Veteran: Missouri Militia.

h/o Harriette Amanda FLORA, (Hattie A).

Birth: 2nd of three known children at Princeton, Dallas county, Arkansas, maintained in dresses and long hair until age four.

Each parent descends from several Mayflower passengers and Revolutionary War veterans.

VIEW his life.

View: his ancestry.

C L I C K on images for additional information.

"GRAY OF THE UNION PACIFIC", is what he preferred to be called!

~ 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, simply put, he was one of the greatest men of his time, sharing his vast wisdom to all in speeches and published books.

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", which has some incorrect information within its article about Carl)

....as well as his being a Director of Association of American Railroads (which he helped organize in 1934) 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....he was longest serving president, (ending as vice-chairman), since 1862 of company created by authorization of the then United States president, Abraham LINCOLN, of the, now, more than 150 year old Union Pacific Systems, successfully operating it profitably for its share holder's dividends through the Great Depression, later, serving since 1932 under younger chairman, the most honorable William Averell HARRIMAN (1891-1986), son of E H HARRIMAN, ...while achieving many great things for fellow Americans such as, during World War One directing our nations railroad traffic after our government took charge, also assisting both President Wilson, then later President Roosevelt regarding our nations railroad affairs.

Carl's fifty-six plus year railroad career began 20 March 1883, some say 1882, at age fourteen, adding a year, when he cleaned spittoons, delivered telegrams without pay and paid $5/month to an employee in Fayetteville to learn telegraphy after "Frisco" built their facilities on his parents homestead ~ ~ when in fact, it was at age fifteen that he received pay, starting in newly created railroad town of Rogers, Benton county, Arkansas, ~ ~ ending at death, 09 May 1939, one day short of 70th anniversary for driving the Golden Spike at Promontory Summit, Utah Territory, 10 MAY 1869, (occurring before his second birthday), as the vice-chairman of Union Pacific Systems, in the Mayflower hotel at Washington, District of Columbia, following dining with the oldest of their three sons, ~ ~ with movie Union Pacific being shown at the Strand theater.

In addition to Colonel GRAY being a brilliant innovative railroader with Union Pacific Railroad listing him among their Significant Individuals, without a single day of formal collegiate education, he is noted by Harvard College, as being one of the business leaders of the twentieth century within the 2004 publication of our nation's oldest college, also being his gr,grandfather Rev Robert Gray, a Revolutionary War veteran's, Alma Mater, ~ ~ Carl was an accepted leader among the ranks outside of railroading, such as in early years an encouraging military leader elected to rank of Colonel at age twenty-five while employed by his first employer, Saint Louis & San Francisco Railroad, better known as "Frisco", at Carthage, Jasper county, Missouri, was a financial adviser to John D Rockefeller,sr, a member of Board of Trustee for Equitable Trust Company of New York, a Board member of the Kansas City Federal Reserve Bank, on Board of Trustees at his father's Waterville, now Colby College, a Director of; the United States Chamber of Commerce, the Omaha National Bank and the First National Bank of Chicago, to name but a few plus once an active member of Board of Trustees for both, Maryland State College of Agriculture and the Maryland State Board of Agriculture, then upon advent of World War One, Carl became State of Maryland's Chairman of Maryland Council of Defense, July 1917 till December 31 1917. In addition was awarded four separate 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", Volumes 27 & 29, himself on page 497, Vol I of "Who was Who in America" and starting year 1925 in "The Abridged Compendium of American Genealogy", plus many, many other publications.

Arkansas And Its People, dated 1930 by David Yancey Thomas published four volumes, dedicating five pages reflecting on Carl Raymond Gray's ancestoral life including his most wonderful parents, the Arkansas pioneering educators from Maine, Colonel Oliver Crosby and Virginia L Davis Gray. View pages 606 through 610.

