Gray, John and Spence, Mary Ann

John Gray and Mary Ann Spence Gray
Oakwood Cemetery
(Source:  Photo by Jacqueline Klapproth Nelson.  Copyright October 2011)

John Gray
John Gray, living on Section 16, Somers Township, is one of the substantial citizens that Scotland has furnished to Kenosha County.  He was born in the land of hills and heather in 1852, his parents being John and Margaret (Monroe) Gray, who were also natives of Scotland.
In the common schools of that country, the son pursued his education and remained at home until he attained his majority, when he bade adieu to friends and native land and sailed for the United States in 1873.  He had previously learned the stone-mason's trade and for a year was employed in that way in the state of New York.  He afterward came to Wisconsin and spent one year in Racine before removing to Kenosha County.  He then went to Mauston, Wisconsin where he continued from the spring until the fall, and then again took up his abode in Kenosha County.  After three years he removed to Dodge County, where he lived for two years, and for nine months he was again in Kenosha County.  He then returned to his native land for a visit, after which he again came to the United States and for nine months was employed in Iowa.  Subsequently he spent ten years in Nebraska and on the expiration of that decade returned to Kenosha County, where he purchased eighty acres of land.  He has engaged in farming that tract since 1892 and in the intervening period, covering twenty-four years, he has converted his land into a very productive, well developed and highly improved farm.
In 1886 Mr. Gray was married to Miss Mary A. Spence, a daughter of John Spence.  They are well known in the county and the hospitality of their home is greatly enjoyed by their many friends.
They are loyal members of the Baptist Church and in his political views, Mr. Gray is a Republican, having supported the party since becoming a naturalized American citizen.  He has never had occasion to regret his determination to come to the new world, for here he has found good business opportunities and in their improvement has worked his way steadily upward until he is now one of the substantial and well-to-do citizens of Somers.
(Source:  The City and County of Kenosha, Wisconsin, Vol. II, The S.J. Clark Publishing Co., 1916).

Mrs. Mary Spencer Grey (spelling of Grey and Spencer shown in newspaper)
Mrs. Mary Spencer Grey, wife of John Grey, died March 21, 1922 at her home in Somers, Wisconsin.  She is survived by her husband.  Mrs. Grey was born in Somers on March 3, 1851, and was a daughter of John Spencer, a pioneer of Kenosha County.  She was born in the home in which she died.
The funeral will be held at the home Saturday afternoon at 2 o'clock and burial will be in Oakwood Cemetery.
(Source: Racine Journal News publication date March 23, 1922)