| Birth: | Sep. 28, 1867
Princeton
Dallas County
Arkansas, USA | | Death: | May 9, 1939
District Of Columbia, USA | 
Veteran: Missouri Militia.
A Mayflower descendant.
h/o Harriette Amanda FLORA.
~ Our Nation's railroad system became better because of over fifty-six year dedication provided it by Arkansas' Carl Raymond GRAY, son of Arkansas pioneering school teaching parents from Maine ~
Carl's railroad career started March 1883 when fifteen years old, as a spitoon cleaner at newly created Rogers, Benton county, Arkansas, ending May 1939 as vice-chairman of Union Pacific Systems in a Washington, District of Columbia hotel, following an evening dinner with older two of his three sons.
Carl GRAY was an unusually intelligent, handsome and impressive man. His robust figure stood above six feet, and his strong kindly face was given an added touch of benevolence by a fine head of wavy hair turned prematurely gray in his mid forties. He was fond of companionship and was a master story teller. (so wrote "Biography Resource Center")
C L I C K on images for more information.
....as well as his being a Director of Association of American Railroads (which he helped organize) and the Railway Express Agency, plus filling the shoes at death of Maine's governor William T COBB as a director of the Maine Central Railroad to name but three....
... was longest serving president, (ending as vice-chairman) of, since 1862 upon authorization of the then United States president, Abraham LINCOLN, more than 150 year old Union Pacific Systems, successfully operating it profitably for share holders dividends through the Great Depression, later serving since 1932, under younger chairman, the honorable William Averell HARRIMAN (1891-1986), son of E H HARRIMAN, ...while achieving many great things for the American people.
In addition to Colonel Carl GRAY being a brilliant innovative railroader without a day of formal college education, he was an accepted leader among the ranks outside of Railroading, as in early years at Carthage, Missouri, a military leader elected to rank of Colonel while with his frist employer, Saint Louis & San Franciso Railroad, better known as "Frisco", as a member on Board of Trustees at his father's college, now Colby College, a Director of; the United States Chamber of Commerce, the Omaha National Bank, First National Bank of Chicago to name but a few. In addition, he was awarded four collegiate honorary LL D degrees; Maryland State College of Agriculture, now known as University of Maryland, 1916 - University of Arkansas, 1929 - Washington and Jefferson College and Sioux Falls College, of South Dakota, both in 1937 as well as ~ ~ found in publications; "Who was Who in America" and "Who's Who in America", having three sons, two, in "Who's Who of America", Volumns 27 & 29, himself on page 497, Vol I of "Who was Who in America" and in "The Abridged Compendium of American Genealogy".
To better comprehend his motivation in life, one needs to reflect upon his written words at age nineteen, four years into a most successful fifty-six+ year railroad career, two months after marriage, six months following death of his Little Mudder, found on page 243 in her 1867-1872, 2005 transcribed, diary of his earliest life, ~ ~ Carl Raymond GRAY wrote the following, dated 17 February 1887, to wit:
"Just six months ago today at one thirty p m Little Mudder passed peacefully away leaving life a blank to her Mankin, little sister and Little Bada and her boys life can never be finished. This is a very sad ending to a book begun so hopefully and with so much love but there can be no doubt God mercifully shortened her sufferings, answering her own & prayers of her friends. Oh that I had the tongue of a poet that I might sing the praises of truest, best and most devoted with wife and mother that ever lived and her boy hopes he will never fall behind in any of her hopes or expectations."
Above material is on file at Special Collections, University of Arkansas, MC 1618, as of August 2005, including his mother's, Mrs V L GRAY (1st Chair 1874-1881, of what became Art Department), papers, diaries, art work, etc., donated by eldest daughter of Carl & Harriette's second of three granddaughters Eleanor Howard (Gray) KUNTSON (1923ME-1994MN). Please note that other repositories around the country havef materials relating to the Gray Family, including Bentley Historical Library at the University of Michigan, Colby College, and the Arkansas History Commission and State Archives.
A second section of this diary exists, written by his "Little Mudder" over 138 years ago on some 842, now extremely fragile pages, in three bindings found at Arkansas History Commission, miss-labeled in part as Mrs Gray's letters, donated, 1964 by Farra Claudis NEWBERRY (1887AR-1968AR). Partially viewed July 2005 by Dr Carl H MONEYHON, UALR, who transcribed, annoted and published her Civil War diary in 1983's Arkansas Historical Quarterly, concluding it was primarily a diary by a doting mother of her son's childhood events, from 1872 to 1874. Some six years later, The Arkansas History Commission, October 2011, refused to allow a local lady to preserve this hand written historic material on its 138+ year old deteriorating acid paper, by using her portable scanner on this material written during the ending of Reconstruction and during The Brooks-Baxter War days.
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Birth: 2nd of three known children in Princeton, Dallas county, Arkansas.
