Edgar Harkness Gray
Encyclopedia
Edgar Harkness Gray was a Baptist clergyman who served as Chaplain of the Senate.
, the son of Daniel Gray and his second wife, Mary “Amy” Bosworth. Gray graduated from Colby College
(then Waterville College) in 1838. Upon his ordination he became the pastor of the Baptist Church in Freeport, Maine (1839).
. Thereafter he was pastor of the Baptist church in Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts
.
In 1863, Gray was called to the E Street Baptist Church in Washington, D.C.
, becoming well known. Abraham Lincoln
was numbered among his friends. While in Washington, he was elected Chaplain of the Senate, an office he held for four years. Gray was one of the four clergymen who officiated at the funeral services of President Lincoln in Washington. The University of Rochester conferred him the D. D. in 1864.
Gray moved to California
, and became the first pastor of a Baptist church in San Francisco. Later he served in the same capacity the Baptist church in Oakland, California
. He was made Superintendent of the Baptist Churches in California, while serving as pastor in Oakland. He was also dean of the Theological Seminary of Oakland.
He died in California in 1894.
Early years
Edgar Harkness Gray was born on November 28, 1813, in Bridport, VermontBridport, Vermont
Bridport is a town in Addison County, Vermont, United States. The town was founded October 9, 1761. The population was 1,235 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
, the son of Daniel Gray and his second wife, Mary “Amy” Bosworth. Gray graduated from Colby College
Colby College
Colby College is a private liberal arts college located on Mayflower Hill in Waterville, Maine. Founded in 1813, it is the 12th-oldest independent liberal arts college in the United States...
(then Waterville College) in 1838. Upon his ordination he became the pastor of the Baptist Church in Freeport, Maine (1839).
Ministry
Following ordination Gray served the Baptist congregations in Freeport, Maine and in Bath, MaineBath, Maine
Bath is a city in Sagadahoc County, Maine, in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 9,266. It is the county seat of Sagadahoc County. Located on the Kennebec River, Bath is a port of entry with a good harbor. The city is popular with tourists, many drawn by its...
. Thereafter he was pastor of the Baptist church in Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts
Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts
Shelburne Falls is a census-designated place in the towns of Shelburne and Buckland in Franklin County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 1,951 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts, Metropolitan Statistical Area...
.
In 1863, Gray was called to the E Street Baptist Church in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, becoming well known. Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. He successfully led his country through a great constitutional, military and moral crisis – the American Civil War – preserving the Union, while ending slavery, and...
was numbered among his friends. While in Washington, he was elected Chaplain of the Senate, an office he held for four years. Gray was one of the four clergymen who officiated at the funeral services of President Lincoln in Washington. The University of Rochester conferred him the D. D. in 1864.
Gray moved to California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, and became the first pastor of a Baptist church in San Francisco. Later he served in the same capacity the Baptist church in Oakland, California
Oakland, California
Oakland is a major West Coast port city on San Francisco Bay in the U.S. state of California. It is the eighth-largest city in the state with a 2010 population of 390,724...
. He was made Superintendent of the Baptist Churches in California, while serving as pastor in Oakland. He was also dean of the Theological Seminary of Oakland.
He died in California in 1894.