The professors at Arkansas Industrial Univeristy: Oliver Crosby Gray

Oliver C. Gray

Oliver Crosby Gray (b. December 30, 1832; d. December 9, 1905)

ME.  White.
Education: Colby College (A.B., honorary A.M., honorary LL.D.), St. John's College (honorary LL.D.)

Occupation: professor, teacher

O. C. Gray was born in Jefferson, Maine to Peter and Rachel Kennedy Gray. The father Peter was a noted Harvard-trained physician. 

Gray was first educated at the Waterville Classical Institute. Starting in 1849, he attended the institute's preparatory program for two years and then matriculated at Waterville College (now Colby College). He received an A.B. degree from the college in 1855. 

After receiving his degree, Gray began attending Dartmouth College. However, he only attended the briefly. In 1856, he moved west to Minneapolis, MN. There he worked as a principal for public schools. He remained in Minneapolis until 1857 when he moved south to Arkansas.

In Arkansas, Gray first served as principal at Monticello Academy. After about two years, he left to serve as principal of Princeton Academy (in Princeton, AR). 

When the Civil War broke out, Gray enlisted in the Confederate army. He began the war as a private in the Third Arkansas Cavalry but was later promoted to captain. Gray was at the battles of Shiloh and Chickamauga. In 1864, while returning home on furlough, Gray was captured by federal troops and imprisoned in New Orleans and on Ship Island (in Mississippi). He was later released in a prisoner exchange. He returned to military service, and was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel. By the end of the war, he been assigned to General Armstrong's staff.

After the war, Gray returned to Arkansas and continued to teach. He first served as principal of the Princeton Female Academy. However, after a year in that position, he accepted the position of math professor at St. John's College in Little Rock. There he taught math from 1868 to 1871. In 1871, he was elected college president. He remained in that position until 1874 when he moved to the Arkansas Industrial University.

Gray moved to the university to serve as Professor of Mathematics and Civil Engineering. He remained at the univeristy until 1886. He then left for a year to serve as principal of Fayetteville public schools. During this time, he was also elected mayor of Fayetteville. Gray returned to his university professorship in 1889 and remained there until 1895.

After leaving the university in 1895, Gray moved to Little Rock to serve as principal the Arkansas School for the Blind. In 1899, he let Little Rock for Searcy where he served as principal of the Speers-Langford Military Institute at Searcy. Gray returned to the School for the Blind in 1901 and remained their for the rest of his career.

During the winter of 1905, Gray fell ill with cerebra-spinal-meningitis. Six weeks later the illness took his life. He was buried in Evergreen Cemetery in Fayetteville.

Sources Cited

1. "Gray, Oliver Crosby." The National Cyclopedia of American Biography, Volume VIII. New York,  James T. White & Company (1924).  pp. 303-304.

2. "Col. O. C. Gray has passed away." Daily Arkansas Gazette (Little Rock, AR). December 10, 1905. p. 1. 

3. "Goes to Searcy." Semi-weekly graphic (Pine Bluff, AR). August 19, 1899, p. 6.

4. 1850; Census Place: Waldoboro, Lincoln, Maine; Roll: 259; Page: 205b

5. 1870; Census Place: Little Rock, Pulaski, Arkansas; Roll: M593_62; Page: 245B

6. 1880; Census Place: Fayetteville, Washington, Arkansas; Roll: 59; Page: 683C; Enumeration District: 215

7. 1900; Census Place: Searcy, White, Arkansas; Page: 2; Enumeration District: 0149; FHL microfilm: 1240080

8. Minnesota Historical Society. Minnesota State Population Census Schedules, 21 Sept 1857. St. Paul, MN, USA: Minnesota Historical Society, 1977. Microfilm. Reels 1-47 and 107-164.

9. History of the Univeristy of Arkansas