To better comprehend his life's motivation, one might reflect upon his written words at age nineteen, six months following death of his Little Mudder, four years into a most successful railroad career, two months after marriage, found on page 243 in her 1867-1872, 2005 transcribed, diary's first section 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 diary is on file at Special Collections, University of Arkansas, MC 1618, as of August 2005, including his "Little Mudder's", Mrs V L GRAY (1st Chair, 1874-1881, of what became Art Department), other papers, diaries, art work, etc., donated by second eldest daughter, Nancy, of Carl & Harriette's second of three granddaughters Eleanor Howard (Gray) KNUTSON (1923ME-1994MN), diary transcribed in 2005 by "Ellie's" husband, Dr Robert Charles KNUTSON, M D (1922IA-2013MN). Please note that other repositories around our country have materials relating to this Gray-Davis Family, including Bentley Historical Library at the University of Michigan, Colby College, the Arkansas History Commission and State Archives, also many Museums such as Powers Museum, Carthage, Missouri, Rogers Historical Museum Rogers, Arkansas to name but a few.

A second section of this diary exists, written by his "Little Mudder" over 138 years ago on some 842, now extremely fragile pages, within three bindings found at Arkansas History Commission, miss-labeled in part as Mrs Gray's letters, donated, 1964 by Farra Claudis NEWBERRY (1887AR-1968AR), who had served as president of The Woodmen of the World 1943-1955 at Omaha, Nebraska. Partially viewed July 2005 by Dr Carl H MONEYHON, UALR, who transcribed, annotated and published her Civil War diary in 1983's Arkansas Historical Quarterly, concluding this 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 prominent 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 The Brooks-Baxter War days, coupled with their decision to remove to Fayetteville's, 1871's first created public institution for higher learning, the Arkansas Industrial University, following seven successful years at 1850's first created institution for higher learning within Arkansas., (Masonic) Saint Johns' College of Arkansas following the Civil War, for Carl's first seven years of life.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

As afore stated, Carl descends from six or more Mayflower passengers via both parents, one being Governor William Bradford, III, Carl's 6th great,grandfather, who on November 11, 1620 signed the Mayflower Compact, our first most significant self-governing document. - - - Carl 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, becoming second governor of Minnesota's 1931 created chapter in 1933, expanding family's relationship to other Mayflower passengers.

His great,grandfather Rev Robert GRAY (1761MA-1822NH), a Harvard College graduate, a veteran of Revolutionary War, descended from four earlier Robert Grays, first one arriving from England in America around 1652, ~ ~ Carl's father, Oliver Crosby GRAY, named for a deceased paternal uncle, a graduate of Waterville, now Colby College, enlisted under Col Solon BORLAND, M D, served as an officer, a Confederate Captain, Company A, Princeton Light Horses of 3rd Arkansas Cavalry Regiment, appointed battalion Provost Marshall, captured, held prisoner by the "Feds", exchanged, returning home April 1865.

Carl, a railroader since March 1883, after July 1890 arrival at Carthage, Missouri organized in fall 1891 Division #34, Missouri, Uniformed Ranks of Knights of Pythias, selected its commander, while with "Frisco", later was also selected Captain of the famous Carthage Light Guards.

His 3rd granddaughter,"Wint" Russell (Gray) BONES once wrote me that after demise of his 2nd granddaughter, Eleanor Howard (Gray) KNUTSON, her husband, Bob, wrote a book, copy furnished me by Sandra Stuart GRAY, about her in which some of her genealogical work was exposed such as, to wit: "She writes that it's very possible that we go back to Lady Jane Gray/Grey,the "unwilling queen" who was married briefly to King Henry VIII (?) and was beheaded in 1554. Also "The Grays unquestionably came over to England with William the Conqueror in 1066." There are a couple of pages of info with most of it coming out of "Gray Genealogy" 1887 by M. D. Raymond; "Three Centuries of the Gray Family in America" Palmer; "The Gray Family" - O.G. Palmer; " Nesbit's Heraldry.

