| 1885 through 1905 - Bee Ho's early years |
| Bee Ho Gray was born Emberry Cannon Gray in Leon, Chickasaw Nation (Oklahoma) on April 7, 1885 (possibly 1886). He was named after his half-Chickasaw grandfather on his mother's side, Emberry Cannon who was a Trinity (Texas) Ranger and later a Confederate States Captain. Bee Ho's father, Orlando Jackson Gray, was also a Texas Ranger and Confederate States enlistee under his future father-in-law. |
| Bee Ho was given his unusual name by the time was seven-years old. The name was chosen for him by the Chief of the Comanche Indians, Quanah Parker. The Parkers were close friends with his family when they were living in Cache, Oklahoma. The name means "brother of the cripple" since Bee Ho's older brother (my grandfather), Emmet Gray (b. 1876), was crippled by polio as a child. All of Bee Ho's siblings became accomplished horsemen, marksmen and ropers at a very young age. This even included "the cripple" who managed to become a highly-respected cattle rancher in spite of his handicap. Bee Ho and his younger brother, Weaver Gray (b. 1892), both enjoyed fifty-year careers in Wild West shows, silent film, vaudeville,, rodeo and circus performing along with their wives. |
| As a child, Bee Ho and his brothers, Emmett and Weaver, were friends with a white boy who had been kidnapped and raised by the Comanche Indian chief, Quanah Parker. The boy's name was Knox Beal. Bee Ho and and his brothers were good friends with Knox Beal and the family of Quanah Parker and spent a lot of time with the Parker family as children. Read a newspaper article that mentions Bee Ho's experiences with Quanah Parker. |
By the time Bee Ho was fifteen-years old, he was already proficient with ropes, horses, whips and knives. His time on the plains with both cowboys and Indians taught him many lessons that he would later use as a Western performer. By the time he was seventeen-years old, he had realized the opportunities in roping and riding and began performing rope tricks on the streets of Lawton, Indian Territory along with his brother. The photo below was taken at the Baker Art Gallery on July 3rd, 1918. The inscription reads, "Bee Ho Gray - To my friend Indian Joe Davis with many good wishes ". The detail (bottom) has a very faint watermark which indicates that this photo was taken at the famous Baker Art Gallery. |
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