From G-R-A-Y to G-R-E-Y

by Carolyn Timmerman, ZGWS
with special thanks to Marshall Mowrey

Marshall Mowrey, ZGWS member, investigator / researcher, gives us our first authenticated information regarding the spelling change in the Gray / Grey family name. In his search through the archives of the Columbus (Ohio) Public Library, Marsh mades copies of the Columbus city directory from 1890 through 1896.

1890 – 1891:
Grey Ida G, h 1044 E. Long
It would appear that ZG’s sister Ida made the move to Columbus a short time before Dr. Gray and his family left Zanesville.

1891 – 1892:
Grey Ida, h 108 Lexington av
Grey Lewis E, civil engineer, h 108 Lexington av (Ellsworth)
Grey Lewis M, dentist, 108 – S. High, h 108 Lexington av
Grey Pearl Z, dentist, bds (boards) 108 Lexington av

1892 – 1893:
Grey Ida G, h 108 Lexington av
Grey Lewis M, dentist, 110 – S. High, h 108 Lexington av
Grey Pearl Z, dentist, h 108 Lexington av
Grey Romer C, dentist, h 108 Lexington av
In this issue of the city directory, Ellsworth has probably left the city, the dental office address is probably an error, Pearl no longer just “boards” at Lexington av and Romer C. has been added to the directory pages as a “dentist” at the age of eighteen years.

1893 – 1894:
Unfortunately, 100 pages of this directory were missing including the various Greys, however, under “Dentists”, was Grey Lewis M, 108 – S. High.

1894 – 1895:
Grey Lewis E, artist, b 108 Lexington av.
Grey Lewis M, dentist, 108 – S. High, h 108 Lexington av
Grey Louis E, draughtsman Surguy – Purdy Engraving Co, b 108 Lexington av.
Grey Pearl Z, dentist L. M. Grey, b 108 Lexington av.
Grey Romer C. asst L M Grey, b 108 Lexington av.
With this reading, either Ida has left home or was omitted from the listing, Ellsworth was listed as artist and draughtsman (two professions – two names?), Pearl is back boarding and working as a dentist with his father and Romer is now boarding and assistant to his father.

1895 – 1896:
Grey Lewis M, dentist, 108 – S High, h 108 Lexington ave
Grey Louis E, draughtsman, b 108 Lexington av.
Grey Romer C, b 108 Lexington av

In the spring of 1896, Pearl had graduated from the University of Pennsylvania as a legitimate dentist, Romer was playing baseball, and Ida was not listed. It is interesting to note that in all these listings, not once is Josephine Alice (Mrs. Lewis M.) Grey mentioned. She most certainly lived at and kept the home at 108 Lexington ave.

Marsh notes that Dr. Grey continued to be listed beyond the year of 1896. The dental office at S. High was smack downtown at the southwest corner of Broad and High across from the State House but the building no longer stands. Neither does the family home at 108 Lexington Avenue. It was located seven blocks east from downtown just off E. Broad Street. That area has been ripped out in favor of a freeway. The conclusions to be reached from the city directory listings is that either by registrar error beginning with Ida in 1890 and / or by design of the family, the small-town Grays became the GREYS of the city, and continued that spelling into the succeeding generations.

Advertisement for Dr. Lewis M. Grey, Zane Grey’s father,
in the Columbus Dispatch. Dated: Saturday, July 14, 1894.
Click on the image to enlarge.