Benton Co., AR - Biographies - William B. Gray

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William B. Gray is a native of Fort Scott, Kas., born October 14, 1862, 
and is the son of Lee and Catherine (Schoeler) Gray. The father was 
born in Washington County, Penn., lived there until grown and there 
received a good education. When not attending school he clerked in his 
father's store. He left that State in 1858. and settled in Jasper 
County, Mo. Catherine (Schoeler) Gray was born in Knox County, Ohio, 
and there lived until fifteen or sixteen years of age, when her 
parents immigrated to Jasper County, Mo. She was also well educated, 
and after coming to Missouri devoted her time to teaching school, 
which she continued until the breaking out of the war (1861), when she 
married Mr. Gray. She died December 8, 1862, leaving one child, 
William B. Mr. Gray had. previous to his wife's death, immigrated to 
Kansas, and in that State followed farming for some time. He here 
married his second wife, Mrs. Welch. and by her became the father of 
five children: Tussie, Jesse, Wesley, Leslie and Maud, all now living. 
After a few years of farmer's life Mr. Gray ventured into the 
newspaper business, which he followed for about a year, when he again 
returned to farm life. Since then he has lived on his farm three miles 
from Fort Scott, Kas. William B. Gray, after his mother's death, was 
taken by his grandparents, and was by them reared. From the age of 
seven to fourteen he was in the school-room, after which time he was 
put to work on the farm in the summer, but attended school in the 
winter until eighteen years of age. He then began the battle of life 
for himself by renting land of his uncle and in following agricultural 
pursuits. August 4, 1883, he married Miss Eliza Myers, daughter of 
Noah and Mary Myers, of Jasper County, Mo., but natives of Indiana. 
They moved from the last named State to Jasper County, Mo., where Mrs. 
Gray was born. She bore her husband two children, one now living, 
Isaac M. The one deceased was named Lee B. Since coming to Benton 
County Mr. Gray has been engaged in farming and stock raising, and 
although a young man has a farm of 160 acres, eighty being under 
cultivation, and his prospects are bright for a happy and prosperous 
future. Since coming to Arkansas he has rented his own land, and has 
been living on his grandfather's farm, acting as his agent. He is a 
strong Republican in his political views, yet has never voted for a 
presidential candidate.