  After that he returned to Walla Walla and wintered,
and in 1861 and 1863 went to the Boise Basin and there in 1863, was the
first locator of valuable mining property.  He took a claim on Granite
creek from which he took twenty thousand dollars in three months.  After 
this he went to Portland, but shortly went to the Grande Ronde valley of
Eastern Oregon, where he opened a saddlery store, but was unsuccessful in 
the venture.  He then went to the Willamette valley and started in the same
business with the same result.  Then he came to Lewiston and operated in the
same business again.  Here he made a brilliant success.  He continued there
until 1884, the n sold and came to Couer d'Alene and opened a hotel.  For
two years he was occupied at this; then he took land there on the 
reservation, whre he made his home for eight years.  Selling the property,
he removed to Marcus, in Stevens county, and later to Keller, where we 
now find him.  He opened a hotel in Keller and there also became interested
in a grocery store.  In addition to each, as stated before, he gives his
attention to mining.
	In 1864 Mr. gray married Mary A., daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth
Howe, natives of Missouri.  Mr. Howe was there killed by a tree falling on
him, after which, in 1863, the mother moved to Oregon.  She died in 1893,
having been the mother of four children.  To Mr. and Mrs. Gray three children
have been born, William P., at Wilbur, Washington; Clare; and D.R., 
associated with his father in business.  Mr. Gary is one of the stanchest of 
substantial Republicans and since he cast his first vote for Abraham Lincoln,
he has voted for every Republican candidate for president since.  He 
remembers well when James K. Polk was elected and is a well-informed and 
influential man in political lines.  Mr. Gray has never seen fit to hold
office although he labors faithfully for the good of men.  He and his wife
are members of the Baptist church and are well and favorably known in this
community.  Mr. Gray has amassed two or three fortunes and has lost them,
but is again a very prosperous citizen.

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