REV. WILLIAM B. D. GRAY.

REV. WILLIAM B. D. GRAY.
Rev. William B. D. Gray is superintendent of missions of the Congregational denomination, with headquarters at Cheyenne, and' in this connection has done a most important work in disseminating gospel teachings throughout the west. His lines of life have been cast in harmony with the record of an honored ancestry. His maternal grandfather was the second president of the Anti-Slavery Society and it was he who organized the “Underground Railroad” through Illinois, whereby many slaves made their escape from the south and won freedom in Canada. Rev. Gray was born July 20, 1845, in Salem, Massachusetts, but his parents, William A. and Lucy Nelson (Dodge) Gray, soon after removed from the old family home in the east to Illinois. His father afterward became connected with the United States postoffice department and was active in that field of labor for many years. He died at Appleton, Minnesota, while his wife passed away in Illinois during the infancy of their son William, who then went to live with his maternal grandfather. He was educated for the ministry thoroughly by private tutors, but his grandfather lost his eyesight and this compelled Rev. Gray to leave his studies and enter the business world. In that way he had dealings with John B. Farwell and a warm friendship sprang up between the Chicago millionaire and the young man. The former was interested in Christian work and, recognizing the ambition of his young friend in that direction, did not a little to assist him in furthering his plans. In 1880, his grandfather having in the meantime passed away. Rev. Gray turned his face toward the west as a field of labor and has been closely associated with the pioneer work on this side of the Mississippi. At that date there was comparatively little railroad building west of the Mississippi and Mr. Gray met with many of the difficulties and hardships incident to work on the frontier. In 1882, after his ordination, he was made pastor of three churches. In 1883 he was appointed superintendent of the missionary work in Dakota territory, embracing both North and South Dakota, also eastern Montana and Wyoming. In all that vast territory there was but one railroad to the north, that being the Northern Pacific, and one through the southern line of his territory, the Union Pacific. He traversed his district on horseback or by stage coach and in that primitive way he carried the gospel tidings to the frontier people and aided largely in planting the seeds of Christianity on the western plains. He also became associated with the Yankton College of South Dakota and following the death of the president of the institution he became treasurer of the college and went east in order to raise money for its support. He succeeded in raising two hundred and seventy-three thousand dollars, paid all debts and established the beginning of. a permanent endowment fund of the college. In 1900 he became a resident of Cheyenne. After the division of Dakota territory Mr. Gray was instrumental in obtaining a superintendent for both North and South Dakota and Montana. It was at the urgent solicitation of the Home Missionary Society of New York, the Sunday School Society of Boston and the Church Building Society that he accepted his present position as superintendent of missions for the Congregational denomination. To this work he is now devoting his energies with excellent results. He has studied conditions and planned his work systematically and carefully and is constantly reaching out along lines which are proving of great usefulness to the cause which he represents. In 1865 Mr. Gray was united in marriage to Miss Julia Ann Payne, of Illinois, who departed this life in 1900. They were the parents of four sons. In 1902 Mr. Gray was again married, his second union being with the Rev. M. Annette Becher, who was pastor of the South Congregational church of Cheyenne. Soon after their marriage Mrs. Gray resigned her pastorate and became general missionary for Wyoming and Superintendent Gray's assistant in field work, in addition to becoming the field representative for the Congregational Church Building Society in Wyoming. Mr. Gray's political endorsement is given to the republican party, and fraternally he is connected with the Ancient Order of United Workmen. He also is one of the directors of the Sons of the American Revolution. He is fond of all phases of outdoor life and turns to such for needed rest and recreation. For thirty-five years he has been superintendent of mission work in the west and for more than eighteen years has occupied that position at Cheyenne. His labors have been of farreaching effect and benefit. He has never been denied the full harvest of his efforts nor the aftermath, and in many a frontier town, through his work, there has sprung up a little church, which has grown and become a dominant factor in the moral development of the community. Actuated by an unabating zeal and an untiring devotion to his cause, he stands today among those who have been the strongest forces in the Christianizing of the west.

