John S. Gray

John Simpson Gray (October 5, 1841 – July 6, 1906) was a candymaker, business man, and banker from Detroit. He was also an original investor in (and the first president of) the Ford Motor Company. Early life John S. Gray was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, on October 5, 1841, the son of Philip C. and Amelia Gray. In 1849, the family emigrated to the United States and settled on a farm in Wisconsin. However, Gray's father decided farming was not a suitable profession, and in 1857 the family moved to Detroit. Gray attended high school in Detroit in 1857 and 1858, then took a job as a school teacher in Algonac, Michigan, over the winter of 1858-59. While Gray was engaged teaching school, his father bought a toy store in Detroit. John entered his father's business when he returned in 1859. In 1861, the father and son sold the store and entered into a partnership with C. Pelgrim to manufacture candy, styling the firm name Pelgrim, Gray & Company. The company grew steadily, despite suffering a disastrous fire in 1862. Gray married Anna E. Hayward of Beloit, Wisconsin on October 31, 1864. The couple had four children: Philip H. Gray, Paul R. Gray, David Gray, and Alice Gray.