John S. Gray

John S. Gray was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, on October 5, 1841, the son of Philip C. and Amelia Gray. In 1849, the family emigrated to the United States and settled on a farm in Wisconsin. However, Gray's father decided farming was not a suitable profession, and in 1857 the family moved to Detroit.

Gray attended high school in Detroit in 1857 and 1858, then took a job as a school teacher in Algonac, Michigan, over the winter of 1858-59. While Gray was engaged teaching school, his father bought a toy store in Detroit. Gray entered his father's business when he returned to Detroit in 1859. In 1861, the father and son sold the store and entered into a partnership with C. Pelgrim to manufacture candy, styling the firm name Pelgrim, Gray & Company. The company grew steadily, despite suffering a disastrous fire in 1862.

Gray married Anna E. Hayward of Beloit, Wisconsin on October 31, 1864. The couple had four children: Philip H. Gray, Paul R. Gray, David Gray, and Alice Gray.

Soon both Pelgrim and the elder Gray retired from Pelgrim, Gray & Co., and the firm took on a new partner, Joseph Toynton. In 1865 the name was changed to Gray & Toynton. The business grew rapidly, forcing moves to ever-larger quarters. In 1870, J. B. Fox joined as a partner> At this point the candy business was renamed Gray, Toynton & Fox, and the firm continued growing until both Toynton and Fox died in 1881.

With the passing of his partners, Gray incorporated the firm (but kept the name), and by 1891 Gray, Toynton & Fox was located in a five-story building, employing 150 people year round (and up to 200 people during the peak season) and producing $400,000 ($14.3 million in 2025) of candy per year with nationwide distribution.

With this wealth, Gray widened his business interests. He went into the lumber business with Orin W. Grover, incorporating as "Grover and Gray," doing business in Cheboygan, Michigan, and Detroit. He was also a director of the Detroit Trust Company, the Detroit Photographic Company, and the Norris Kollar & Kuff Company, and was the president of the Detroit Library Commission. In 1894, Gray became president of the German American Bank.

Gray eventually sold Gray, Toynton & Fox to the National Candy Company in 1903. He became a vice-president of the larger company.