A service of the Kansas State Library
Page © Copyright 2000
John & Susan Howell
Alfred Gray
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"In the death of Alfred Gray, who passed away on the 23d of January 1880,
Kansas lost a most valuable citizen, who greatly added to her honest fame.
Born at Evans, Erie county, N. Y., December 5, 1830, he worked as a boy
on a farm, and later embarked as a sailor on Lake Erie. After rising to
rank of first mate he came ashore, turned his mind to study and books, and
finally became a practicing lawyer at Buffalo, N. Y. He abandoned excellent
professional prospects to become, in 1866, a farmer in Wyandotte county,
Kansas Territory. He took part in politics and war, and was chief clerk of
the last Territorial Legislature, and rose to the rank of Division Quarter-Master
in the Union Army. It was in 1866 that Alfred Gray began his career of
usefulness to the State. In that year he was elected a director of the State
Agricultural Society. From this society grew the State Board of Agriculture,
with Mr. Gray as its secretary, and the system of biennial reports which he
prepared for years, and which have always be regarded as authority on Kansas
agriculture, industries, and resources, throughout the United States, Canada,
and Europe. Mr. Gray's services to Kansas in connection with the Centennial
Exhibition of 1876 were beyond price. He died the victim of overwork. His
memory is preserved by a public monument and in the name of
Gray county."
Prentis, Noble L. A History of Kansas (Winfield: E. P. Greer. 1899) pp 161-162 |
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