Papers Of Abraham Lincoln

Gray, William W.

Died: 1895-02-26 White County, Illinois

William W. Gray was a merchant, landowner, and postmaster. Son of James Gray, for whom Grayville, Illinois, was named, William W. Gray received his education in Kentucky. In March 1847, Gray married Thomas Ann Allen in Shelby County, Kentucky. In 1850, Gray and his wife were living in Grayville, Illinois, where he was employed as a merchant and owned real property valued at $4,000. In addition to being a merchant, Gray was postmaster of Grayville from April 1849 to August 1853, though he continued to perform the duties of the office until at least September 30, 1853. In 1860, Gray was still employed as a merchant and owned real property valued at $3,000 and a personal estate of $3,300.

History of White County, Illinois (Chicago: Inter-State, 1883), 738; Harriet B. Vaught, Cemeteries of White County, Illinois (Carmi, IL: White County Historical Society, [1970]), 1:106; Kentucky, U.S., County Marriage Records, 1783-1965, Shelby County, 16 August 1847, (Lehi, UT: Ancestry.com Operations, 2016); Record of Appointment of Postmasters, 1832-1971, NARA Microfilm Publication, M841, 145 rolls, Records of the Post Office Department, RG 28, 1845-1855, 18:200, National Archives Building, Washington, DC; Register of all Officers and Agents, Civil, Military, and Naval, in the Service of the United States, on the Thirtieth September, 1849 (Washington, DC: Gideon, 1849), *475; Register of all Officers and Agents, Civil, Military, and Naval, in the Service of the United States, on the Thirtieth September, 1851 (Washington, DC: Gideon, 1851), 532*; Register of Officers and Agents, Civil, Military, and Naval, in the Service of the United States, on the Thirtieth September, 1853 (Washington, DC: Robert Armstrong, 1853), 504*; U.S. Census Office, Seventh Census of the United States (1850), Grayville, White County, IL, 305; U.S. Census Office, Eighth Census of the United States (1860), Grayville, White County, IL, 9.