~ Siblings:

There were three children, Carl's eight year older brother he never knew, was Clyde Leslie died in 1861 at Princeton, Arkansas plus a four year younger sister "Ching" born 1871, Little Rock, Ethel Davis, married his, right bower LeRoy KRAMER, had one daughter, who died at birth, lived in Illinois when death claimed her in 1910, by Virginia LaFayette DAVIS, a 5th generation descendant of Mayflower pioneers, and Colonel Oliver Crosby GRAY, grandchild of a Revolutionary War veteran.

~ Life:

Carl, all bundled up from the chilly night air removed to Little Rock with "Little Mudder" on a Chidester's overnight stagecoach 8th November following a 28th September birth along with future step-mother's half brother, a close family friend, Major Harold BORLAND (1835NC-1905AR), they, the children of Senator Solon BORLAND, M D. His first seven years were spent within a military atmosphere, with U S Arsenal and its activities of weekly parades, 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 of Arkansas, where his father became its third and longest serving president for last three of seven years, following seven years of Reconstruction and the month long Brooks-Baxter War, in which 200 were killed, removed in late 1874 to Fayetteville, leaving behind all household furnishings in Little Rock, living first for nearly three years in a hotel with a portico, after accepting position at Arkansas' first created public institution of higher learning, Arkansas Industrial University (AIU), under family friend Gen Albert Webb BISHOP, AIU being the forerunner of University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. Both his mother & father starting as professors with "Chairs" at AIU, mother at what became their Art Department, father heading its R O T C program, Civil Engineering department & Mathematics department plus other odd chores.

Then in FEB 1877 purchasing their 2-1/4 acre homestead for $1,000 from the Gregg's, (formerly northeastern most part of James THOMAS' farm, until about 1870, where the family home had burnt down) 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 portion of what had been part of Carl's parents 1877 homestead, north side of Dickson street, west from 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, as earlier mentioned, 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 tracks, reportedly started July 1880 (mother wrote road under construction with three miles graded, in her July 14th, 1878 letter) from Plymouth till 1887, now Monett, Barry county, Missouri to Fort Smith, Sebastien 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".
, 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 & family, 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 prestige's 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.

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)

Having been surrounded by military training during his early years, both impressed and prepared him, ~ so when but twenty-one years old, 1889, he joined the Uniform Ranks of Knights of Pythias in Wichita, Kansas.

Wife Harriette Amanda FLORA (Hattie A) (1869KS-1956ME), as afore mentioned, 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, the state of New York's Golden Rule Foundation's, "American Mother of 1937", "Cross of Honor" from U S Flag Association
Each of their three sons served during World War II a different way. (oldest also headed Veterans Administration following Gen Omar BRADLEY, for Harry TRUMAN)

Major General Carl Raymond GRAY, jr (1889KS-1955MN) (army, WW I & recipient of The Distinguished Service Cross in WW II our nations second highest military award)

Russell Davis GRAY (1899KS-1975NJ), served in Marine Corps in WW I, and executive of a Liberty Ship building concern in Superior, Wisconsin during WW II.

Dr Howard Kramer GRAY, M D (Howdie) (1901MO-1955MN) (navy, recipient of The Legion of Merit military award)

Carl's only sister, "Ching", lived with them in Monett, Ethel Davis GRAY (1871AR-1910IL), marring his "Right Bower" and namesake of their third son, LeRoy KRAMER (1875KS-1954IL), when 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 vice-president of General American Transportation corporation (GATX).

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.

~ Home Locations:

He lived longest, 18 years (1920-1938), in Omaha, Nebraska, second longest (single), 9-1/2 years, (1874-1883) Fayetteville, Arkansas, third nearly 8-1/2 years, Saint Louis, Missouri, fourth longest nearly 8 years, Carthage, Missouri (1890-1896) & (1898-1900), fifth longest (single), 7 years Little Rock, Arkansas (1867-1874), sixth longest Baltimore, Maryland around six or seven years. Their first son Carl often commented, he moved 42 times in his first fifty years.

Carl Raymond GRAY's first seven years, as afore mentioned, following Princeton, Arkansas birth 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, both born in Maine, both college educated, ending in Arkansas fall 1860 after living first in Minnesota, then a year in Mississippi, educating the state's future leaders, its youth.