Siblings:
Their were three children, Carl's eight year older brother, Clyde Leslie who died in 1861 at Princeton, Arkansas plus a four year younger sister born 1871, Little Rock, Ethel Davis, married his assistant, had one daughter, living in Illinois when she died in 1910, by Virginia LaFayette DAVIS, a 9th generation descendent of Mayflower pioneers, and Colonel Oliver Crosby GRAY, grandchild of a Revolutionary war veteran, with their second infant, Carl, moving to Little Rock on Chidester's overnight stagecoach shortly following birth with "Little Mudder" and future step-mother's half brother, a close family friend, Major Harold BORLAND (1835NC-1905AR), they children of Senator Solon BORLAND, M D under whom his father enlisted for the Civil War, ~ ~ then seven years later, 1874, to Fayetteville, leaving all furnishings in Little Rock, first living three years in a hotel with a portico, then 1877 buying their 2-1/4 acre homestead (formerly northeastern most part of James THOMAS' farm where family home burnt down, until about 1870) north side of Dickson street between Gregg & West avenues, from which they deeded easterly most to Saint Louis & San Francisco Railway ("Frisco") whose first passenger train arrived 8 June 1881 with 10 y/o W W SWANEY aboard. (Mr. William W SWANEY (1871KS-1968AR) at age 94, boarded last Frisco train leaving 18 September 1965) , as reported by Opal BECK, Chairman Rogers [AR] Centennial Celebration.
Carl told of his paying Fayetteville's station telegraph operator $5 per month to teach him telegraphy at Fayetteville station under 34 y/o station manager Wiley Paul McNAIR (1848-1927AR), built on eastern most portion of what had been part of Carl's parents 1877 homestead, north side of Dickson street, west of West avenue, which they deeded to "Frisco".
Wiley, as Carl's father, was a Confederate army veteran who began his 42 year "Frisco" career at Jerome, Phelps county, Missouri in 1876, last Vinita, Craig county, Indian Territory, now Oklahoma, before Fayetteville, for whom he delivered telegrams (without pay), then at age 15 was hired 20 March 1883 by "Frisco" at Rogers, Benton county, Arkansas (a newly created town named for the man whose "Frisco"'s position Carl held twenty-one years later) following 1 January 1883 completion of line, reportedly started July 1880 (mother wrote road under construction with three miles graded, in her July 14th, 1878 letter) from Monett, Barry county, Missouri to Fort Smith, Sabastien county, Arkansas, town where "Hanging Judge PARKER" (1838OH-1896AR) was located, appointed by President GRANT, held first court 10 May 1875, "during the most dangerous time for law enforcement during the western expansion", including Carthage, Missouri's born Belle STARR convicted but twelve days before Carl's first employment with "Frisco". Twenty-eight years later Carl resigned "Frisco", April 1911, as senior vice-president, of Ft Worth & Rio Grande and St Louis, San Francisco & Texas Railways, when forty-three years old.
An interesting and revealing story appears in October 1925 issue of The Frisco Employes' Magazine page 15, written by retired, 42 year Frisco veteran, 77 y/o Wiley Paul McNAIR former station manager in Fayetteville reflecting upon his days with a young Carl R GRAY. View: article (click on "Employee Magazines", October 1925, then pages "16-20"(see p 15). ~ ~ ~ Also view Hattie Elizabeth WILLIAMS (1872AR-1963AR), most interesting memories of Carl and his bringing green apples to her sick brother Horace plus her pleasant memories of the Gray family, published 1958 in FLASHBACK, publication of Washington County (AR) Historical Society, plus other family events during same time frame, furnished by his third granddaughter, "Wint" (Gray) BONES.
Carl descending from six or more Mayflower passengers, organized the Nebraska chapter for Mayflower descendants in 1923, serving as first governor till 1937 with membership #1, member #1783 in Maine and #5384 nationally. His application leads to William BREWSTER (1566ENG-1644MA), later their son Carl, jr, was a charter member and became, second governor of Minnesota's 1931 created chapter in 1933, expanding relationship to other Mayflower passengers.
Great,grandfather Rev Robert GRAY (1761MA-1822NH), a Harvard College graduate, a veteran of Revolutionary war, Carl's father, Oliver Crosby GRAY a Colby College graduate and a Confederate officer in Civil war, Carl (without a day of formal college education, later a trustee of father's Colby College), after removing to Carthage at age twenty-two, from Wichita, Kansas July 1890, organized Carthage, Jasper county, Missouri's Division #34 of Uniformed Ranks of Knights of Pythias, at age twenty-three was elected Lieutenant Colonel then May 1892 Colonel of the Third Regiment at Springfield, Greene oounty, Missouri prior to their July 4th encampment at Monett, Barry county, Missouri, remained as its commander while living at Carthage, Jasper county, Missouri where wife's baby brother (my maternal grandfather) was wed 21 August 1892 by Reverend William Sims Knight, D D. Carl was also elected, at age 26, Captain, 10 August 1894, commander of Company A, 2nd Missouri Volunteer Infantry, formerly, the highly praised and civic minded Carthage Light Guards (1876-1887) once headed by now Colonel William King CAFFEE (1856OH-1923MO) who was placed in charge of the new state regiment. GRAY re-established the seven year abandoned drill competition which effectively brought many back into the ranks, according to 22 November 1894 Carthage Weekly Press news article, given to be worn for sixty days by winner of competition such as during 1895 Sedalia encampment, awarding winner the prestiges Gray Gold medal, and so awarded for twenty-two years, until 1916. (1939, it reportedly hung in Memorial Hall, 2012 its missing) The company served during Spanish-American war, without uncle Carl, for his employer, "Frisco" RR, again promoted and transfered him, year following completion of Jasper county's new courthouse construction (still in use one hundred eighteen years later, 2013), opening of wonderful Lakeside Park operating till mid-1930's and Ramsay Brothers Dry Goods store on west side of square operating till mid-1970's, A A RAMSAY (who bought the MILLER home on Grand avenue which Carl & Harriette had rented in 1898), before departing, first back to Wichita then Neodesha, Wilson county, Kansas March 1896. Filling his military boots was, Lieutenant John A McMILLIAN (1868PA-1964MO) serving as commander during Spanish-American war, who had encouraged Carl's taking over the company in 1894. Many local and state newspapers carried articles regarding Carl R GRAY and his multitude of successful military activities.
