GRAY, John Sanford - Fountain County INGenWeb Project

The Horse Thief Detective Companies intend to erect a fine monument over the grave of John Santford Gray, the originator of the Horse Company organization.  Each company will donate to purchase it.  At a meeting of the Covington Company Saturday they voted to donate $25 toward it. Uncle Sant Gray was a good man deserving of such a tribute to his beloved memory. Veedersburg News.

John Sanford Gray died Tuesday evening at the residence of his son, James Gray, near Waynetown. The funeral occurred yesterday morning from Union Chapel near Waynetown, Rev. O. P. Abbott, of Indianapolis, conducting the ceremony. “Uncle Sant” Gray was born in Ohio in June 1807 and there he grew to manhood. In 1832 he married and removed to Montgomery County when he bought the farm of Christopher Mann near Waynetown. Mr. Gray was one of the pioneers here and his life was marked by the same hard toil and rough pleasures of those days. He was from the first a leader in his community. Previous to coming to Indiana he was a cabinet maker and he plied his trade here in connection with his farming. He was a pious, God-fearing man respected and honored by all. He is perhaps best known as the founder of the Wabash General Horse Thief Detective Association which organization became of national importance spreading to many states. Mr. Gray has had prominent connections with the association until his death, the office of Grand Organizer having been made during life. Mr. Gray was at one time quite wealthy but lost all through failure of others for whom he was security. In his death, Montgomery County loses one of her best citizens. - kbz

Source: Crawfordsville Weekly Journal 11 October 1895

At the late national meeting of the Horse Thief Detectives at Eaton, Ohio Hon. JA Mount delivered the following memorial address on J. Sanford Gray.

John Sanford Gray was born in Butler County, Ohio June 14, 1810l. Died at the home of his son in Montgomery county, Indiana April 23, 1895.

While a mere boy he was apprenticed to learn the carpenter trade which he followed until the year 32, when he moved to Montgomery county, Ind and settled in the woods. Here with his beloved wife he endured the privations and hardships included in pioneer life. By his persistence and energy and patient toil the wilderness farm was transformed into fields clothed with abundant crops. All that was commendable found in him a champion. That which was demoralizing and degrading found in him an inveterate foe. He was the friend of schools. He was an active church member, a liberal supporter, a zealous worker in all its departments. This patriarchial father whose snowy locks were his crown of glory inspired the Sabbath school with his presence and his words of instruction and counsel. He was a lover of children and in turn beloved of them. It has been my good fortune and privelege to be with father Gray in many homes. I have seen the children gather around this aged father and listen to his words of cousel and learn lessons of wisdom from his lips. He always had a kind word for all inmates of a home, no less a cheering word for the hired help. The great principles of friendship, charity and benevolence were living realities with him. The hungry were fed at his home, the fatherless found in him a friend. His tender heart was moved to sympathy and succor by distress and suffering.

In the early settling of the county desperadoes hovered on the pioneer border and harassed the settlers. Organized effort against crime became a necessity. Father Gray was among the first to enforce the law against these criminals. Necessity gave birth to the Horse Thief Detective Organization. This organization was formed for mutual protection and indemnity against thieves, felons and criminals of all kinds; and for the maintenance of law and order and for better security in the possession of the accumulated results of toil and frugality.

These organizations multiplied in number and their good deeds were acknowledged. The Wabash Genral Associaiton of Horse Thief Detective Companies was organized. Father Gray's ability as a leader among men coupled with his noble qualities of mind and heart, eminitly fitted him to become in a large measure, the founder and the head of this organization.

For more than a 1/4 of a century he served at its president and was never absent from a meeting. Four years ago when the name was changed to the National Horse Thief Detective Association at Greenville, Oh, Father Gray was made the venerable head of the new organization and given the office of Grand Organizer, which position he held at the time of his death.

Time will not permit a detailed account of his meritorious life. Father Gray by his energy, frugality and toil accumulated a fortune. Through the kindness of his heart and the truthfulness of his nature, he saw it swept away. His honestly was of that sterling quality that made him refuse the availance of the tehnicalities of law to save the accumulation of years of toil from going to satisfy security debt.

In the touching address of Father Gray at Frankfort two years ago, he said if God permitted him the right exercise of his mind as he approached the gates of death his last prayer would be, "O Lord God in thine infinite mercy remember the Horse Thief Detective companies and let thy choicest blessing and Thy rich benediction rest upon them." In the full exercise of his mental powers as he was about to depart his life, he called about him some of the detective brethren and gave them his parting charge, admonishing them to faithfulness and fidelity to the order. The meeting at Attica one year ago was the last our honored brother was permitted to attend. Through the initiatory of Dr. L.E. Alexander, a worthy tribute was paid to Father Gray, which was also a fitting event for his last meeting. As a momento of the love borne him by this association, as a token of the exalted apreciation of his long life of devoted service to this order, Dr. Alexander in behalf of the association presented him with a purse contina $353.15. Those who witnessed this impressive scene bear testimony to the truth that, "It is more blessed to give than to receive."

To see our veteran patriarch in the detective work, whose name had become as familiar as household words, and whose presence was a benediction, the reipient of this gift was a joy and satisfaction. The tears of gratitude as they streamed down his cheeks sparkled with a radiance more beautiful than the gems of the orient, and the snowy locks that adorned his temples were a crown of greater glory than the ensignia of kingly authority. Like a shock of corn fully ripe in his season he has been garnered into the haven of rest. The preparation for his funeral was made by himself : "As one who gathers about him the drapery of his coach, And lays himself down to pleasant streams."

For the funeral text he selected Rev. 14:13. He was followed to the beautiful county cemetery near Wesley, Ind by one of the greatest processions ever witnessed in the county.

"He being death yet speaketh.

