Asa C. Gray - A man of versatile talents, possessing good business ability and judgment, Asa C. Gray, of Harrison [Clare County, Michigan] , has had a varied experience in life, and through his own efforts has steadily clibmed the ladder of attainments. A son of Elijah Gray, he was born, October 15, 1852 at Speaker, Michigan.

His Grandfather Gray [Nathan Gray] was born, reared, and married in New York state. In the earlier part of the nineteenth century he started with his family from LeRoy, New York, for Ohio, which was then considered the "Far West," taking with him $6000 in gold, intending to invest in Ohio land. At Buffalo he embarked on a lake boart, but the vessel was wrecked near Long Point, and he lost all of his possessions, including his gold. Unable to continue the journey, he settled in Canada, and there he and his wife spent their remaining days.

Elijah Gray remained in Canada until after attaining manhood, but after his marriage located in Speaker, Michigan where he was for a few years employed in agricultural pursuits. He was three times married. He married first, in Canada, Phoebe Ostrander , who died in Michigan, when her son, Asa C. Gray, was but five years of age.

Left motherless in childhood, Asa C. Gray went to Eden, Elgin County, Canada to live with his father's sister. Two years later his aunt came with her family to Michigan, locating near what is now Maysville [Mayville, Tuscola County?], where Asa continued his schooling. His father, who had previously settled in Fayette county, Iowa, there married again, and he came to Michigan and took Asa home with him. His wife was a school teacher prior to her marriage, and under her tuition Asa made good progress in ths studies. She died two years later, and the boy returned to Michigan, his old home, and worked for hi his aunt's husband, his uncle by marriage. This uncle exchanged his Michigan property for a farm in Canada, but before he had moved his family there the uncle's brother and brother-in-law were drafted into the Union army, and they skipped to Canada, leaving Asa, his aunt and her children to harvest their crops. When the family were ready to move to Canada, in order to have a team there, one load of household goods was sent over the road, Asa and his uncle driving the team the entire distance of three hundred miles. At the end of three years the family returned to Michigan.

The ensuing eleven years Mr. Gray was engaged in lumbering in Michigan and Canada, and had accumulated some money. Coming to Clare county [Michigan] in 1882, he bought land near Harrison, and was profitably engaged in lumbering and farming until 1904, when he was elected judge of probate of Clare County. Serving most ably and faithfully in the position, he was honored with a re-election in 1908, and is now serving his second term with the same satisfactory results.

Judge Gray has ever taken a deep interest in promoting the welfare of town and county, and while living on his farm served several terms each as supervisor and town clerk; was town treasurer four years; and for a long time was director, and moderator, of the local school board. Fraternally the Judge is a member of the Ancient Free & Accepted Order of Masons; of the Independent Order of Odd Fellow; and of the Court of Honor. In his religious views he is liberal, believing in the Fatherhood of God and the Brotherhood of Man.

Judge Gray married, in 1980, Mrs. Louisa Currell, nee Russell, of Vassar, Michigan. She was born in Genesee county, Michigan, where her parents located on coming to this state from New York. Judge and Mrs. Gray's marriage has been blessed by the birth of two children, namely: Harry Garfield, who lived but one brief year; and Jessie May, born in 1889.