William S. Gray (1851-1927), Architect

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Lincoln, Nebraska, 1886-1905


William S. Gray was born in August 1851 in Illinois.[6][7][8] In 1883, he left Beardstown, Illinois for Lincoln, Nebraska.[9] He worked in Lincoln, Nebraska as an architect for at least 24 years.[6][7][8] Gray was married to Maria and had a daughter, Viola.[6][7][8]

This page is a contribution to the publication, Place Makers of Nebraska: The Architects. See the format and contents page for more information on the compilation and page organization.

File:DM197908-48_11w.jpg
Johnson County Courthouse, 1888-1889 (D. Murphy)

Compiled Nebraska Directory Listings

Lincoln, Nebraska, 1886-1895, 1905

Educational & Professional Associations

1885-1886: Gray & Placey, Architects, Lincoln, Nebraska.

1900: architect, Lincoln, Nebraska.[6]

1901-1903: Vice President of the Eureka Manufacturing Company, Lincoln, Nebraska.[11]

1910: architect, Lincoln, Nebraska.[7]

1920: retired, Lincoln, Nebraska.[8]

Other Associations

1890: Employed Frederick A. Henninger (1865-1944), Architect as draftsman.

Buildings & Projects

Dated

York County Courthouse (1885-1888), York, Nebraska, demolished. (In partnership with O. H. Placey as Gray & Placey, Architects.)

Frank Sheldon house (1887), NW corner 14th & R, Lincoln, Nebraska, demolished.[5]

Johnson County Courthouse (1888-1889), SW corner 3rd & Clay, Tecumseh, Nebraska.[3:52][4] (JO07-001) National Register narrative

Butler County Courthouse (ca.1889-1890), David City, Nebraska (demolished)

Cass County Courthouse (1891-1892), NE corner Main & 4th, Plattsmouth, Nebraska.[1][3:58][4] (CC14-109) NRHP National Register narrative

Hamilton County Courthouse (1894-1896), 12th & M, Aurora, Nebraska.[3:64][4] (HM01-001) NRHP National Register narrative

Other Accomplishments

1898: Invented the Wonder Grain Grader[9][11]

1903: Invented the perfection cooker[9][10]

Notes

References

1. Benjamin W. George, "Soft Eclecticism in the U.S.A., An Example: The Cass County Courthouse, Plattsmouth, Nebraska,” TS (January, 1973).

2. Obituary, Lincoln Star (January 20, 1927).

3. Oliver B. Pollak, Nebraska Courthouses: Contention, Compromise, and Community. Images of America Series (Chicago: Arcadia Publishing, 2002).

4. Listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

5. William Wood, “Postcards from the past,” Preservation Association of Lincoln Newsletter 19:2 (Spring 2011): 1.

6. 1900 United States Census, s.v. "William Gray," Lincoln, Lancaster County, Nebraska, accessed through HeritageQuestOnline.com.

7. 1910 United States Census, s.v. "William Gray," Lincoln, Lancaster County, Nebraska, accessed through HeritageQuestOnline.com.

8. 1920 United States Census, s.v. "William Gray," Lincoln, Lancaster County, Nebraska, accessed through HeritageQuestOnline.com.

9. “William Gray, 75, Dies at Home Here,” The Lincoln Star (January 20, 1927).

10. “A World Beater Perfection Cooker.” (May 13, 1918), accessed October 4, 2016, http://hdl.handle.net/2027/loc.ark:/13960/t9086xf9n?urlappend=%3Bseq=1

11. “William Gray, 1852-1927,” Nebraska State Historical Society, April 7, 2010, accessed October 4, 2016, http://nebraskahistory.org/lib-arch/research/manuscripts/family/william-gray.htm

Page Citation

D. Murphy, “William S. Gray (1851-1927), Architect,” in David Murphy, Edward F. Zimmer, and Lynn Meyer, comps. Place Makers of Nebraska: The Architects. Lincoln: Nebraska State Historical Society, December 16, 2014. http://www.e-nebraskahistory.org/index.php?title=Place_Makers_of_Nebraska:_The_Architects Accessed, March 28, 2024.


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