His parent's fellow AIU faculty members had asserted when fourteen years of age, 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 H 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 to Avoca, Benton county, Arkansas, 7 miles northeast of Bentonville & 11 miles southwest from Missouri state line, as night operator at $35.00 per month before being transferred to Kansas ending at Oswego, Labette county, Kansas in 1885 where he met and married his wife, Hattie A Flora, in 1886, was again promoted and transferred to Wichita, Segdwick county, Kansas with $60.00 per month salary, where

1st son was born, when again promoted and transferred to Carthage, Jasper county, Missouri July 1890 serving till March 1896 when transferred back to Wichita, shortly thereafter to Neodesha, Wilson county, Kansas, from there to Monett, Barry county, Missouri, however rented home in Carthage to live in, from where she went to Wichita to have 2nd son, Russell Davis, from Monett sent to Saint Louis City, Missouri 15 OCT 1900 residing at 3939 west Belle place where 3rd son, Howard Kramer, was born ~ spending time in 1903 in Springfield, Missouri in their home on Benton avenue while oldest son attended high school, then back to St Louis, becoming "Frisco's" general manager April 1904, including, newly acquired Chicago & Eastern Illinois Railroad for eight months, then senior vice-president leaving after his twenty-eight dedicated and faithful service years to The "Frisco", following seven years under Benjamin Franklin YOAKUM's (1859TX-1929NY), Carl wrapped up his first half, twenty-eight years, of railroading with "Frisco" April 1911.

As afore stated, Son Carl, jr claimed to have moved 42 times during his first 50 years

Nearly eight years, their third longest home location being Carthage, Missouri, with infant son Carl,jr (later, a Major General, recipient of nation's 2nd highest military award), lived in Carthage, as stated, starting July 1890 for first six years, first in 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, between new Central National Bank and 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, later known as "Belle STARR" (1848MO-1889IT). Carl (without a day of formal college education, yet in 1938, a trustee of father's Colby College), after removing to Carthage at age twenty-two, from Wichita, Kansas July 1890, organized in fall of 1891, Carthage, Jasper county, Missouri's Division #34 of Uniformed Ranks of Knights of Pythias his wife Harriette's baby brother (my maternal grandfather), Dr W W FLORA, was wed 21 August 1892 by Reverend William Sims KNIGHT, D D. Carl was also elected 10 August 1894, still at age 26, Captain, commander of Company A, 2nd Missouri Volunteer Infantry, formerly, highly praised and civic minded Carthage Light Guards (1876-1887) replacing John Ard McMILLIAN who had served but one month while encouraging Carl to take command, but later followed when Carl was transferred out of state MAR 1896. Carl still commander of the Uniformed Ranks of the Knights of Pythias led his 3rd Regiment in the August celebration of setting corner stone for the then new Jasper county courthouse. GRAY re-established the abandoned multi-year drill competition at Carthage Light Guards which effectively brought many back into the ranks totaling 52, according to 22 & 30 November 1894 Carthage Weekly Press news articles found by Nancy BREWER for me, by his furnishing the "Gray Gold Medal" to be worn sixty days by winner of competition, such was done during 1895 Sedalia encampment, awarding winner the prestige's "Gray Gold Medal", and was so awarded for the next twenty-two years, until the company was called to serve during the Mexican border dispute in 1916. (1939, the "Gray Gold Medal", reportedly hung proudly in Memorial Hall, but in 2014, its still found missing) The company also served during Spanish-American war, without Carl, under John McMILLIAN, because his employer, "Frisco" railroad, again promoted and transferred him March 1896, the year following completion of Jasper county's new courthouse (still in use one hundred nineteen years later, 2014), plus, opening of that wonderful Lakeside Park operated till mid-1930's and Ramsay Brothers Dry Goods Company's store on west side of square operating from 1895 till mid-1980's, A A RAMSAY (bought the MILLER home on Grand avenue which Carl & Harriette had rented in 1898, Mrs RAMSAY being a childhood friend of Harriette's), before again promoted, 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 served a month when he encouraged Carl's taking the company in August 1894. Many local and state newspapers plus Joel T Livingston's 1912 history book, carried articles regarding Carl R GRAY with his multitude of successful military and other activities.

