Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...

Haven Grammar and High schools. His
first position in the business world was in
the office of the Record Publishing Company
of New Haven. Through industry
and application Mr. Gray was rapidly
advanced until he became Hartford man-
ager for the firm in 1906, and later its
vice-president, which position he still
holds. In 1909 Mr. Gray started in busi-
ness for himself as a dealer in investment
securities, in which he attained immedi-
ate success. He formed a partnership
with Kenneth S. Adams and Arthur H.
Merrill, March 1, 1915, under the firm
name of Merwin Gray & Company, deal-
ers in Stocks, Bonds and Local Securi-
ties. The business progressed rapidly
and the firm to-day is one of the lead-
ing brokerage houses of the city, being
members of the New York and Hartford
Stock exchanges. Mr. Gray was admitted
to membership in the New York
Stock Exchange, April 22, 191 5.
Mr. Gray is keenly interested in the
civic affairs of Hartford, and holds a
prominent part in the social and club life
of that city. He is a member of the Hartford
Club, the Hartford Golf Club, and
the Bolton Fish & Game Club. He is an
enthusiast in all sports, particularly golf,
and finds much recreation in the latter
pastime. He has a love for farming, and
has acquired and developed a beautiful
county place in Bolton, Connecticut.
Upon the declaration of war, Mr. Gray
was desirous to be of some service and
enlisted in the Naval Reserve, Connecticut
Home Guard. He was later commissioned
by the Governor, lieutenant and
paymaster on Commander F. R. Cooley's
staff.
On October 5, 1899, Mr. Gray was mar-
ried to Jane Mallory, a daughter of Lester
P. and Jane (Bray) Mallory, of New
Haven, Connecticut. They are the parents
of a son and daughter, Janet and
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
255
Mallory. Mr. and Mrs. Gray and family
are active members of the Asylum Hill
Congregational Church of Hartford.
PIERSON, Magnus,
Floriculturist, Nurseryman.
Magnus Pierson, owner of extensive
nurseries at Cromwell, Connecticut, the
operation of which gives permanent employment
for five men, excluding himself,
and temporary employment for many
more, is of Swedish origin. He was born
in the county of Scona, Sweden, February
16, 1862, the son of Nels and Hannah
Pierson, of Scona. His father, Nels Pier-
son, who was an academician, came to
America in 1869, and in the following
year Magnus, with his mother, also came,
disembarking in due course in New York
City.
The family located in Plainville, Con-
necticut, and there Magnus Pierson attended
the public schools until he was
fifteen years of age, going then, in 1877,
to Florida, where for three years he re-
mained, and during that time gained
much knowledge of horticulture and fruit
growing by his work in orange groves of
that State. In 1880 he returned to Con-
necticut and resumed his schooling, at
tending a school in Cromwell for several
terms. Thereafter, for five years, he engaged
in maritime occupations, influ-
enced thereto probably by the desire that
comes to so many young men of adven-
turous spirit to see foreign parts in their
vigorous years of early manhood. He
served "before the mast" at the begin-
ning of his seafaring experience, but
within thirteen months became an offi-
cer. He served as second mate on several
sailing vessels that plied between
New York City and the West Indies and
also various parts of South America. In
1886 he again became a landsman, going