They, with infant son Carl (later, Maj Gen in-charge of all military railroads in Europe & Africa, WW II), lived in Carthage, as stated, for six years, first at the Harrington Hotel, 203 east Third street, his office a block west, on north side of towns square, above James M WHITSETT's store, building next east to Albert B DEUTSCH's clothing store where thirty years earlier, John SHIRLEY (1798-1876) had a hotel and livery stable while raising daughter, Myra Belle SHIRLEY, known as "Belle STARR" (1848MO-1889IT). They returned to Carthage in 1898 renting a home from widow of William P MILLER which in the 1950's was on the Victorian Home Tour: The Miller House - 1422 Grand avenue - Richardsonian Romanesque built in 1890 by Mr. Miller, a grocer. This style emphasized arches, lintels, and sills by using a different stone from the walls. Straight-topped windows were used in addition to the round arched type. The belt of brick corbels beneath the upper gable and the 3 story polygonal tower are typical Romanesque features.
Wife Harriette Amanda FLORA (Hattie A) (1869KS-1956ME), reportedly in 1883 history book by William G CULTER, was 1st white child born in Montgomery county, Kansas, whom he married December 6, 1886 when barely nineteen in her father's Oswego, Kansas, Condon hotel where he had boarded, having $4 in pocket and a $60/month job, she was first women with a nationwide radio Bible Class, both honored in many communities from time to time a couple were by Carthage friends in 1934 at a gala affair held at thirteen year old Drake Hotel by over three hundred friends, also enjoyed their Golden Wedding anniversary with fourteen hundred guests in Omaha, she was selected American Mother of 1937 by Golden Rule Foundation, and awarded prestiges Cross of Honor by U S Flag Association with a LL D honorary degree bestowed upon her by Sioux Falls College at Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
Each of their three sons served a different branch of service during World War II. (oldest, also in World War I, and headed Veterans Administration following Gen Omar BRADLEY, for Harry TRUMAN)
Major General Carl Raymond GRAY, jr (1889KS-1955MN) (army)
Russell Davis GRAY (1899KS-1975NJ) (marine)
Dr Howard Kramer GRAY, M D (Howdie) (1901MO-1955MN) (navy)
THE OSWEGO INDEPENENT
Friday, December 10, 1886, page 5, col. 1:
Mr. Carl Gray and Miss Hattie Flora were married at the Condon House, the home of the bride, on last Monday morning. They left immediately for Wichita, where Mr. Gray has a good position as a telegraph operator. The happy couple have the best wishes of a host of friends.
----
THE OSWEGO REPUBLICAN
Saturday, December 11, 1886, page 3, col. 1:
Carl Gray, of Wichita, and Miss Hattie Flora were married in this city on Monday, December 6th, Rev. C.J. Bowles, of the Baptist church, officiating. They departed at once for their new home at Wichita, where Carl is working for the Western Union Telegraph Company (sic)
Home Locations:
Son Carl, jr claimed to have moved 42 times during his first 50 years.
Six years, third longest home location, starting July 1890 at Carthage, Jasper county, Missouri, active in their Baptist church, civic and military affairs, his fourth "Frisco" duty location, where he met many who became either "Frisco" employees or contractors, returning for another year or two in 1898 ~ ~ then second longest, seven years, starting 1904 in Saint Louis, Missouri, his seventh and last "Frisco" duty location, and where "Howdie", third and last son was born ~ ~ with, "The Carl R Gray Mansion at 52 Westmoreland Place built in 1909. The Georgian Revival style mansion was designed by Alexander August Fischer. The house was built with rough stone and a portico, the portico was removed and the stone smoothed in 1945. The house built for Carl R. Gray, who at the time was general manager of the St. Louis and San Francisco Railroad. Later he became the President of the Union Pacific Railroad and served in that role for seventeen years and then vice chairman of the railroad.", ~ ~ their longest living location, seventeen years starting January 1920, at Omaha, Douglas county, Nebraska with his last employer, Union Pacific Systems, where wife Harriette held her nation wide radio Bible Class program, made her annual trip to Los Angeles, California and monthly trips to Kansas City, Missouri to teach Bible classes.