SEP 1898 the GRAYs returned to Carthage when unable to find suitable housing in Monett, Barry county, Missouri where he was briefly assigned until 15 OCT 1900 as division superintendent, renting a home from William P MILLER's widow, which in the 1950s was on the Victorian Home Tour: The Miller House - was 1332, now 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. Active in their Baptist church, civic and military affairs, his "Frisco" duty location, where he met many who became either "Frisco" employees or contractors. Finding a home in Monett where they lived next to his Clerk Burton K BLAIR and bride till 15 OCT 1900 to Saint Louis, MO for a short spell, at 3939 west Belle place where son Howard Kramer was born 1901, shortly thereafter back to Springfield, Greene county, Missouri, sixty miles east of Carthage, while in Springfield, before again being promoted to Saint Louis in APR 1904, wife Harriette invited a dozen lady friends from far & near, to their Benton avenue Springfield home, according to news articles in Carthage Evening Press, 3rd & 15th June 1903 discovered by Nancy BREWER of Carthage, Missouri ~ ~ included were her step-sister, sister-in-law and 2nd sister-in-law, 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. ~ ~ then to their third longest home where they lived once before, seven more years, starting APR 1904 in Saint Louis, Missouri, where in 1904, St. Louis hosted World's Fair to celebrate the centennial of the 1803 Louisiana purchase, serving his last "Frisco" duty location, last living at ~ ~ "The Carl R Gray Mansion at 52 Westmoreland Place built in 1909[?], just north of now, Forrest Park where the 1904, St. Louis hosted World's Fair had been held. The Georgian Revival style mansion was designed by Alexander August Fischer. Their home was built with rough stone and a portico, the portico was removed and the stone smoothed in 1945. The house was built for Carl R. Gray & wife Harriette, 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 plus years and then appointed vice-chairman of the railroad.", ~ ~ their longest living location, seventeen plus 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's Career after "Frisco" ~

Good-Bye:

Twenty-eight years after starting, Carl resigned "Frisco", April 1911, as senior vice-president of Ft Worth & Rio Grande and St Louis, San Francisco & Texas Railways, at age forty-three. 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 Employees 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 success 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, Success, and great Happiness.

(signed) C R Gray
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Then Carl became James Jerome HILL's, "The Empire Builder", (1838CAN-1916MN) president of Spokane, Portland & Seattle Railroad, including later, the Oregon Electric Railway, Oregon Transit company, Astoria & Columbia Railway, The Pacific & Eastern Railway and United Railways company, headquartering in Portland, Oregon before ascending to the president's chair of Great Northern (1912-1914) 27 May 1912. The Grays removed from Portland, Oregon to Saint Paul, Minnesota, into a home next to The House Of Hope Presbyterian Church at Summit & Avon according to husband of their second granddaughter.

