San Francisco County Biographies

HON. NATHANIEL GRAY

Submitted by: Pamela Storm Wolfskill & Ron Filion

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm

San Francisco Theological Seminary, 1907

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF THE FOUNDERS AND PRINCIPAL SUPPORTERS 
OF THE SAN FRANCISCO THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY.

One of the great needs of an institution of learning is to have in its 
directorate competent business men.  This is necessary for the purpose of 
providing means for its sustenance and the proper conduct of its business 
affairs.  The San Francisco Theological Seminary has had many such men, and one 
of the most prominent, generous and competent of them all was Mr. Nathaniel 
Gray. 
He was a New Englander, and was born July 20, 1808, in Massachusetts, and died 
at his home in Oakland, Cal., April 24, 1889, in the eighty-first year of his 
age. 
He married Miss Emeline A. Hubbard December 29, 1832.  She died January 20, 
1887, and so they had lived together in the married life for more than 
fifty-four years. 
Mr. Gray was a mechanic in early life, but he engaged in missionary work in New 
York City when thirty years of age and continued it for over twelve years.  Mrs. 
Gray also had an earnest missionary spirit.  She aided in founding the first 
school for Chinese girls in California, and gave generously of her time and 
money for the cause of missions. 
Mr. Gray came to California in 1850 and devoted himself to the business of an 
undertaker until the close of his life.  He did not aspire to political honors, 
but was elected Coronor for the city of San Francisco in 1852, and was a member 
of the Legislature in 1863. 
His name will ever be prominently associated with works of philanthropy, 
religion and education.  At the time of his death he was President of the �Old 
People�s Home� and the �San Francisco Benevolent Society,� Trustee in the 
�California Bible Society� and the �Young Men�s Christian Association,� and 
Director in the �San Francisco Theological Seminary.� 
He was long Ruling Elder in the First Presbyterian Church of San Francisco and a 
liberal contributor to its support, to other churches and to the cause of 
missions and general benevolence. 
He was a friend of education.  He established a scholarship for young ladies in 
Mills College, near Oakland, and gave $10,000 to erect the beautiful Hall of 
Science in that institution that bears his name. 
Mr. Gray was elected a Director of the San Francisco Theological Seminary in 
October, 1879, and served in that capacity for ten years.  He was also for a 
time a Trustee and Vice-President of the Board of Directors.  He served the 
Seminary faithfully, not only with his time, counsel and labor, but also with 
his money.  He gave unsolicited the first $5,000 for endowment in California.  
He donated two lots on California street in San Francisco, February 4, 1889, as 
a site for the Seminary.  These were worth at least $20,000, and during his last 
sickness he was planning how $60,000 might be raised to erect suitable Seminary 
buildings on them.  But he was not permitted to carry out his plans, for on the 
24th of April following he departed this life.  Mr. Gray was a man of fine 
physique and strong mind and retained his powers wonderfully at the age of 
four-score.  He was a man of true piety, kind heart and generous impulses, and 
won a host of friends who will long hold him in loving remembrance.  He was 
succeeded in his office of Director by his son, George D. Gray, a prominent 
business man of San Francisco.  He has filled the office well for eighteen 
years, during much of which time he has also served as Trustee. 

Source:  Curry, James, D.D., History of the San Francisco Theological Seminary 
of the Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. and Its Alumni Association 
Reporter Publishing Company, Vacaville, California, 1907.