Grayson, Sam

The following data is extracted from The Indian Territory, Its Chiefs, Legislators and Leading Men.

The subject of this sketch was born in 1849, the second son of James Grayson and Jane Wynne, daughter of John Wynne, a Georgian. When eight years of age Sam was sent to the Asberry Mission School, where he remained four years. In 1860 his father died, and when the war broke out, Sam, with his mother, brothers and sisters, joined the Creek refugees and settled on Red River until the war cloud passed over, returning to Eufaula in 1865. In 1868 he went to Cane Hill College, Arkansas, and there remained three terms; but, his health failing, he was obliged to leave before graduating. IN 1872, in partnership with G. E. Scales, Mr. Grayson entered the mercantile business at North Fork Town, and in the same year removed to Eufaula, continuing the partnership until 1874, when his brother, Captain G. W. Grayson, united with him in buying Mr. Scales' interest in the firm, since which time until the present they have continued in business at the same stand. In January 1879, Mr. Sam Grayson married Miss Kate Ross, daughter of Richard Ross, a Cherokee. By her he has had four children, Della, aged ten years; Claude, seven years; Jennie M., three years, and Vinnie, thirteen months. Mr. Grayson has been clerk of both houses of council for twelve years, and in 1876 and 1877 was appointed delegate to Washington. After this time he determined to ignore politics, and from thence devoted his attention exclusively to business. The Grayson Brothers do a large trade in the Creek and adjacent nations, and carry a stock of $15,000 or $16,000 in general merchandise. They have about 4,000 head of cattle and 1,000 acres under fence, 600 acres of which is in good cultivation, the remainder in pasturage. This, with 30 head of horses and a stock of hogs, forms their agricultural property. These gentlemen also own a half interest in the Indian Journal, the official organ of the country, and now the oldest established newspaper in the Indian Territory. They also own a large gin-house in Eufaula, which carries the Munger machinery, a system superior to all others introduced here. Mr. Grayson is a man of good education and exceedingly popular with all classes.

Source: The Indian Territory, Its Chiefs, Legislators and Leading Men

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