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 Davison ROCKEFELLER as president on 10 March 1914, to run the Western Maryland Railroad, so the family removed to Baltimore from Saint Paul, with their two younger sons, where both Russell and Howard attended Gilman Country School for Boys, then Princeton University where both graduated in Class of 1923, then Russell Davis GRAY married Eleanor (Pitt) GRAY and Howard went into the two year medical school at the University of Nebraska followed by two years at Harvard College. While Carl was with Western Maryland its reported on the front page of the Springfield (MO) Republican, (however, of which many descendants are unaware of any such accident involving Carl) that Carl's railroad car was attached to the Pullman car of the Blue Mountain Express which on 25 June 1915 ran head on into a mail train on the "High Bridge", killing eight with injuries to fourteen, but NO-WHERE else can I confirm this story. Carl next, became the "Director of Railroad Operation" for the United States Railroad Administration under the president's son-in-law, Director-General William Gibbs McADOO,jr (1863GA-1941DC) during President WILSON's term of World War I which took control of our nations railroads for twenty-six months and where he resigned in December 1918 reportedly to take a rest, removing back to Baltimore, taking a trip to Cuba, Panama & Jamica, with wife & two youngest sons, under passport of 28 DEC 1918. 15 JAN 1919 he returned as president & chairman of Western Maryland Railroad and chairman of Wheeling & Lake Erie RR until retained by Union Pacific Railway Systems, December 1919, according to news article in New York Times January 1920 as president, and to this day considered its most notable of presidents, ~ ~ having served as such longer than any other president, becoming vice chairman after seventieth birthday, October 1, 1937, under a twenty-four year younger chairman, the honorable William Averell HARRIMAN (1891NY-1986NY) soon after to die in the Mayflower hotel, at Washington D C, following an evening dinner with his oldest son, ~ 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" at Promontory Summit, Utah, Territory, 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), movie production overseen by Carl to insure correct historical facts remained.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Carl had been unable to purchase his "Little Mudder's" birth place near Davis Point in Cushing, Lincoln, now Knox county, Maine for their summer retreat, ending instead, with nearest available, a thirty-six acre tract with three acres and house on The Georges at 250 Stones Point road in Point Pleasant, named "Friendship Cottage" 13 November 1919 from estate of George Payson. When remodeled during the 1920s, by enclosing front portion of the large open wrap-around porch plus adding the portico, now removed, like their Saint 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 from varies areas which made up her elaborate rock garden along landward side of the house, with its little bridge over water. In the late twenties & thirties, they would bring their colored house staff from Omaha to Maine, George Lewis chauffeur, his wife Charleena, the upstairs maid, Mattie, single, downstairs maid and Elizabeth the cook, also had white locals, Lesilie Seavey their boat captain and Walter Young the gardner. Harriette parted with "Gray Rocks" around four years following Carl's demise in 1943. It was then found for sale in 2008 by Barbara Holt, his maternal uncle, Captain N Byron Davis' gr,granddaughter, still named "Gray Rocks" bought in 2011 by artist and Yale professors, Ann CRAVEN & Peter HAILLEY. As of summer 2012, "Gray Rocks" was found without the 1922 added portico, when the new owners invited to visit and spend a night in July, was first born grandson, Carl Raymond GRAY, III's, third daughter, Suzanne Winter "Suzi" (Gray) JOHNSON & hubby Joe, of Franconia, Chisago county, Minnesota during their extended trip east to see "Gray Rocks", the eastern parts of America and Canada.

At one time Carl's cash crop was cranberries raised on their thirty acre farm west of Stones Point road. They often took visitors aboard their motor yachts, Harriette then Harriette II, to Harbor Island for lobster cook-outs, where his "Little Mudder's" favorite uncle Capt Richard Davis', family once lived, where she visited while she was but a child.

Carl was always in demand as a public speaker because of his, great story telling talent, interesting natural humor, and vast store of knowledge.

The 1862 Pacific Railroad Act signed by President LINCOLN authorized building the Union Pacific Railroad toward California and the Union Pacific Railroad has listed Carl 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 accomplished, pioneering college professors from Maine, himself, never attending, nor receiving a day of college level education, however, attaining national acknowledgement of being one of, if not the foremost, of our nation's railroad experts, with four honorary collegiate doctorate degrees bestowed upon 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, such as; Scottsbluff, Scotts Bluff county, Nebraska naming a park Carl Gray Park, a railroad caboose dedicated 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, since 1955, Frisco Station Apartments, also having many other smaller structures mostly modern railroad stations built. While with Union Pacific, he, in 1931, had the Omaha, Nebraska station built, of 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 Director of Railroad Operations during World War I under his son-in-law, Director General McADOO.

~ U S Navy bought a tug boat naming it Carl R GRAY, #2671 5 OCT 1918, in service till 1933.

~ 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 other 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, Pottawattamie county, Iowa. Other corporate bodies did not hesitate, 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 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 a Kansas City hospital when she died 1 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. This, the same year he was speaker at the Traveling Engineers' Association's convention held in Chicago.