Carl Raymond GRAY's first seven years following birth at Princeton, Arkansas, were spent in Little Rock, Pulaski county, Arkansas where his father was employed at Arkansas' first created institution for higher learning, Saint Johns' College of Arkansas (1850-1882), located east of and abutting the United States Arsenal complex. His parents, born in Maine, both college educated, ending in Arkansas fall 1860, father becoming a Confederate officer during the Civil War, captured towards its end, returning home to continue educating the states' future leaders, its youth.
Those seven years were spent in a military atmosphere, with the U S Arsenal and its activities of weekly parades with morning and evening flag ceremonies, next west to his third Little Rock home on 10th street plus the military education and drilling occurring at Saint Johns' College, where his father became third president during his last three of seven years before acceptng position at Arkansas' first created public institution of higher learning, Arkansas Industrial University (AIU), under Gen Albert BISHOP, AIU being the forerunner of University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, where both mother & father started its third full school year, 1874/5. So, being surrounded by military training during his earliest of years had greatly impressed him so when but twenty-one years old joined the Knights of Pythias in Wichita, Kansas, 1889.
~ Carl's Career ~
Carl's parents fellow AIU faculity members asserting that, he was "six feet tall and thin as two clapboards nailed together.", suggested he remain out of school for a time, so without a day of college education, only preparatory schooling under direction of Ella CARNALL, ~ ~ at age fifteen, he began his 56+ year railroad career, 20 March 1883, at newly created town of Rogers, Benton county, Arkansas, Time Magazine's obituary stating, "swabbing spittoons", for Saint Louis & San Francisco Railway company, known as The Frisco, then found at Avoco, Arkansas, a bit northeast of Rogers as night operator at $35.00 per month before going to Oswego, Labette county, Kansas in 1885 where he met his wife, but in 1886, was again promoted and transferred to Wichita, Sedgwick county, Kansas with $60.00 per month salary, where 1st son was born, when again promoted and transferred to Carthage, Jasper county, Missouri in July 1890 serving till March 1896 where transferred back to Wichita, shortly thereafter to Neodesha, Wilson county, Kansas, from there to Monett, Barry county, Missouri where she went to Wichita to have 2nd son, from Monett to Saint Louis City, Missouri (possibly (?) only for birth of third son) where 3rd son was born ~ spending some time back in Springfield, Missouri then to St Louis, becoming "Frisco's" general manager in 1904, including, newly acquired Chicago & Eastern Illinios Railroad for eight months, then senior vice-president leaving after his dedicated and faithful service to The "Frisco", following seven years under Benjamin Franklin YOAKUM's (1859TX-1929NY), Carl wrapped up his first twenty-eight years of railroading with "Frisco" April 1911.
Carl's only sister, Ethel Davis GRAY (1871AR-1910IL), married his personal assistant and namesake of their third son, LeRoy KRAMER (1875KS-1954IL), when all were living in Monett, Barry county, Missouri, 1900, was in Joplin awhile where Thomas J FRANKS (1868IA-1944MO), a long time friend of and who took over Carl's position when he last left Wichita, worked, as well as E C HOAG (1870MO-1959CA) (Carl's third cousin), at Joplin, HOAG later with Carl and Union Pacific Railway Systems in 1927. LeRoy ending his career as head of General American Transportation corporation (GATX).
While in Springfield, wife Harriette invited a dozen lady friends from far & near, to their Springfield, Greene county, Missouri home, according to articles in Carthage [Missouri] Evening Press, 3rd & 15th June 1903 discovered by Nancy BREWER of Carthage, ~ ~ included were her step-sister and two sister-in-laws, for a week with Carl having the fair damsels removed to Monte Ne, Arkansas aboard his railroad car for a two day excursion, with his sister Ethel and others, helping to entertain the twelve ladies.
Good-Bye:
Following transcription is of his April 1911 hand written, "goodbye", following a most successful twenty-eight year service with "Frisco", to its employees, found on page 18, April 1911 issue of The Frisco Employe's Magazine, to wit:
To Fellow Employees:
In the limited time before leaving it is impossible for me personally to say "Good bye and good luck" to all those with whom I have served during the past thirty years.
Whatever sucess has come to me has been mostly due to a cheerful and unfailing support by the employes and is to them, that my heart turns affectionately and gratefully at the time of approaching departure.
I wish you all Health, Sucess, and great Happiness.