His faith and works, like streams that intermingly

In the same channel ran:

The crystal clearness of an eye kept single,

Shamed all the frauds of man.

The very greatest of all human natures

He joined to courage strong

And love outstretching to all God's creatures

With sturdy hate of wrong.

Tender as woman; manliness and meekness

In him were so allied

That they who judge dhim by his strength or weakness

Saw but a single side.

Men failed, betrayed him but his zeal seemed nourished

By failure and by fall

Still a large faith in human kind he cherished

And in God's love for all.

And now he rests: his greatness and his sweetness

No more shall seem at strife

And death has moulded into calm completion

The stature of his life.

But 'round his grave are quietude and beauty

And the sweet heaven above

The fitting symbols of a life of duty

Transfigured into love - kbz.

Source: Crawfordsville Weekly Journal Friday, 26 April 1895

John Sanford Gray died Tuesday at 6 o’clock at the residence of this son, James Gray, near Waynetown. He had been in failing health for several months and for the few days previous to his demise the end seemed hourly at hand.

The funeral occurred today at 11 o’clock from Union Chapel, near Waynetown, the services being conducted by Rev. O. H. P. Abbott, of Indianapolis, and Rev. Vanderman, of Bainbridge. The interment occurred at Wesley Chapel.

Mrs. Gray’s wife died twenty four years ago. The following children born to them still live: James, John K., S. P., William, Ben T. and E. A. Gray, Mrs. R. B. Snyder and Mrs. James Vaughn.

John Sanford Gray, or “Uncle Sant,” as he was generally known, was born in Ohio eighty six years ago next June and there grew to manhood. Then he was married and in 1832 he came to Montgomery County and purchased the farm of Christopher Mann, near Wesley, a place now owned by Isaac Davis.

Mr. Gray began life as a pioneer and most ably represented as a type those hardy men who braved the trackless wilderness and from it wrought it the goodly land we now enjoy. Powerful in mind and body J. S. Gray became a leader from the day of his advent here. He had been a cabinet maker in Ohio and his services were constantly in demand here. Often after a hard day’s work in the new ground he passed the night in shaping a coffin for some dead neighbor, catching, perhaps, a few minutes’ sleep on the shavings about his work bench. But he prospered and his name was known and respected in all the adjoining counties. Like the most of the rugged characters who blessed our earlier civilization with their lives he lived in the fear and admonition of the Lord. He and his wife were staunch Methodists and their home was the home of those devoted circuit riders whose religious zeal gave a heritage to the state in those days when the people were too poor to build churches or support spiritual advisers.

When the war broke out the great issues of the day led to a dissension in the church of which Mr. Gray was a member and he with his family and others founded the Christian Union Church, an independent organization which still flourishes. He was a great Sunday school worker all his life and a truly devoted Christian.

He coupled farming with stock buying and amassed quite a fortune. He was better known from his connection with the Horse Thief Detective Association perhaps than any other cause. Along about 1840 horse stealing was a profession followed by hundreds, and the law could not put it down. Finally matters came to such a pass that it became necessary to meet organization with organization, and from this stern necessity was born the “Wabash General Horse Thief Detective Association.” In the year 1841 J. S. Gray called a meeting in Waynetown to perfect an organization. He with two others—Simeon Osborn and Thomas Hall—there organized for self protection. These men quietly, but rapidly, established chapters of the new organization at Shawnee Mound, Wesley and numerous other points in the most severely afflicted sections of the state. They were men known far and wide for their wealth and honesty alike, and all their charters were given to men of like character and standing. The first general convention was held in 1847, when the society had grown famous for its swift and effective work and at this convention the secret work and cabalistic signs were first introduced. After this convention the growth of the order was rapid and its power came to be felt and feared as well as respected. It was in 1850 that the order extended itself to Ohio and Illinois, and at this year’s convention Thomas McKibben, of Danville, Ill., a fearless man with Indian blood in his veins, was elected president, with John S. Gray, vice-president. At this convention the name of the order was changed to “The Wabash Horse Thief General Detective Association.” Three years later John S. Gray succeeded to the presidency and served for thirty eight years, or until 1891, when the convention held at Greenville, O., created a new office—that of grand organizer—and elected Mr. Gray to this for life. At the convention the name was again changed to “The National Horse Thief Detective Association.”

From a sketch of Mr. Gray, published a year ago in connection with the Detective Association we quote the following:

“John S. Gray, better known as “Uncle Sant Gray,” the venerable head of the order, is now eighty four years of age, but is hale and hearty. He organizes every new lodge, giving the unwritten work and instructions. His name is a synonym all over western Indiana and eastern Illinois for sterling integrity. He was at one time a very wealthy man, but by the failure of others, whose security he was, he lost a few years ago, his entire fortune, and was plunged into debt fully $50,000. He was then an old man, but instead of sinking under his misfortunes he went to work to liquidate that indebtness. His courage and honesty have been rewarded, and he now owes less than $1,000, a debt, too, which he never contracted, save by indorsing other men. He works hard and can do considerable manual labor, but he lives principally for the Detective Association, in which he is greatly interested and which he considers ‘ to be the grandest things on earth, next to the church of God.’

He never tires of relating the incidents connected with the early history of the order and his stories are told with a force and charm which thrill his hearers.

In the death of Mr. Gray Montgomery County loses one of her best citizens. A man of strong convictions he was true to them always. -s

Source: Crawfordsville Weekly Journal Friday, 26 April 1895

The death of J. Sanford Gray of Wayne Township may be expected any day. The venerable man feels that the end is near and expresses himself as ready to go. Last Friday when the doctor called he stated that his race was run and that he wished to pass to his friends beyond. He refused to take medicine and requested that only such drugs be administered as would alleviate his pain.