His date of birth, listed on the 1901 census is May 26, 1873.

Erin Advocate, Wednesday, Dec. 14, 1910 had the following write up on the first page of the paper.

To the Editor of The Advocate, Dear Sir, - I crave space in your valuable paper to direct the attention of those whom it may concern, to an article which appeared in the last issue of the Hillsburg Beaver, referring to myself as being a likely candidate for the office of Councillor for this municipality for the forthcoming year.  Now sir, as my name was mentioned in connection with that of two gentlemen from the westerly part of this township, and who were characterized as being men of ability and men who were above board in every way, the same slight compliment not being paid to myself, the intention of the Beaver was, as I understand it, to lead those residents of this township to whom I am not personally known, to believe that I am not possessed of any of the above mentiond good and sterling qualities.  And while I am most happy to endorse every word the Beaver has said about those two gentlemen, in so far as it refers to myself, I take it as an intentional insult.  Allow me to give the ratepayers the reason why the Beaver has assumed this attitude at this present time.  The old Beaver had a dream, and in his dream he cast his eyes westward to where the silver streak of the "New Road" wound int's erractic course westward through bog, morass and jungle, and as he watched he beheld long processions of teams coming in over that highway from the vicinity of Guelph, Hespeler, Berlin and from the country beyond, bringing the products of the field, forest and dairy.  And to business became so brisk in the "Beaver Block," that he and his progeny, instead of being mud-slinging Beavers and having to dig, delve and plunge, in order to obtain a precarious livelihood, were enabled to forsake their native haunts and take to the high land, where amid the luxuriant clover they waxes as fat and flourishing as the proverbial hedge-hog, and like the above-mentioned animal, had nothing to do but gormandize, sleep and bathe, their distended paunches in the glittering sunshine of the prosperity which the "New Road" was destined to the village of Hillsburg.  Thus it is that anyone presenting his name before the ratepayers at the coming Elections who is not willing to commit the township to the maintenance of this highway receives the cold shoulder from that insignificant little rag known as the Hillsburg Beaver.  Thanking you for your space, I am, Yours for Fair Play, Daniel Gray.