(signed) C R Gray
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Carl then became James Jerome HILL's (1838CAN-1916MN) president of Spokane, Portland & Seattle Railroad, including later, the Oregon Electric line before ascending to the president's chair of Great Northern (1912-1914) 27 May 1912, The New York Times, 21 February, 1914 issue, page 14 reported Carl R GRAY had resigned Great Northern to take charge after receivership of Saint Louis & San Francisco Railway, dated Minneapolis, Minnesota Feb 20th, resigning 28th February (partial because of personal relationship with Louis Warren HILL (1872MN-1948MN), s/o J J HILL), next was hired by John D. ROCKEFELLER as president to run the Western Maryland Railroad (1914-1919), so the family moved to Baltimore with the two younger sons, where both Russell and Howard attended Gilman School, then Russell Davis GRAY married Eleanor (Pitt) GRAY. Carl next, became the Director of Railroad Operation's for the United States Railroad Administration under Director-General William Gibbs McADOO,jr (1863GA-1941DC) during President WILSON's term of World War I where he resigned in December 1918 reportedly to take a rest, however, was retained by Union Pacific Railway Systems, according to news article in New York Times January 1920 as president, to this day considered its most notable of presidents, ~ ~ having served as such longer than any other president, becoming vice chairman upon seventieth birthday, under a twenty-four year younger chairman, the honorable William Averell HARRIMAN (1891NY-1986NY) soon after to die in the Mayflower hotel, at Washingon D C, following an evening dinner with his two oldest sons, and having operated railroads serving thirty-nine of our then forty-eight states ~ on day before the seventieth anniversary celebration for driving of the "Golden Spike" in Utah, with new movie "Union Pacific" being shown at the Strand theater (Cecil B. DeMILLE's, Union Pacific (1939) with Barbara STANWYCK and Joel McCREA. The story based on the novel "Trouble Shooter", written by Western fiction author, Ernest HAYCOX).
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Carl had been unable to purchase his Little Mudder's birth place near Davis Point in Cushing, now Knox county, Maine for their summer retreat, ending instead, with nearest available, a thirty-four acre tract with three acres and house on The Georges at 250 Stones Point road in Point Pleasant, named Friendship House in 1919, when remodeled in following year or so, by enclosing front portion of the large open wrap-around porch plus adding the portico, now removed, like their St Louis home had till 1945 and his first, 1874 hotel home had at Fayetteville, then renamed Gray Rocks, name reportedly from Harriette's collection of rocks which made up an elaborate rock garden along westerly side of the house, with a little bridge over water. Following Carl's demise, Harriette parted with Gray Rocks around 1943, and it was found for sale in 2008, still named Gray Rocks. Their cash crop, at one time, was cranberries on their thirty acre farm west of Stones Point road. They often took visitors aboard their motor yacht, Miss Harriette to Harbor Island, where his mother's favorite uncle's family once lived when she was but a child, now uninhabited, for lobster cook-outs. As of summer 2012, Gray Rocks was currently owned, without 1922 added portico, by artist and Yale professors, Ann CRAVAN & Peter HAILEY, ~ ~ invited to visit and spend a night, in July was The first born grandson, Carl Raymond GRAY, III's, third daughter, Susan Winter "Suzi" (Gray) JOHNSON & hubby Joe, of Franconia, Chisago county, Minnesota during their extended trip east to see it, eastern parts of America and Canada.
Carl was always in demand as a public speaker because of his interesting natural humor, story telling and vast store of knowledge also was noted as among the greatest business leaders of the twentieth century in a 2004 publication of Harvard College!
The 1862 Pacific Railroad Act signed by President LINCOLN authorized building the Union Pacific Railroad toward California and the Union Pacific Railroad has listed him among their Significant Individuals.
~ ~ ~ ~ Below listings are but a few of the accomplishments achieved by Colonel Carl Raymond GRAY during his fifty-six plus year railroad service, the son of two pioneer accomplished college professors from Maine, hisself, never attending nor receiving a day of college nor university level education, however, attaining national acknowledgement of being one of, if not the foremost, of our nation's railroad experts, with four honorary doctorate degrees bestowed to him, to wit:
An endless number of communities within the then ten states served by Union Pacific have honored Carl GRAY in varies ways, some naming parks, streets, etc in his name, one such example; Scottsbluff, Scotts Bluff county, Nebraska named a park Carl Gray Park, a rairoad caboose in Oswego, Labette county, Kansas to him and his wife with three of six grandchildren present for ceremonies, being their first and third granddaughters and third grandson, Gladys Ethel (Gray) DIEFFENBACH, DeWeenta "Wint" (Gray) BONES and brother Howard "Howdie" Kramer GRAY, jr.
Carl was in charge at "Frisco" in 1909, approving construction of the eight story Frisco Building at southeast corner 6th and Main streets in Joplin, Jasper county, Missouri, also many other smaller structures mostly modern railroad stations. While with Union Pacific, he had in 1931 the Omaha, Nebraska station built, which he declared to be, "Dedicated by the railways of Omaha to serve, comfort and convenience of the people." and many smaller stations built such as at Topeka, Shawnee county, Kansas.
Served President WILSON (1856VA=1924DC) as his Director of Railroad Operations during World War I.
