BIO: William E. GRAY, Centre County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Judy Banja & Sabrina Marie Robb

Copyright 2005.  All rights reserved.
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Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania: Including the 
Counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion: Containing Biographical 
Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens, Etc. 
Chicago: J. H. Beers, 1898.
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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD, page 105

HON. WILLIAM E. GRAY, who has just retired from the office of Burgess of 
Bellefonte, is a prominent member of the Centre County Bar, and one of the most 
active and popular members of the Republican party of his locality.  A deep 
thinker and a thorough student, his success in legal lines has been won by sound 
logic, his speeches always possessing the rhetorical graces of the orator that 
he is, and the energy with which he carries out any project marks him a leader 
of men.
  Born June 14, 1860, he has the best part of his life yet before him, and his 
friends predict for him, with reason, a brilliant future.  He is the son of 
Samuel T. and Harriet N. (Hutchinson) Gray.  His early life was passed at the 
old farm in Patton township, the district schools of the neighborhood furnishing 
him educational facilities until at eighteen he entered the preparatory 
department of Pennsylvania State College, where in 1883, after a five-years' 
course, he was graduated with the degree of B.S.  In 1882 he took the junior 
oratorical class prize at the contest in oratory.  Subsequently he took the 
degree of M.S.  After his graduation he spent two years in teaching school, the 
summers being devoted to the study of law with Messrs. Hastings & Reeder.  He 
then entered the Law School, at Albany, N.Y., and in May, 1886, graduated from 
that institution, receiving the degree of L.L. B.  At the commencement exercises 
he was one of the four orators chosen, and the only one from Pennsylvania.  On 
August 23rd, of the same year, he was admitted to the Bar in his native county, 
and has since been successfully engaged in general practice.  In 1894, he was 
elected Burgess of Bellefonte for a term of three years, and in January, 1895, 
he was elected chairman of the Republican County Committee, to which position he 
was re-elected in August, 1895, and again in June, 1896, and in August, 1897, he 
was again re-elected Republican County Chairman, his present term extending 
until January 1, 1899.  The following extracts from the press evidence his 
growth as a young attorney and citizen:
  W. E. Gray is an orator and makes an eloquent as well as argumentative address 
before a jury or audience.  He is true to his client in every detail, and is 
bound to succeed in chosen profession.  For the brief practice he has had, Mr. 
Gray has built up a reputation far better and more prominent than the average 
attorney of his age and experience.  He has made a big success in the quarter 
sessions, where he is employed more frequently than any other young attorney at 
the Bar.
  Mr. Gray has proven himself a worthy chieftain of the rapidly advancing 
Republican ranks, wide-awake, cautious, quick to perceive, and ready to act, 
combining all the elements of a first-class leader and safe counselor.  The 
interests of the Republican party of Centre county are safe in his hands, and in 
a fair field and a fair fight we are bound to win.
  W. E. Gray is one of our rising young lawyers, and is a young man who would 
fill the office with dignity, and to the best interests of the people.  A 
Burgess of a town ought to be a lawyer, and a man who knows how to dispense law.
  The next office of importance that expires this year is that of Burgess.  W. 
E. Gray, Esq., has acquitted himself manfully during the last three years as 
chief magistrate of the borough, and, although he has to step down and out, he 
has made one of the best officers that we have had for years.
  On October 2, 1889, Mr. Gray was united in marriage with Miss Ellen Green, who 
was born at Barre Forge, Huntingdon Co., Penn., September 21, 1862; in 1874 she 
removed with her father's family to Patton township, Centre county.  She was 
educated in the public schools in that locality and in the academy at 
Bellefonte.  She is the daughter of G. Dorsey and Mary Gregg Green.  One son, 
Samuel Hutchinson Gray, born September 3, 1893, has brightened their pleasant 
home.