Proprietor of the Bray Engineering Company of Mount Vernon, and one
of the leaders of industry in Southern Illinois, is an American by birth,
but belongs to a distinguished English family, whose history is intimately
interwoven with that of the land of his forefathers. Thomas D. Bray, the
subject's father, was a seafaring man, who spent many years in the English
navy and in due time rose to a position of prominence in that branch of
service. By a series of promotions he was gradually advanced until becoming
commander of a vessel and for brave and gallant conduct was knighted under
the name of Sir Thomas Dyer Bray, by which title he is still known in the
naval circles of Great Britain. Captain Bray resigned his commission some
time in the sixties and in 1866 came to the United States, locating in
Chicago, Illinois, where he remained about fourteen years, removing at
the expiration of that time to Southern California, where he spent the,
remainder of his days, dying in 1896.
Sir Joseph Lewis Bray, a brother of Thomas Dyer Bray, was also a distinguished
officer in the British naval service, and at one time was Governor of the
Island Malta, the largest and most im portant naval stations in the world,
the position being one of great responsibility and earning for those filling
it especial honors as officers of the crown. Sir William Bray, the subjects
grandfather, also a seaman by profession, attained to high standing in
the navy and at the time of his death, held the rank of Commodore. He was
killed about the year 1869 in the life saving service and left to his descendants
the memory of a useful life and an honorable name, the luster of which
has never been tarnished by the commission of a single unworthy act.
Fannie M. Browning, wife of Capt. Thomas D. Bray, and mother of the
subject of this sketch, was a daughter of J. M. Browning, to whom belonged
the unique distinction of having been the first white child born south
of the Baltimore & Ohio Southwestern Railroad, then the Ohio &
Mississippi Railroad. Mrs. Bray, who was one of three children born at
the same time grew to maturity at Browning Hill, about five miles west
of Benton, Franklin county, Illinois, but spent the greater part of her
married life in Chicago and California, dying in the latter state a number
of years ago. Captain and Fannie M. Bray were the parents of ten children,
five of whom are living, as follows: Walter, of Bowling Green, Ohio; Harold
L., of Chicago; Thomas D., also of that city; Mabel E., who lives in Los
Angeles, California, and Harry F., the subject of this review.
Harry F. Bray was born in Chicago in the year 1868 and spent the early
years of his life in his native city, receiving a practical education in
the public schools. Endowed with strong mental powers and a decided taste
for mechanical pursuits he yielded to a natural desire when a mere youth
by becoming an apprentice to a marine engineer, and after acquiring efficiency
and skill as a workmen devoted the ensuing sixteen years to the profession,
the greater part of the time on deep water ships, plying the Pacific coast.
Resigning his position in the marine service at the expiration of the period
indicated, he spent the succeeding three years as a locomotive engineer,
but in 1902 severed his connections with the road and returned to Chicago,
where during the five years ensuing he was engaged in the heating and plumbing
business.
Disposing of his interests in the above city Mr. Bray, in April, 1907,
purchased his present site in Mount Vernon and established what has since
been known as the Bray Engineering Company, one of the leading industries
of the place and an enterprise whose development and growth has fully realized
his expectations, as the present wide reputation of the plant and the large
and constantly increasing business abundantly attest. In connection with
contracting for the erection of various types of engines, Mr. Bray commands
a large and lucrative patronage in the lines of plumbing, heating, electrical
work and sewage, in all of which his technical training and experience
have made his services especially valuable.
In the building up of the large industry of which he is the head and
general manager, Mr. Bray has displayed executive ability of a high order
and a technical knowledge of every branch of the business which shows him
a master of his calling and endowed with capacity to inaugurate and carry
forward large and important enterprises. Blessed with a clear brain, analytical
mind and sound judgment, with the necessary tact to direct these and other
attributes in the right direction, he has moved steadily forward from one
achievement to another, overcoming all obstacles calculated to hinder or
impede his progress and moulding circumstances to suit his purposes until
he now occupies a commanding position in industrial circles with encouraging
prospects of still greater success as the years go by. His career, characterized
by consecutive effort and continuous advancement, has been eminently creditable,
while the evidence of thorough preparation and the laudable ambition to
be satisfied with nothing less than the highest attainment render his story
of especial value to the young man who contemplates making mechanical pursuits
his life work.
Mr. Bray has traveled extensively and mingled much with men, thus adding
very materially to his experience and affording the means of obtaining
a valuable practical knowledge such as educa tional institutions do not
impart. He has sailed every sea and nearly all the great inland waters
and visited all the most important parts of the world, besides visiting
many places of historic interest on both continents and acquiring a knowledge
of the manners and customs of the people of the different countries traversed.
His has indeed been a varied and interesting experience and his relations
with his fellow men under so many difficult circumstances enables him to
take broad views of life and duty and gives him an influence and leadership
which only the man of the world can exercise.
"Much depends upon being well born," in which respect Mr. Bray has been
fortunate and he has every reason to feel prond of his birthright and to
keep untarnished the escutcheon of the honor able family to which he belongs.
As stated in preceding paragraphs both his father and his grandfather were
knighted for duty bravely and faithfully performed and the high positions
to whirl, they rose, in the service of their country were honorably won
and worthily held. From those sturdy ancestors Mr. Pray has inherited not
a few of the sterling characteristics that have mach loin an influential
factor in the business world and a leader among Ills fellow men, but he
makes no undue display of these qualities nor Alrodcs the history of his
antecedents upon unappreciative ears. With all of his experience, training
and success he is one of the most modest and companionable of men. Of a
pleasing presence and attractive personality he is easily approachable,
being a favorite in the social circle, popular with all classes and conditions
of his fellow citizens and one of the strong and forceful factors of the
city in which lie resides.
The domestic life of Mr. Bray dates from the pear 1892, when he was
happily married to Miss Alice Ward, of Benton. Illinois, daughter of Thomas
Ward, one of the early settlers of the city and a pioneer of Franklin county.
The home of Mr. and Mrs. Bray has been made bright by the presence of one
child, a daughter fry the name of Winifred Estella, whose birth occurred
on the 8th of October, 1893, and who is now an interesting young lady in
her sixteenth year, a favorite with her companions and the pride of the
family circle, of which she is such an important part.
Although well informed on the leading questions of the day and abreast
of the times on all matters of public import, Mr. Bray is not a politician
nor an office seeker, being essentially a business man and content with
the simple title of citizen. Nevertheless he manifests an abiding interest
in the material advancement of Mount Vernon and the social and moral progress
of the people and to the extent of his ability is ever ready to encourage
all laudable means for the common good. He is a Mason of high rank, including
among other degrees, that of Sir Knight, and is also a member of the Pythian
Brotherhood and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.
SOURCE: History of Jefferson County, IL By John A. Wall 1909
Submitted by: Misty Flannigan Oct 2002