Union Pacific Railway Museum was the dream child of Carl Raymond GRAY in 1921 when silverware from President Abraham LINCOLN's (1809KY-1865DC) funeral car was uncovered in their vault. Carl felt that this, as well as historic materials of the railroad should be preserved for public viewing. ~ ~ Thus, one of earliest, if not the first, known Corporate Museum within these United States, created for Omaha, Douglas county, Nebraska, now located in Council Bluffs, Pottawamie county, Iowa, other corporate bodies following closely behind Carl's foot steps. "President Gray's foresight created the oldest corporate museum in the nation and laid the foundation for Union Pacific's longstanding commitment to preserving railroad heritage," said Bob Turner, senior vice president – Corporate Relations
Under Carl R GRAY's leadership, starting 1921, was that college students received help in form of scholarships, tradition which Union Pacific continues to this day under Carl's name, with millions of dollars awarded to deserving youthful students within the ten states then served by Union Pacific railroad.
LINCOLN HIGHWAY: (later U S #30, now with Interstate #80, following its basic pathway)
In 1922 highway officials were ~ ~ "Appealing to the Union Pacific officials at Omaha, and pointing out the numerous accidents at grade crossings, Carl R. Gray, then president of the Union Pacific, authorized the railroad to pick out section by section the location the leases should cover, and laid out an ideal alignment across the state [Nebraska]. This relocation not only shortened the route through Nebraska, but reduced the number of grade crossings from 29 to 5."
Carl & Harriette were at, her youngest niece, my mother's, bedside in Kansas City when she died April 1928, then transported her body, our family and family friends to Carthage, Missouri (their home 1890-1896) in his private railroad car, where a double funeral was held for her and her mother-in-law who had died 14 hours earlier.
Hoover Dam (Boulder Dam):
"Among the guests at Las Vegas, Nev.,
attending the exercises incident to the
beginning of construction of Hoover
Dam on September 17 [1930] were the following:
Hon. Ray Lyman Wilbur, Secretary of
the Interior, and Mrs. Wilbur; Dr. Elwood
Mead, Commissoner of Reclamation;
Carl R. Gray, president Union Pacific
Railroad Co., and Northcutt Ely, execu-
tive assistant to Secretary Wilbur. The
project was honored during the month by
many other distinguished visitors.", this prior to, when Carl presented a Silver Spike to Dr Kay Lyman WILBUR (1875IA-1949CA), Secretary of Interior to be driven, connecting Union Pacific tracks to the construction site railroad lines at Boulder City, Clark county, Nevada and when the Sliver Spike was driven in place by WILBUR, first step towards construction of the 1928 approved $165,000,000 Boulder Dam, now Hoover Dam. Union Pacific spent $400,000 to improve its Los Vegas railyard then constructed a 22.7 mile line south to Boulder City for transportation of building materials and equipment for this dam project which was completed 29 May 1935, two years ahead of schedule, where ninety-one workers lost their lives. (see picture)
He served as a honorary pallbearer along side of Will ROGERS and Gen John J PERSHING for Charles B IRWIN.
He provided the nation its first streamline, desiel-electric powered, passenger train February 1934, which traveled at 110 miles-per-hour, showing it first to President ROOSEVELT. Then ~ ~ he and his chairman, William Averell HARRIMAN, opened Sun Valley ski resort, in Utah during winter of 1936.
The Grays, Colonel Carl R and wife Harriette A Flora, were honored in Carthage, Jasper county, Missouri some thirty-eight years after leaving their third longest residency. They had lived there six years (son Carl boasted of moving 42 times his first 50 years), from July 1890 to March 1896 and again in 1898 for a spell, while he was with the "Frisco" railroad, returning only to visit family, friends or handle busniess from time to time. A fifty one person reception committee of prominent Carthage citizens on 7 June 1934 with chairman, Judge Howard GRAY (no relationship) (1851IA-1939MO), held a "Homecoming" event at the Drake Hotel, with an overflowing crowd of over three hundred people from far and near, following February's successful introduction of the first United States streamline diesel powered passenger train. A tasty dinner of Fried Spring Chicken with appetizer, ice tea, Parker House Rolls, salad and strawberry dessert, was served, greetings made and words from the guest of honor, Colonel Gray, who mentioned their departed Carthage friends, matters of interest, including incidents during his fifty-one year railroad career, praising and crediting his wife Harriette for her support and help she provided through their nearly fifty years of martial bliss, raising of their three successful sons. The Carthage Evening Press printed the event on its front page along with pictures of both June 7, 1934, "Gray's Optimison Is Unshaken By Nation's Drought" with another article June 8th titled, "Railroads Again Pioneering" (found 01-17-13 by Nancy Brewer of Carthage). Harriette GRAY came from visiting her father, John A FLORA and friends in Oswego, Kansas, spending the night with her youngest deceased niece, Frances (Flora) BOGGESS' husband, Luke J BOGGESS' family, 1218 south Maple street, whose sons, who she remembered on Easter, Christmmas, birthdays and other occasions, were included in her 1956 will. Carl was aboard the railroad car where they had breakfast the morning of the get togeather, then toured the old neighborhoods where they had lived some forty years earlier.
Under Carl's leadership, Union Pacific was the first railroad to employ nurse-stewardesses on passenger trains. In August 1935, Florette Welp became the first to hold this post. Every candidate was required to be a registered nurse between 21 and 24 years old.
He and his chairman, William Averell HARRIMAN, opened Sun Valley ski resort, in Utah during winter of 1936.
