Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...

President Grant was his guest in the
pilot house. He was very prominent in
connection with the ferry boat and fer-
ries in his day. Mr. and Mrs. Gray were
the parents of three children. One of
these, Alice, died at the age of four years
another, William, died unmarried, aged
twenty-four years ; and Charles E., of
further mention, was the youngest child
and the only surviving one.
Charles E. Gray was born in New Canaan,
Connecticut, September n, 1897. He
attended the schools there and the Stam-
ford High School. His formal education
was completed by a course at the Merrill
Business College, and immediately afterward
he became associated with his father
in the bottling business. After the death
of the latter he assumed control and is
now actively engaged in its management.
Mr. Gray is among the leading citizens of
New Canaan and interested in all public
affairs. He is a member of St. Augustine
Council, Knights of Columbus. Mr. Gray
married Jane Downey, daughter of John
Downey, of Stamford, and they attend St.
Aloysius Church, aiding in its support
and in the carrying on of its good works.
ALLEN, David Knox,
Merchant.
Among the leading merchants and bus-
iness men of the thriving little town of
Greenwich, Connecticut, there is none
more worthy of mention than David
Knox Allen. Mr. Allen was born there
October 13, i860, and is a scion of a fam-
ily whose surname is one of the oldest
in the United Kingdom.
The origin of the name of Allen
dates back to early English history, be-
fore the use of surnames became gen-
eral. It is derived from the root word,
"Al," meaning mountainous, high and
;
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
187
bright. It was first borne as a personal
name by the "Bard of Britain," an uncle
of Caractacus. He was descended from
a long line of kings. The name came into
prominence after the Conquest from the
fact that the chief general of William's
army at the battle of Hastings in 1066 was
Alan, Duke of Brittany. Subsequently
he made England his home and became
the third richest man in the Kingdom.
He acquired extensive lands and ruled
over his tenantry more as a father than
as a feudal lord.
William Allen, father of David Knox
Allen, was born December 18, 1822, in
Meenadenney, Donegal, Ireland, and died
in Greenwich, Connecticut, December 30,
1899. He was educated in the public
schools of his native land, and grew to
manhood there. Upon coming to Amer-
ica he located in Greenwich, Connecticut,
where he became interested in gardening
and farming. He went to work for Oliver
Mead, and subsequently became manager
of the large farm owned by the latter,
which comprised what is now known as
Field Point and Belle Haven. Mr. Allen
was in Mr. Mead's employ for forty years,
a truly remarkable record. He was widely
known and held the respect of all who
knew him. In politics Mr. Allen was a
Republican, and he was a consistent member
of the Congregational church. On
September 17, 1846, he married in Green-
wich, Connecticut, Catherine Funston,
born in July, 1827, in Ireland, and died
November 28, 1895, in Greenwich. Their
children were: I. Jane, born February 14,
1849, died October 20, 1873
sander E. Watson. 2. Isabella, born December
18, 1850, died May 17, 1907; wife
; wife of Ly-
of Henry Purcell, and mother of Clarence,
Fannie and William Purcell. 3. William
Alexander, born November 25, 1852 ; now
engaged in the building trade ; married