John M. Gray, cashier of the Citizens’ Bank, was born in Greene County, August 14, 1849, the son of Robert and Nancy (Mays) Gray, the former of Scotch-Irish stock, and born in Greene County, in October, 1814, and the latter of German origin, and born about 1825, in the same county. They were married about 1847, and a year later came to this county, locating ten miles southeast of Rogersville, where they resided up to 1873. They then moved to Jefferson County, where the father, a cabinet-maker, devotes himself chiefly to farming. He is a Republican, and a member of the Missionary Baptist Church. The mother, who died April 5, 1885, was also a member of that church. Our subject is the only child, and finished his education at Tusculum College, after which he was a pedagogue for a time in Greene and Hawkins Counties. In November, 1873, he became clerk and master of the chancery court, and as he was at this time but twenty-four years old, he was the youngest clerk in the district, and continued to hold the office for twelve years. He had been studying law, and was licenses in February, 1886, but has never actively practiced. At the organization of the bank in March, 1887, he was made its cashier. The capital of the bank is $35,000. He married, March 10, 1875 Fannie S., a daughter of Richard and Louisiana Mitchell, and granddaughter of Joseph Rogers, in whose honor Rogersville received its name. They have two sons and two daughters. Our subject is a Republican, and is a member of the Baptist Church, while his wife is a Presbyterian.

Transcribed by Betty Mize from Goodspeed’s History of Tennessee, 1886.