~ 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, Commissioner 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 this 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 some $400,000 to improve its Los Vegas rail yard then constructed a 22.7 mile line south to Boulder City for transportation of the construction materials and equipment for this dam project, completed 29 May 1935, two years ahead of schedule, dedicated by president Franklin D Roosevelt, but, where ninety-one workers lost their lives.

~ Carl 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, diesel-electric powered, passenger train February 1934, which traveled at speeds above 110 miles-per-hour, showing it first to President ROOSEVELT. Then toured the nation ending at the Century of Progress, Chicago World's Fair.

~ The Grays, Colonel Carl R and wife Harriette A Flora, were honored in Carthage, Jasper county, Missouri some thirty-five years after leaving their third longest residency. They had lived there from July 1890 to March 1896 and again in 1898 for a spell, while he was with the "Frisco" railroad, returning several times to visit family, friends or handle business from time to time. A fifty one person reception committee of prominent Carthage citizens on 7 June 1934 with chairman, Judge Howard GRAY (former president pro-tem of Missouri Senate, and not related) (1851IA-1939MO), held the "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 asparagus and 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 total 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 Optimism 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, Christmas, 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 together, 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, successfully opened Sun Valley ski resort, in Utah during winter of 1936, inventing the ski lift chair in Omaha, Nebraska, which was first used at Sun Valley.

~ Celebration at Omaha, Nebraska honored them for their fiftieth wedding anniversary with "A Golden Anniversary party", 5 DEC 1936, enjoyed by some fourteen hundred, nation-wide dinner 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, with cover page of, - 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) on committee of six creating Transportation Act of 1940, as well a railroad adviser pre-World War II, till death.

~ United States Maritime Commission honored Carl by launching vessel USS Carl R Gray.
USS Carl R Gray was a 441.5 foot long Armadillo Class Mobile Station Tanker: a Maritime Commission type (Z-ET1-S-C3) hull, under Maritime Commission contract (MCE hull 1906), at California Shipbuilding Co., Wilmington, CA , World War Two. - - - - Her keel was laid down as Carl R. Gray in Wilmington, California. She was launched on 9 November 1943 sponsored by Miss E. Jeffers, daughter of the then president of Union Pacific Railway who had followed Carl,

~ He helped in creating the nation's 1920 Transportation Act, organizing the Association of American Railroads, to mention but a few 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;

PUBLICATIONS:
~~~~~~~~~~~

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 the car and its contents. Party who bought the car lost it in a 1911 fire.

Death: While in bed at the Mayflower Hotel, Washington District of Columbia where his 2nd son was also staying, following evening dinner with his oldest son.

OBITUARIES:
Newspapers & Magazines throughout our nation noted his death, to name but a few:

The Colorado Springs Gazette

The Courier-Gazette

Montana Standard, Butte

Oshkosh Daily Northwestern

The Ogden Standard-Examiner

The Joplin Globe

Time

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Copy from Nancy Brewer, Carthage, Missouri

- - - - - - - - - - - -

Carthage Evening Press
Tuesday, May 9, 1939


COL. CARL R. GRAY DIES
AT WASHINGTON TODAY

-----------------------

Veteran Union Pacific Railway Executive Had Been Serving On Committee Named By Roosevelt

---------------------

LIVED IN CARTHAGE IN NINETIES

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Copy from Ft Myers (FL) Public Library

---------------
THE NEW YORK TIMES
Wednesday, May 10, 1939
--------------

CARL R GRAY, 71,
RAILROAD LEADER
--------------
Vice Chairman of the Board of Union
Pacific, Head of Line 17
Years, Dies
-------------
ROSE FROM STATION AIDE
-------------
Stricken in Washington Hotel
While on Trip Concerning
Pending Legislation
-------------
~ 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 played 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.
**************
PICTURE
**************
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. 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, university 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 furnished 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]. 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 Averell 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.

Prepared by Bill Boggess.