Rev. William B. D. Gray is superintendent of missions of the Congregational denomination, with headquarters at Cheyenne, and' in this connection has done a most important work in disseminating gospel teachings throughout the west. His lines of life have been cast in harmony with the record of an honored ancestry. His maternal grandfather was the second president of the Anti-Slavery Society and it was he who organized the “Underground Railroad” through Illinois, whereby many slaves made their escape from the south and won freedom in Canada.
Rev. Gray was born July 20, 1845, in Salem, Massachusetts, but his parents, William A. and Lucy Nelson (Dodge) Gray, soon after removed from the old family home in the east to Illinois. His father afterward became connected with the United States postoffice department and was active in that field of labor for many years. He died at Appleton, Minnesota, while his wife passed away in Illinois during the infancy of their son William, who then went to live with his maternal grandfather. He was educated for the ministry thoroughly by private tutors, but his grandfather lost his eyesight and this compelled Rev. Gray to leave his studies and enter the business world. In that way he had dealings with John B. Farwell and a warm friendship sprang up between the Chicago millionaire and the young man. The former was interested in Christian work and, recognizing the ambition of his young friend in that direction, did not a little to assist him in furthering his plans.
In 1880, his grandfather having in the meantime passed away. Rev. Gray turned his face toward the west as a field of labor and has been closely associated with the pioneer work on this side of the Mississippi. At that date there was comparatively little railroad building west of the Mississippi and Mr. Gray met with many of the difficulties and hardships incident to work on the frontier. In 1882, after his ordination, he was made pastor of three churches. In 1883 he was appointed superintendent of the missionary work in Dakota territory, embracing both North and South Dakota, also eastern Montana and Wyoming. In all that vast territory there was but one railroad to the north, that being the Northern Pacific, and one through the southern line of his territory, the Union Pacific. He traversed his district on horseback or by stage coach and in that primitive way he carried the gospel tidings to the frontier people and aided largely in planting the seeds of Christianity on the western plains. He also became associated with the Yankton College of South Dakota and following the death of the president of the institution he became treasurer of the college and went east in order to raise money for its support. He succeeded in raising two hundred and seventy-three thousand dollars, paid all debts and established the beginning of. a permanent endowment fund of the college. In 1900 he became a resident of Cheyenne. After the division of Dakota territory Mr. Gray was instrumental in obtaining a superintendent for both North and South Dakota and Montana. It was at the urgent solicitation of the Home Missionary Society of New York, the Sunday School Society of Boston and the Church Building Society that he accepted his present position as superintendent of missions for the Congregational denomination. To this work he is now devoting his energies with excellent results. He has studied conditions and planned his work systematically and carefully and is constantly reaching out along lines which are proving of great usefulness to the cause which he represents.
In 1865 Mr. Gray was united in marriage to Miss Julia Ann Payne, of Illinois, who departed this life in 1900. They were the parents of four sons. In 1902 Mr. Gray was again married, his second union being with the Rev. M. Annette Becher, who was pastor of the South Congregational church of Cheyenne. Soon after their marriage Mrs. Gray resigned her pastorate and became general missionary for Wyoming and Superintendent Gray's assistant in field work, in addition to becoming the field representative for the Congregational Church Building Society in Wyoming.
Mr. Gray's political endorsement is given to the republican party, and fraternally he is connected with the Ancient Order of United Workmen. He also is one of the directors of the Sons of the American Revolution. He is fond of all phases of outdoor life and turns to such for needed rest and recreation. For thirty-five years he has been superintendent of mission work in the west and for more than eighteen years has occupied that position at Cheyenne. His labors have been of farreaching effect and benefit. He has never been denied the full harvest of his efforts nor the aftermath, and in many a frontier town, through his work, there has sprung up a little church, which has grown and become a dominant factor in the moral development of the community. Actuated by an unabating zeal and an untiring devotion to his cause, he stands today among those who have been the strongest forces in the Christianizing of the west.