Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...

His product, bottled soda water, found its
market in the surrounding territory, and
Mr. Gray continued in this line with in-
creasing success until his death. Five or
six men were employed by him in the
manufacture of his beverages, and several
wagons distributed his goods throughout
the neighboring towns. Mr. Gray was a
member of the Knights of Pythias, of
South Norwalk, a man widely known and
as universally respected.
Walter T. Gray married, in 1879, Mary
Arline Bradley, daughter of Eli and So-
phia (Srtiith) Bradley. They were the
parents of one child, Walter Henry, who
died in infancy. Mrs. Gray was educated
in the Western Female Seminary in Oxford,
Ohio, and upon the death of her
husband assumed the direction of his busi-
ness. She was totally inexperienced in
practical affairs, had never shared the
burden of managing the business with
her husband, and the intricacies of commercial
enterprise were entirely unknown
to her. Taking over the responsibility of
management, she met every emergency
that arose with wisdom and foresight,
and in a day when women were not so
generally active in affairs as now, when
they have proved their possibilities in
executive positions. She not only re-
tained the trade built by her husband, but
increased its scope, and conducted the
business successfully for about a quarter
of a century. Then the high cost of materials
caused by the war leaving only
a narrow margin of profit, combined with
the fact of her advancing years, caused her
to close down the plant in 1918. This
action at this time was not due to inabil-
ity to continue manufacture, but was a
decision that proved the same careful
judgment and acumen that had guided her
throughout the years of her independent
administration.
The Bradley family, of which Mrs.
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
397
Gray is a member, is of Norman origin,
and is given in full in the preceding
sketches.
Henry Bradley, grandfather of Mrs.
Gray, was known during his life as Captain
Harry Bradley, a sea captain, who
was lost on one of his voyages. His home
was in Greenfield, Connecticut. He mar-
ried Roxie Seeley. His son, Eli Bradley,
was born in Greenfield, Connecticut, in
May, 1819, and died January 4, 1907. He
was a member of Temple Lodge, Free
and Accepted Masons, of Westport. He
married Emily Sophia Smith, daughter
of Hezekiah and Eunice (Meeker) Smith,
of Saugatuck. They were the parents
of the following children: Emma Au-
gusta, married Samuel Baker, deceased,
of East Norwalk ; Mary Arline, married
Walter Thomas (2) Gray, aforementioned
; Caroline, deceased, married Frank
Curtis, of Norwalk; Charlotte, died unmarried
; Henry Eli, died in infancy
Harry Burr.
FISHER, Clinton Reed,
Banker, Usefnl Citizen.
The banking interests of a community
constitute one of the elements most vital
to its prosperity, and it is of the utmost
importance that those interests should be
committed to the care of men of unques-
tioned ability and unimpeachable integrity.
As treasurer of the Stamford Trust
Company, Mr. Fisher fulfills most completely
all the exacting demands involved
in the tenure of such an office, to the duties
of which he brought a ripe and com-
prehensive experience.
(I) William Fisher, grandfather of
Clinton Reed Fisher, was a native of New
York City. He was employed as a master
mechanic by the Harlem Railroad
Company. He was the inventor of the
form of oil boxes now in use on Journals
;