The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-08-24

Mr.. Robert r. Gray, the senior mem
Der of the firm of Il. r. and X. l.. Gray
has spent an active life in the practice
at the bar Of this State, and one that
has had diversity of interests, and has
in no small measure been identified with
the progress sof the State and of Raleigh,
his adopted home.
He was born in Randolph county of
prominent and progressive parents, his
father, merchant. who moved to Win
ston, North Carolina, in 1892, buying
the first lot in the community and being
one of the pioneers of the progress tina
has metamorphosed that then hamlet
into one of the States foremost cities.
During his youth MIR. Gray attended
the original Bingham School at Me
bane, where he was prepared for college
and in 1861 matriculated at tbs Un;yer
sity of Virginia from which he gradual
ed i'm 1869 Subsequently he
taught school as principal of
the Winston Male Academy,
at the same time beginning the study
of law under Judge Thomas J. Wilson.
Afterwards he attended the famous law
school OF Chief Justice Pearson in Yad-
kin county for two years and WIS admit
ted to tho bar by the Supreme court in
1872, beginning the practice OF his pro-
fession in Winston, North Carolina. In
1873 be moved to Raleigh and became
the associate editor Of the Raleigh Chris
tian Advocate, which he conducted with
success until 1878 at the same time
opening a law office in Raleigh III
1876 Mr.. Gray became associated with
MIR. Il. Il. Stamps under the firm name
of Gray and Stamps and the partnership
continued until the death of Mr.. Stamps
in 1891. The late Judge George v.
Strong became a member of the firm IN
1887, the firm being known as that az
Strong, Gray and Stamps until the death
of Mr.. Stamps, after which Mr.. Gray
practiced alone until the formation o.
the firm Of il. r. and r. l.. GRAY in,
1898.
Although a lifelong Democrat, inter-
ested in the welfare and success of the
party. Mr.. Gray has never, sought polit-
zeal place and has held but two official
positions, both of which were in the line
of his profession In 1888, without his
previous knowledge or effort on his part.
he was elected City Attorney OF Raj
eigh and served in that capacity until
1890 when he voluntarily resigned, owing
to stress Of other work. As City Attof-
ney, he drew the contracts for the con-
struction of the water-works and sewer
are systems or Raleigh, and i'll 1889 SIT
peryised and prepared the State and
Municipal legislation authorizing the IS
suance Of bonds for funding the City's
debt and for street Improvement and
sewerage bonds. These bonds marked
a., Of 40 fI.l 3F
which Raleigh has of late years so prom
inently embarked. Mr.. Gray was again
prominent in the development Of Raj
eigh when. lin 1885, he organized the
Thompson, Houston Electric Light Com
pany and installed. with one exception,
The first electric light company in the
country, south Of Richmond. In 1887
he in connection with Mr.. +. H. Busbee
and DR. v. E. Turner purchased the
Raleigh Street Railway and has beck
connected with the company since its or
.:arilation as director and attorney liz
tine corporation.
Ii 1893 the Supreme court elected M.
Gray Supreme Court reporter and as
such he edited and issued eleven vol
rmes of the North Carolina reports. He
was succeeded in this position by Judge
r. F. Buxton of Fayetteville, who being
of like political faith with majority
of the present Supreme court was elect
ed in 1898. 1t may he remarked thar
during the century there have been bat
sixteen Supreme Court Reporters.
AS identified with the progress of the
State at large, Mr.. Gray was member
of the syndicate which purchased the
States interest in the Cape Fear and