BIOGRAPHY: Joseph B. GRAY, Mifflin County, PA

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The Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of the Juniata Valley, Comprising 
the Counties of Huntingdon, Mifflin, Juniata, and Perry, Pennsylvania.
Chambersburg, Pa.: J. M. Runk & Co., 1897, Volume I, pages 551-552.

  JOSEPH B. GRAY, Newton Hamilton, Mifflin county, Pa., was born in Lack 
township, Juniata county, Pa., July 14, 1843, son of Joseph and Elizabeth 
(Harris) Gray.  His paternal grandfather, James, who was born in Ireland, came 
to Pennsylvania and settled in Juniata county, where he engaged in farming and 
stock-raising.  He married Rebecca  Shafer, of Lancaster county.  They had seven 
children:  Robert;  James;  Samuel;  John;  Joseph;  Catharine;  and Mrs. Polly 
Berry.  Joseph is the only surviving member of the family.  Mr. And Mrs. Gray 
died on the homestead.  They were members of the United Presbyterian church.  
Joseph Gray was born in Milford township, Juniata county, March 5, 1808.  He 
acquired a good education, and taught school in Juniata county.  After the death 
of his father he managed the farm of more than 200 acres, and made many 
improvements.  Mr. Gray lives retired on the homestead.  He is a Democrat.  He 
has served as tax collector and constable, and in other township offices.  Mr. 
Gray was first married to Elizabeth Harris, of Franklin county, Pa., who died in 
April, 1851.  Their children were:  Martha (Mrs. John N. Arnold), of Juniata 
county;  James, of Juniata county;  William, of Oregon;  John, of Illinois;  
Thomas, deceased;  Joseph B.;  Alexander, of McKean county, Pa.;  Robert;  and 
two young children, deceased.  Mr. Gray was afterwards married to Leah Barton, 
of Juniata county.  Their surviving  children are:  Elizabeth (Mrs. Jacob 
Ebberts), of Elk county, Pa.;  Harvey B., of Juniata county;  Calvin, of McKean 
county;  Mary (Mrs. D. Varner), of Alexandria, Pa.;  Christina (Mrs. James 
Beckenbaugh), of Huntingdon county;  Rebecca (Mrs. James Smith), of Juniata 
county;  and Jesse, of Juniata county.  Those  deceased are:  Samuel;  George;  
David;  Howard and an infant child.  Five of Mr. Gray's sons were in the Union 
army during the war of the Rebellion.  Mr. Gray is a member of the United 
Presbyterian church.  He has been a teacher in the Sabbath-school.
  Joseph B. Gray attended the public schools of Juniata county.  He assisted his 
father on the farm until at the age of twenty, when he enlisted, February 23, 
1864, in Company C, Forty-seventh Pennsylvania Volunteers, in command of Colonel 
Good and Captain Oyster.  Mr. Gray took part in one great battle and in several 
minor fights.  He was also in four cruising voyages, traveling fifteen thousand 
miles along the coast.  He was in service until January, 1866.  Since the war, 
Mr. Gray has been engaged in farm work.  In 1890 he removed from Huntingdon 
county to Mifflin county.  He is now living on his farm in Wayne township.  Mr. 
Gray is a Democrat.  He has served as justice of the peace, school director and 
tax collector.  He is a member of the Surg. Charles Bower Post, No. 457, G. A. 
R.
  Joseph B. Gray was first married in 1868, to Martha A. McCulloch, who died in 
Shirleysburg in 1875.  They had four children:  James, deceased;  Almeda E. 
(Mrs. Forrest Bratton);  William M.;  and Harvey, deceased.  Mr. Gray afterwards 
married Belle Fleming.  They have one child, Lloyd.  Mr. Gray is a member of the 
Presbyterian church, and assistant superintendent of the Sabbath school.