Erie Railroad Biography - Harry Gray

HARRY GRAY, Huntington, Indiana
The birthplace of Harry Gray was in West Moreland County, Pennsylvania, and the date of his advent into this world was December 11, 1861. His father, William F. Gray, was a grain and stock dealer in West Moreland County, and in that locality the young man attended school until he was 16 years of age, when he secured a position as messenger for the West Moreland Coal Company, which he held for three years, resigning to accept a place as fireman on the Pennsylvania Railroad. He ran between Pittsburg and Altoona, and after four years and four months of highly efficient service was promoted to engineer. This was in October, 1885, and he remained in the employ of the Pennsylvania as engineer until 1890, when he accepted an advantageous offer from the Erie and resigned to accept the same. Since he entered the employ of the Erie he has been in the freight service between Chicago and Galion and has many times demonstrated to the satisfaction of his superior that he is an engineer of the highest class of efficiency.

On March 20, 1883, Mr. Gray was married to Miss Sophia L. Brown, daughter of Henry Brown, of Lorimer Station, Pennsylvania. They have one child, Harvey B., a bright lad of 13, who is attending Huntington public school. Mr. Gray is a member of B. of L. E., Division 221, and Amity Lodge, No. 483, F. & A. M., of Huntington. He is a valued citizen of Huntington and is highly respected by his fellow engineers and his host of acquaintances generally.

Excerpted from: "American Locomotive Engineers, Erie Railway Edition," H.R. Romans Editor; Crawford-Adsit Company Publishers, Chicago, IL 1899.



H. Gray
Suspended 30 days from July 3rd, 1891 for following 2nd train 1 so close that where the first section was flagged, he could not stop his train. This resulted in a light rear end collision.

SOURCE: P. 190, Chicago & Erie Railroad Employment Summary Book, ledger book covering @ 1880-1905. Donated to this site courtesy of Nick Pappas. Transcription by Jim Sponholz (c) 2007.



From the June, 1907 issue of Erie Magazine:
After a lingering illness of several months, the spirit of Engineer Harry Gray left its earthly tabernacle to cross the great divide from whence no man returneth. Mr. Gray, who was but 45 years of age, succombed to pulmonary asthenia, leaving a wife and one son to mourn his departure. In his long association with the Erie as a locomotive engineer Mr. Gray was considered as a careful and efficient employee. His standing in the Mechanical Department and on the road was always of a high order. His remains were accompanied to Allegheny, PA for burial by members of the B of LE and the Masonic fraternity.

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