Hon. E. C. Gray, born in Guilford County, N. C., on the 9th of October, 1830, is a son of John Gray, a native of Randolph County, of that State, who was there reared to manhood, educated, and married, the latter event being to Miss Verlinda Robbins, by whom he became the father of two sons and four daughters. After following the life of a husbandman in his native State until 1850, he removed to Arkansas and settled in Independence County, where he became the owner of 500 acres of land, and died in 1878. His wife had previously expired in her native State, in 1844. They had been worthy members of the Methodist Protestant Church. E. C. Gray received an excellent education in Trinity College, North Carolina, but it was then known by the name of the Union Institute. After his removal to Arkansas with his parents, in 1850, he was married to Miss Ann S. Meacham, a native of Independence County, Ark., and their union resulted in the birth of eleven sons and six daughters. Of this large family fourteen are still living: Julius B., Aurelius G., Mary M., Sarah A., Dr. Christopher C., Dr. Elisa J., James E., William A., Queen E., Thornsberry A., John W., Virgil O., Aurora, and Lillie. Mr. Gray is a wealthy planter of Arkansas, being the owner of 1,300 acres of land, of which there are about 400 acres under cultivation. In 1877 he was elected to represent his county in the State legislature, and discharged the duties of this office in a manner very satisfactory to his constituents. He has also served as justice of the peace, and during the late war (in 1862) enlisted under Col. Dobbins, in a company of Arkansas cavalry. He was discharged at Jacksonport in 1865, and after his return home resumed tilling the soil. His wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and, although not a member of any church, he is a liberal contributor to churches and schools. p672
Source: Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Northeast Arkansas - The Goodspeed Publishing Co., 1889