L.M. Gray Gray, Babcok and Seers, grain merchants of Odebolt, Sac county, Iowa, were organized in 1885 for the purpose of handling grain, stock, coal and seeds. They erected a large elevator, with a capacity of 40,000 bushels, and they have handled annually, from this point, upward of 130 cars of corn, which will average upward of 600 bushels, and also twenty cars of barley, averaging 700 bushels per car, with twenty-five cars of flaxseed, averaging 35,000 bushels, forty cars of oats, averaging 800 bushels, while the shipments of hogs will vary from 124 to 150 cars. The firm also has elevators at Battle Creek, Ida Grove, Arthur and Lohrville, and are heavy dealers at all points. L. M. Gray, our subject, the head of the firm, was born in Ulster county, New York, July 27, 1840. He was the son of Thomas and Mary (Beasemer) Gray, natives of New York, of old Yankee stock on the paternal side, while the maternal ancestry stretches back to Germany. Our subject was brought up until his twelfth year on the farm and then the family removed to McHenry county, Illinois, where his occupation was not changed, if the place was. He received his education in the public schools and then prepared for the life of a farmer, but at the age of twenty-two he enlisted, August 9, 1862 in Company A, Ninety-fifth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and remained until mustered out, August 17, 1865. He was wounded at Nicojack creek, Georgia, in a skirmish, and took part in the battles of Champion Hill, Vicksburg, Nashville, Spanish Fort, Blakely and a number of skirmishes. After his term of service expired he returned to McHenry, Illinois, and there engaged in farming, but in the fall of 1886 he removed to Boone county, Iowa, and located on a farm there, where he engaged in agricultural pursuits. In 1880 he went into the stock business in connection with his farming, and in 1886 he came to Odebolt, where he has since been associated with the firm of Gray, Babcock and Seers. Mr. Gray is one of the most enterprising men of this county, is a strong Republican, and is Justice of the Peace and Notary Public of Odebolt. He was married in 1865, in Illinois, to Miss Nellie Babcock, who survived only six years, and died at the age of thirty-four. Mr. Gray was again married, in 1877, to Miss Mary McLaman, of Iowa, but a native of Ohio. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Gray, namely: Della, Nellie and Angie. Socially, our subject is a member of G.A.R., Colonel Goodrich Post No. 117, and is Commander of the same. Also he is a member of A.F. & A.M., Wheeler Lodge, No. 398. In his religious connections he is a member of the Presbyterian Church, in which he is a Deacon. Transcribed by B. Horak, November 2002

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