Dr. Charles Gray
Dr. Charles Gray was a dentist. He was born on the island of Jersey on December 31, 1873. His parents were John and Elizabeth (Smith) Gray. His father was involved with the British army and navy. Charles Gray attended the royal military academy at Woolwich, England and graduated from Cambridge. He came to America in 1893 to manage his uncle's salt works. He entered the dental department of the Detroit College of Medicine in 1894, graduating in 1898. He spent two years in post-graduate study in London, Paris, and Switzerland. He returned to Michigan in 1900 and made his home in Petoskey.
He married Ethel Galloway on October 23, 1901. They had one son, Archibald. They lived at 611 Michigan Street.
He served on the state board of dental examiners from 1902 to 1905. He was a first ward representative on the board of aldermen. He was the treasurer of the Emmet County Republicans. He was a member of the Masons and the Elks. He was a charter member of the Petoskey Rotary Club, founded in 1921. He helped to found the local Carl O. Weaver American Legion post and was its first commander. He was the Petoskey Postmaster from 1922 to 1933, and during his time as postmaster the Bay View post office branch was established. He was a city assessor from 1943 to 1959 and Emmet County veteran's counselor from 1947 to 1960. Dr. Gray was a director of the Little Traverse Hospital. He and his wife attended the Presbyterian Church.
He went partridge hunting with George McCabe, Charles Boss, and John Pedden in October, 1913.
Dr. Gray enlisted in the US army in 1917 and went to France during World War I. He was promoted to the rank of captain. His division was cited by General Pershing and he described the conditions in a letter to Chalmers Curtis. He said he was filling teeth in a barn and locals gave him some eggs. They often slept in barns with pigs and chickens as they traveled across France.
He was promoted to lieutenant colonel on February 13, 1925, assigned to the 6th Corps. He received news of the promotion while vacationing in Florida with his wife. They attended a gathering of Petoskey residents at Eustis, Florida and Gray acted as toastmaster for the picnic party.
In 1952 he was a member of the U.S. Electoral College which made President Eisenhower's election official.
Dr. Gray died in his room at the Perry Hotel in 1961.
He married Ethel Galloway on October 23, 1901. They had one son, Archibald. They lived at 611 Michigan Street.
He served on the state board of dental examiners from 1902 to 1905. He was a first ward representative on the board of aldermen. He was the treasurer of the Emmet County Republicans. He was a member of the Masons and the Elks. He was a charter member of the Petoskey Rotary Club, founded in 1921. He helped to found the local Carl O. Weaver American Legion post and was its first commander. He was the Petoskey Postmaster from 1922 to 1933, and during his time as postmaster the Bay View post office branch was established. He was a city assessor from 1943 to 1959 and Emmet County veteran's counselor from 1947 to 1960. Dr. Gray was a director of the Little Traverse Hospital. He and his wife attended the Presbyterian Church.
He went partridge hunting with George McCabe, Charles Boss, and John Pedden in October, 1913.
Dr. Gray enlisted in the US army in 1917 and went to France during World War I. He was promoted to the rank of captain. His division was cited by General Pershing and he described the conditions in a letter to Chalmers Curtis. He said he was filling teeth in a barn and locals gave him some eggs. They often slept in barns with pigs and chickens as they traveled across France.
He was promoted to lieutenant colonel on February 13, 1925, assigned to the 6th Corps. He received news of the promotion while vacationing in Florida with his wife. They attended a gathering of Petoskey residents at Eustis, Florida and Gray acted as toastmaster for the picnic party.
In 1952 he was a member of the U.S. Electoral College which made President Eisenhower's election official.
Dr. Gray died in his room at the Perry Hotel in 1961.
