Chauncey D. Gray was born at Verona, Oneida Co., N. Y., June 23rd, 1848, and died at his home in Milton Junction, Wis., April 1, 1920. He was the second of a family of four sons born to Henry and Sarah Peckham Gray. Two brothers, Charles H. and Marion D. preceded him in death. He came to Wisconsin with his parents when about seven years of age and spent his boyhood and young manhood chiefly in the Rock River neighborhood and vicinity of Milton Junction. On May 4th, 1876, he was married to Miss Elmina Monroe and to this union five children were born, three sons, Carl B., Fred M., and Winfred H., and two daughters Mrs. H. L. Baker and Mrs. J. E. McWilliams. Fifteen years of their married life were spent in Milton Junction, after which time they removed to the Gray homestead at Rock River where Mr. Gray again took up the occupation of farming. The following summer during a series of meetings conducted by Rev. George W. Hills and E. B. Saunders he was converted and united with the Rock River S. D. B. church to which he was deeply attached and of which he always remained a member.
He lived an honest and upright life, was strong in his convictions of right and wrong and generous to a fault in his dealings. Being of a genial nature he made many friends among both old and young. He was a kind and self-sacrificing husband and father, a tender nurse in the sick room; many times helping some member of the family through very serious illness by his untiring watchfulness and care and was always devoted to his home and family. In December 1917 he suffered a severe paralytic stroke which affected the right side of his body, and his mind to some extent, and from which he never fully recovered. Always having [been] an active man his great regret during the past two years has been that he was unable to work.
On Monday, March 22nd, he was taken with severe pain in the left side and suffered very much for several days after which the pain lessened but he sank gradually until death came peacefully on Thursday morning, April 1st. During the months of his affliction and in his last illness he has been tenderly cared for by his devoted wife and the children for whom he gave all the labor and love of his life, and who sorrow now because of the first link severed from the family circle but who look up through the mist of tears with the hope of a blessed reunion in the better land where 'God shall wipe away all tears.' He is survived by his wife, five children and one brother, Frank B. Gray of Koshkonong.
The body was prepared for burial by the loving hands of Mr. and Mrs. William Crandall, undertakers from Walworth, who are near relatives of the family. The funeral services were held on Sunday April 4th, at the S. D. B. church at two-thirty P. M. conducted by Rev. E. D. Van Horn assisted by a mixed quartette.
Interment was in Milton Junction Cemetery.