Celebration at Omaha, Nebraska honored them for their fiftieth wedding anniversary with "A Golden Anniversary party", enjoyed by some fourteen hundred, nation-wide guests, including nearly two hundred of the railroad's most dignified operators and owners with the Golden Wedding Express, a special eight car train, pulling out of Chicago heading for Omaha with twenty-seven railroad executes and wives aboard to join with the other hundred and fifty railroad owners and executives. view Life Magazine, 21 December, 1936, pages 68 through 72, Cover - Lord Beaverbrook's granddaughter in fancy baby carriage with old gentleman friend.
He may have attended wedding of his step-sister Mary Borland BEATTIE July 1914 in Washington state, she and he in 1938 buried her mother's (his step-mother) ashes, unmarked in Evergreen cemetery, Fayetteville, Arkansas, next to his father, Colonel Oliver Crosby GRAY in Lot 30 of the original Masonic northeast portion.
Serving President ROOSEVELT (1882NY-1945GA) (till death) as railroad adviser pre-World War II.
United States Maritime Commission honored Carl by launching vessel Carl R Gray November 9, 1943 at California Shipbuilding Corporation shipyard, Wilmington, California.
View: http://books.google.com/books?isbn=0816644608 Union Pacific: (1894-1969, Mary KLIEN, 2006)
Carl (1867AR-1939DC), later president, Union Pacific Railroad since 1920, a railroader since March 1883, organized in 1890, while with "Frisco", upon arrival at Carthage, Missouri a battalion of Uniformed Ranks of Knights of Pythias and elected its commander while in Carthage, selected Captain of the famous Carthage Light Guards after Captain William K CAFFEE's (1856OH-1923MO) promotion to Colonel ~ ~ Harriette (1869KS-1956ME), as afore noted, first born white child in Montgomery county, Kansas, sister to my maternal grandfather, former Carthage dentist, Dr W W FLORA (1871KS-1922CO), first women with a nationwide radio Bible Class, Golden Rule Foundation's, "American Mother of 1937", three known sons, two in Who's Who in America.
He helped organize the Association of American Railroads, to mention but a few other accomplishments, placed in service first long-distance Streamline diesel passenger train, encouraged rail-truck partnerships, transported materials and equipment for the construction of Boulder Dam, created resort Sun Valley, and was helping draft railway sections of the Transportation Act of 1940 at death, plus view;
www.railwayage.com/dec99/century.html
www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,931573,00.html
jcgi.pathfinder.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,757171,00.html
jcgi.pathfinder.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,759403,00.html
www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,760576,00.html (Son, Dr Howard K GRAY of Mayo Clinic,
www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,931690,00.html
PUBLICATIONS:
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A plaything of the gods, Author, Carl Gray (Carl R ?) Publisher: Sherman, French & company Publication date: 1912
The Western Maryland Railway Company. Baltimore, Md., October 27, 1916.
To the Stockholders ... Author: Carl R. Gray Publisher: Baltimore Paperback Publication date: 1916
Railroad health a national asset, Author: Carl Raymond Gray Publication date: 01/01/1925
The Lord's return according to the scriptures, Author: Carl R Gray Publisher: Mrs. Carl R. Gray, Publication date: 1925 Another
series of Bible studies, Author: Carl R Gray Publisher: Mrs. Carl R. Gray] Publication date: 1926
What we believe and why, Author: Carl R Gray Publisher: Mrs. Carl R. Gray] Publication date: 1926
The significance of the Pacific railroads, Author: Carl Raymond Gray Publication date: 01/01/1935
The Significance of the Pacific Railroads. The Cyrus Fogg Brackett Lectureship, Princeton University, April 9, 1935. Author: Carl Raymond. Gray Publisher: Princeton Paperback Publication date: 1935
The Lincoln car on Union Pacific, 1865, Author: Carl Raymond Gray Publisher: Princeton University Press Publication date: 1937. Lincoln signed bill authorizing a cross country railroad, Grant was president when it was completed. (Carl was fascinated with Lincoln which Union Pacific bought his funeral car in 1868, disposing of it 1901 but kept much of its contents. His book has several pictures of it and its contents. Party who bought the car lost it in a 1911 fire.)
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OBITUARIES:
Newspapers throughout our nation noted his death, to name but a few:
The Colorado Springs Gazette
Montana Standard, Butte
Oshkosh Daily Northwestern
The Ogden Standard-Examiner
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CARTHAGE EVENING PRESS,
Tuesday May 9, 1939, Front Page
COL CARL R GRAY DIES
AT WASHINGTON TODAY
Veteran Union Pacific Railway Ex-
ecutive Had Been Serving On Com-
mittee Named By Roosevelt
LIVED IN CARTHAGE IN NINETIES
WASHINGTON, May 9, 1939 (Associated Press news service), similar to that printed by New York Times (view below).
Copy from Carthage Public Library, Carthage Jasper county, Missouri, via N Brewer.
