California Biographies

Transcribed by Peggy Hooper

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

Source:
History of the state of California and biographical record of the San Joaquin 
Valley, California. An historical story of the state's marvelous growth from 
its earliest settlement to the present time.
Prof. James Miller Guinn , A. M.
The Chapman Publishing Co., Chicago 1905
Notes: Missing Page: 865-866,983-984,1175-1176


ROBERT GRACEY. The oldest financial institution in the county of Merced is the Se- 
curity Savings Bank, which was organized for the purpose of conducting a general banking 
business in March, 1875, and during the period that has since elapsed, through the wise 
investments of its directors, has gained a reputation for soundness and reliability sur- 
passed by none. With a capital stock of $100,000 and a surplus of $70,000. and with 
an efficient corps of officers under the executive oversight of Mr. Gracey as president, it 
affords exceptional facilities for the investments of savings and for the transaction of 
business of a general banking nature. 

The Gracey family is of Scotch origin, but was established in Ireland prior to settlement 
in America in 1799. Robert Gracey was born near Newville, Pa., December 4, 1850, a son 
of John and Isabelle O. (Sharpe) Gracey. He passed the first fifteen years of his life on 
the home place, meanwhile receiving such advantages as the district schools afforded. 
When fifteen years old he went to Pittsburg, where he attended a private school for three 
years. At the expiration of that time he became a student in the Washington and Jef- 
ferson College in Pennsylvania, where he remained until the close of the sophomore year. 
Next he matriculated in Westminster (Pa.) College, from which institution he was gradu- 
ated in 1871 with the degree of A. B. On the completion of his college course he went to 
Indiana and for one year acted as an instructor in the Richland Academy. In September, 
1872, he became a teacher in the college at Garnett, Kan., but the location did not prove 
desirable and he decided to come to the Pacific coast. 

During April of 1873 Mr. Gracey arrived in California, where his first position was that 
of a teacher at San Luis Obispo. From there, in August, 1875, ne came to Merced, his pres- 
ent home, and was thereafter engaged as principal of the city schools until his retirement 
from the profession in 1887. 

In 1887 he took up the real estate and abstract business in Merced, as a member of 
the firm of Wood, Simonson & Gracey, and after dissolving that partnership continued 
alone in the buying and selling of city and country property, at the same time acquiring 
stock in the Security Savings Bank, of which he was elected a director. From 1899 to 1903 
he made his home in Pennsylvania, but returned to California in May of the latter year. 
in order to enter upon the duties of president of the bank, to which position he had been 
elected in April. Now, as for years past, he retains important interests in farm and city 
property, mainly in this locality. 

Such enterprises as are calculated to promote the material prosperity of Merced, or 
advance its educational and religious progress receive his co-operation and support. In view 
of his public spirit, he justly ranks among those men whose presence in Merced has been 
the chief factor in the growth and commercial development of the place.