Cumberland County, Maine -  Rufus E. Gray
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Biography
Rufus E. Gray
Biographical Review
Cumberland County, Maine
Boston
Biographical Review Publishing Company
1896
Page 360

Rufus E. Gray, clothing manufacturer of West Gorham, Me., was born October 14,
1859, in Limerick, a neighboring town in York County. His father, Erastus Gray,
was the only child of Rufus Gray, who spent twenty-seven years of life in the
town of Cornish, York County, where he was engaged in farming.

Erastus Gray was born in Cornish, March 17, 1832. When a young man, he went to
the town of Denmark, where he learned the carpenter's trade from Charles
Boynton. He continued working with Mr. Boynton, and has practically been with
him ever since, although at the, present time the father is living in
Cambridgeport, Mass. In 1857 Erastus Gray married Abbie, daughter of Samuel and
Mary A. (Berry) Jack, of Denmark. Mr. and Mrs. Jack are still living on their
homestead farm in Denmark, both vigorous for people of their age, he being
eighty-five years and she one year younger. He is a Democrat in politics, and
both are Universalists in religion. Of their family of nine children, but five
are now living. Mrs. Abbie J. Gray lived but three years after marriage, dying
July 22, 1860, when Rufus was less than a year old. His father subsequently
married Mrs. Eunice Knight, born Barnes; and she died in February, 1882, leaving
four children, namely Charles, who married Katy Dunn, and has one child,
Harland; Jennie, the wife of Jefferson Furlong, of Limerick, who has four
children - Guy, Gladys, Ralph, and Chester; Herbert, residing in Brighton, Mass.;
and Fanny, wife of William Cobb, of Standish, Me., who has twins - Herbert Gray
Cobb and Sumner Chase Cobb.

Rufus E. Gray was reared and educated in the town of Denmark; and, when old
enough to begin work, he went to Harrison, where he was employed by Thomas
Emery, a manufacturer of clothing, for two years. He subsequently worked at the
same business four years for H. B. Hartford, of Standish. In 1888 Mr. Gray
formed a partnership with Joseph H. Wilson, and established a shop for the
manufacture of clothing at West Gorham, carrying. on business under the firm
name of Wilson & Gray. In 1892 Mr. Gray bought out the interest of his partner,
and has since conducted the business alone, meeting with signal success. His
trade has increased to a large extent ; and, besides the fifteen hands working
in the shop, he keeps from seventyfive to one hundred busily employed at their
homes.

On July 24, 1887, Mr. Gray was married to Ida F. Flood, a daughter of William H.
Flood, of North Pownal, and into their pleasant home three children have come,
namely Alice C., born in Standish, October 11, 1888; Audrey M., born October 4,
1889; and Blanche A., born November 24, 1890. Politically, Mr. Gray is a
Democrat. Both he and his wife are liberal in their religious views; and,
socially, he is a charter member and at the present time is serving as Chaplain
of Watchie Lodge, No. 3333, Knights of Honor, of Standish.