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THE NEW YORK TIMES
Wednesday, May 10, 1939
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CARL R GRAY, 71,
RAILROAD LEADER
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Vice Chairman of the Board of Union Pacific, Head of Line 17 Years, Dies
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ROSE FROM STATION AIDE
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Stricken in Washington Hotel
While on Trip Concerning
Pending Legislation
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Special to THE NEW YORK TIMES.
WASHINGTON, May 9, . --- Carl R Gray, veteran railroad executive and vice chairman of the Union Pacific Railroad, was found dead in his bed at the Mayflower Hotel here today. Death was attributable to heart disease. He was 71 years old.
Mr Gray was in Washington in connection with pending railroad legislation, having served as unofficial chairman of a railway legislative board of executives and union leaders who made a report to President Roosevelt last December. He had not been in ill health.
His railroad career covered a period of more than fifty-six years, during which time he rose from a place as helper to a smaller-town station agent to the presidency and later vice chairmanship of the Union Pacific. In the interim he held various executive posts on half a dozen railroads which operated in thirty-nine of the forty-eight states of the Union.
President 17 Years
For seventeen years president of the Union Pacific Railroad, Mr Gray payed an outstanding part in the councils of railroad operation. He had started his career as a station sweeping boy. When he retired as president of the Union Pacific on Oct 1, 1937, he became vice chairman of the board of the system and continued to take part in the work of the railroad.
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PICTURE
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Mr Gray was born in Princeton, Ark, on Sept 28, 1867, the son of the late Colonel Oliver C Gray, educator an Confederate veteran, and of the late Mrs Virginia Davis Gray. When he completed his course in the preparatory department of the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, where his father was a professor of mathematics [mother had "chair" of what became art department]. Mr Gray, although only 15 years old, was ready to enter the university. However, members of the faculty, asserting that he was "six feet tall and thin as two clapboards nailed together." suggested he remain out of school for a time. [1929, universirty bestowed an Honorary Degree of LL D to him, as had three other like institutions]
The St Louis and San Francisco railway ran through Fayetteville [tracks and station on land deeded by Carl's parents, from their 2-1/4 acre, 1877, homestead, 1st train 8 Jun 1881] --- and so fascinated was the youth by it that he began, while still 15, to work for the road on March 20, 1883. The Fayetteville station staff then comprised an agent telegrapher and helper. [1st paying job at Rogers, AR]
Four years after he joined the railroad force he was commercial agent and district freight agent for the "Frisco" [Wichita, KS]. When he was 30 years old he was division superintendent [Neodesha, KS]. [Was in Carthage, Missouri from 1890, where his wife's brother was married in 1892 and Richard Taaffe was local Agent, until about 1897.] In 1900 he became superintendent of transportation and general manager, [Monett, MO], and 1909 he was named senior vice president[St Louis, MO].
For eight months he served as general manager of the Chicago & Eastern Illinois and in 1911 he was picked by James J Hill management to become president of the Spokane, Portland & Seattle Railroad and the Oregon Electric line. In 1912 he took the post of president of Great Northern and in March 1914 he came East to assume the presidency of the Western Maryland.
President of Union Pacific
On conclusion of his government service, Mr Gray returned to the Western Maryland for a brief period. In 1920 he was made president of the Union Pacific, one of the leading systems of the country.
In April of 1937, when Mr Gray's impending retirement in October was announced, W Averill Harriman, chairman of the board of the Union Pacific, announced:
"In order that the Union Pacific may retain the benefit and value of Mr Gray's lifelong experience in the railroad industry and his knowledge of present railroad problems, I am gratified to state that Mr Gray has agreed to continue in the Union Pacific service and will assume post of vice chairman of the board."
In 1938-39 Mr Gray was active as a railroad spokesman in connection with governmental and railroad efforts to rehabilitate the railroads of the nation. Early in 1938 he was the only railroad executive on the list of those invited by president Roosevelt to a White House conference to discuss the railroad situation.
He served that year and this on the President's special committee of railroad management and labor executives. The committee consisting of three management and three union leaders, was named last September to study the railroad problem and draft a program for rehabilitation.
Upon his retirement as president of Union Pacific Mr Gray moved to New York, after living many years in Omaha. His residence here was at 1035 Fifth Avenue.
Surviving are his widow and three sons, Carl R Gray, Jr of St Paul, Minn, executive vice president of the Chicago, St Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railway: Dr Howard K Gray, of the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn, who operated upon James Roosevelt, son of the President, last year, and Russell D Gray, Wellesley, Mass, who is connected with the New York, Ontario & Western Railway.
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Last revised: 02/05/13
Family links:
Parents:
Oliver Crosby Gray (1832 - 1905)
Virginia LaFayette Davis Gray (1834 - 1886)
Spouse:
Harriette Amanda Flora Gray (1869 - 1956)
Children:
Carl Raymond Gray (1889 - 1955)*
Russell Davis Gray (1899 - 1975)*
Howard Kramer Gray (1901 - 1955)*
*Calculated relationship
| | | Burial:
Druid Ridge Cemetery
Pikesville
Baltimore County
Maryland, USA
Plot: several lots including 306 & 307 |
Created by: Bill
Record added: Nov 19, 2009
Find A Grave Memorial# 44549305 |
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