Gray, George R: 1845-1923, B: Michigan D: Minnesota

Gray-Piper Tree: George R Gray 1845-1923
A summary of Media: attached to his Ancestry.com Profile Page (for easy review).
[4ms] Media: Gray, Bathia (Davidson), Probate
[7ms] Media: Gray, Family History by George Robert Gray
[5ms] Media: Gray, George R and John; Historical Information
George R Gray, Sources, Other
Gray, George R; Timeline Summary (1866 to 1923)
[6ms] Media: 6th Generation Gray lives on Riverview Farm.
Questions: grave site in the Ashland Cemetery? Anne died in Dakota County?

[4ms] Media: Gray, Bathia (Davidson), Probate [7ms] Media: Gray, Family History by George Robert Gray Covers: The start of Riverview Farm (house and buildings); otherwise only covers Gray Family: George Alvey and Clare Maud, Robert Lyn and Lucile Marie (House on the Hill), and Memories of George Robert Gray, Growing Up on Riverview Farm. [5ms] Media: Gray, George R and John; Historical Information (Chronicle of Claremont Township and Village, compiling began in 1932) Covers: John Gray came from Michigan and took the homestead southeast of Town, where his family has lived ever since, “unto the fifth generation”...   The first tragedy, 4/11/1867: flooding… the horse-drawn lumber wagon driven by George Gray was swept downstream… the two girls drown… George R was rescued by John Edmund with the aid of a homemade raft.   George was on the 1st board of trustees for the Presbyterian Church in Claremont.   George was director of the school board (finished and first term used, winter 1871-72)   1877: (company of) (Jack) Harmer & (George) Gray had a new twelve-horse (threshing) rig.   1878: John Gray, G. A. Gray’s grandfather, built a small house on East Street… and lived there several years, until near the time of his death.    1887: George Gray was made County Commissioner -the first of several intermittent terms which amounted to 20 yrs of service before his death in 1923.    I added: Summary: John Gray Jr, the start of the Riverview, Gray Family Farm, Claremont, Minnesota. He probably farmed with his son, George R, about 12 years. In 1878 (age 65) he built a small house in Claremont. The 1880 Minnesota Census (age 67) lists him among the residents of the Peter McMartin Hotel (he may have been recovering from a minor stroke). In the 1885 Minnesota Census (age 72) he is listed by himself (he may have been able to return to his home in Claremont). He died in 1892 (age 79) at the home of his son, George R Gray where he had been living. His obituary states that he died of paralysis (stroke) and that he had been an invalid for several years (a happy release from suffering). Media: George R Gray, Sources, Other I’m using this Document for other sources of information relating to George R Gray (familysearch) MN Death Index: ‘Vitals’ (birth, death dates). Parents, both born in Scotland. Occupation: County Commissioner. (familysearch) 1895 Census, Claremont: George 49, Anna R 51, Robt C 25, Geo A 23. Media: Gray, George R; Timeline Summary (1866 to 1923) Begins with the move from Michigan to Minnesota; purchase of the homestead (that became the Gray Family Farm, Riverview) and building of the first house. George R’s marriage to Anne Wait and the birth of their sons, Robert C and George Alvey. John Sr’s move to town at age 65 (after building a small house there); death of John Sr in 1872; the destruction of the first house by fire, the building of “The Big House” and marriage of George Alvey and Clare Lynch in 1899; death of his wife, Anne in 1900; marriage to Amelia Henry (26 years younger) which upsets George Alvey and Clare enough that they move their family to Renville in 1907 and do not return to Riverview Farm until George R buys a house in town and moves there in 1909. Before he died, in 1923, George R gave Riverview Farm to George Alvey and a 200 acre farm to Robert C. (Robert never married). George R Gray: 1845-1923 Anne Reed Wait: 1842-1900 Children: Robert Cockfurn 1869-1930, he never married George Alvey 1871-1957 m: Clare Maud Lynch 1879-1946

[6ms] Media: 6th Generation Gray lives on Riverview Farm.

The Chronicles of the Village and Township of Claremont, published around 1935 and the Obituary of George Alvey (1957) states that 5th Generation of Grays lives at Riverview Farm. John Sr. purchased the homestead in 1866. George R lived there until 1909 when he purchased a house in town and moved there. George Alvey remained at Riverview all his life (except for a couple years [1907-1909] when he lived in Renville). Robert Lyn spent his entire life on Riverview Farm; when he married Lucile Marie Piper in 1926 “the house on the hill” was built for them; in 1941 they moved their family down to “the big house”. Robert’s youngest son raised his family on Riverview Farm; Robert’s grandson (6th Generation) now lives in “the big house”. Note: I wrote this on October 4, 2015.

Questions

In Dad’s notes he writes: there’s a George Gray grave site in the Ashland Cemetery ?? I remember Don mentioned a Gray was buried in the Ashland Cemetery and was moved by family when that cemetery was no longer being maintained ??    Personal note: there’s a shared marker at Riverside Cemetery, in Dodge Center; inscription: ANNE WIFE OF GEORGE GRAY BORN OCT 8, 1842. DIED MAR 19, 1900. 1845 GEORGE GRAY 1923. Find A Grave: states Anne died in Dakota County (that would be St. Paul). ?? Also, in Dad’s notes, but I did not use: In Michigan George attended the same school as Henry Ford. George was born in 1845. Henry Ford was born in 1863. They were not in school at the same time. In a letter written to his son, Alexander, John Jr (born 1838) states that he went to school with Henry Ford’s mother.

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