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Nicholas Bray, M. D.
Extracted from Portrait and Biographical Record of Dubuque, Jones and Clayton Counties, Iowa, 1894 Reprinted by Higginson Book Co., Salem, Massachusetts, p. 241

NICHOLAS BRAY, M. D., oculist, aurist and physician of Dubuque, is one of the worthy citizens that the Buckeye State has furnished to Iowa. He was born in Bellefontaine, Logan County, on the 1st of September 1854, and is a son of James and Mary (Laughlin) Bray, both of whom were natives of Ireland. In that country they were reared and married, and when the father was twenty-seven years of age he immigrated with his wife to the New World. His business was that of a contractor and builder. He was a man of pronounced views, fearless in support of his opinious, and the cause, which he championed always, found in him an able advocate.He believed strongly in abolition, and in his political views was a stanch Democrat. He constructed the railroad from Cleveland to Cincinnati (now known as the Big Four), and afterward engaged in farming in Logan County, Ohio, where he carried on agricultural pursuits for some years. His last days, however, were passed in Washington, Iowa, where his death occurred in 1884.

The Doctor spent a portion of his boyhood in Logan County, and there acquired knowledge of farming and rail-splitting and other labors incident to the life of an agriculturist. The district schools afforded him his early educational privileges. He was a studious lad and at the age of nine years he had finished Ray's Arithmetic, being a splendid mathematician. When a youth of twelve summers he accompanied his parents on their removal to Washington, Washington County, Iowa, the family locating on a farm, where he again attended the common schools until eighteen years of age. He then became a student in a select school in Washington, conducted by Professor McKee, a Presbyterian minister who is still living in that place, being now employed as one of the teachers in the Washington Academy. At the age of twenty he entered the new academy in Washington, where he pursued a classical course of study for two years. He then went to Buffalo, N. Y., where he spent one year in the German College, obtaining a thorough knowledge of the German language. Returning to Washington Academy he was graduated with honor from that institution in the Class of '79, his standing in languages and mathematics being particularly high.

Previous to this time Dr. Bray had engaged in teaching school for three winters in order to defray his expenses. After his graduation he accepted a position as Principal of the public schools in Fidelity, Jersey County, Ill., where he remained for two years. He then went to St. Louis, and became a student under Dr. Gregory, of that city. In 1881 he began reading medicine with Dr. A. Bodkin, of Fidelity, Ill., and under his direction made rapid progress in his studies. During that time he was nominated for the position of County Superintendent of Schools of Jersey County, but was defeated by a very small majority. In 1882 he entered the medical department of the University of Iowa, from which institution he was graduated in 1885. He paid his tuition and all other expenses with money, which he had previously earned and may therefore truly be, called a self-educated man.

On the l0th of May 1885, Dr. Bray opened an office in Dubuque over the Second National Bank, and embarked in general practice, which he conducted for seven years with marked success. In 1891 and 1892 he took a special course of study in the Chicago Ophthalmic College, and in May 1893, began practice as an oculist and aurist. He has rapidly gained a reputation for skill and ability along these special lines and is now enjoying a most excellent business, which yields to him a good income. He is a member of the State Homeopathic Medical Society of Iowa, and of the American Institute of Homeopathy. Although he began reading as a student of the old school, he now a carnest exponent of homeopathy and is one of the able practitioners in that branch of the profession in the Hawkeye State. He is now publishing a volume entitled the "Missing Link," a work on Materia Medica which will present a single remedy system and is entirely for use in the profession. It is a key to the entire system of homeopathy. In January 1892, in Chicago he delivered a very able and interesting lecture on the "Differentiation of the Schools of Medicine."

In his political views Dr. Bray is a stalwart Democrat. He is a genial and affable gentleman and his pleasant manner and many excellent qualities have gained him the confidence and respect of all with whom he has been brought in contact, and in the community where he makes his home his friends are many.