GRAY-Abner S. - Fountain County INGenWeb Project

Abner S. GRAY, an enterprising citizen and prosperous general agriculturist of Jackson Twp, Fountain Co IN was born upon the well-kept and valuable farm where he now resides. The paternal grandparents of our subject were William B. and Nancy Beacham Gray. Grandfather Gray was a descendant of a family of Grays whose nativity was in old Ireland. His son William was the 5th child of the family of sons and daughters. William, named in honor of his father, became the husband of Mary Sprague, and the wedded pair had two sons, of whom our subject is the youngest. The elder brother is the well-known resident of Montgomery County, Joseph H. Gray. The father and mother of Abner and joseph were both natives of Butler Co Ohio and there received their early training and went to school and grew up to mature years and were married. The date of their union was in 1834, and after housekeeping for two years in their childhood home, they removed to Fountain County where they received the gift of some land located by our subject's grandfather. Upon this homestead William and Mary Gray began their pioneer life in a humble log cabin. The young people were both faithful members of the Methodist Episcopal Church and in their little home upon the broad prairies of Indiana there gathered every other Sunday a band of earnest worshipers, intent only upon thanking God for all His mercies with song and fervent words of prayer. Nearly 60 years have passed since first the religious settlers of the neighborhood assembled in the happy home and few, if any, of the worshipers now survive. The young farmer who tilled his land and industriously through the week and kept the Sabbath devoutly, was almost as ardent in his political belief as he was in religious doctrine. He was a stalwart Democrat and ever cast his vote with the party. Upon the old farm, fast yielding to patient cultivation, our subject was born and in all the changing years Abner Gray has never been absent from his birthplace more than two weeks at a time. Mr. Gray went to the little subscription school and there was well grounded in the primary studies. As the time passed the young boy was trained in the duties of the farm and the pracdtical lesson she daily learned, and the habits of self-reliance and honest industry taught him by his parents, have guided him in his upward path in life. At 25 years of age our subject was married to Miss Minerva, daughte rof John Stonebraker, and a most excellent lady, well known and much respected. Mr. Gray's father was a confirmed invalid at this time and our subject managed the home farm with judgement and success. Mr. and Mrs. Gray are parents of two sons, John and William. John married Susan, the daughter of James A. Saunders and they are settled in a home of their own, but William, the youngest son is still on the homestead. As the years have passed our subject has materially increased his holdings, his property now comprising about 400 acres of valuable land. Mr. Gray is one of the energetic and active workers in local progress and improvement and is widely known as a public-spirited and liberal-minded man. Our subject is not connected by membership with any denomination but he is ever ready to aid in their support, and assist in any worthy enterprise. He affiliates with the party to which his father gave his support and is always a loyal Democrat, deeply interested in the management of both national and local government. A true friend and kind neighbor, Mr. Gray deservedly occupies a high position in the esteem of all who know him.