Cray, Joseph 1825 - 1906

CRAY, COOMBS, SEARLES

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 5/22/2024 at 16:07:26

Source: Twice-A-Week Plain Dealer Feb. 23, 1906, FP, C3

A brief communication from Lime Springs informs us of the death at that place on Wednesday evening of Joseph Cray, one of the early settlers of Howard County.

Source: Twice-A-Week Plain Dealer Mar. 2, 1906, FP, C6

OBITUARY.
Joseph Cray was born March 9, 1825, Sommerset Shire, England, where his parents lived and died. In 1845, June 26, he was married to Miss Matilda Coombs. On July 7th of that year they sailed for Quebec, Canada. They lived here until the spring of 1857, 12 years, when they came to Chester township, Howard county, Iowa, where they lived many years. They were among the earliest settlers in this county.
On September 18, 1882, Mrs. Cray died. She was survied{sic} by nine sons and daughters, one daughter dying in infancy. These five sons and four daughters are all present today. In December 1884, Mr. Cray was married to Mary E. Searles who died September 16, 1893.
The deceased is also survived by one brother, to day present, and two sisters living in England. In his early days Joseph Cray united with the Episcopal church in England. His membership was the same church in Canada. He enjoyed attendance upon divine services. He is survived by those who remember regularly he attended church services each alternate sabbath when the children were little, on the other Sunday remaining at home, that the wife might attend as regularly; when living in the country he was interested in the religous{sic} meeting held in the neighborhood.
He was a man of good health through life. He was temperate in all habits. About three months ago there was a marked change in his condition spells of severe sickness coming at irregular intervals, his severe illness lasted about three weeks, extreme weak-{sic} weakness coming only in the last hours. On Wednesday he told the members of his family “My time has come, its all right. If it’s the Lord’s will, I will submit.” At 7:15 p. m. of Wednesday he passed quietly away.
As a citizen he desired to do his whole duty and all who knew him appreciated the friendship of one who was upright in character and one who would value those things which are for good of the community and all mankind. He was a man of strong friendship and his departure causes a pause on the part of a great many as his life was long. The years spent in this country cover more than those usually given to one generation. Those whose early experience in this section were contemporaneous with his, feel that another life is surrendered and that those physical reminders of the long ago vanish, the morrow promises more of hope and certainty.
The funeral service was held in the Methodist Episcopal church at 2:15 Friday p. m., where he had been a member. The service was conducted by E. A. Lang, the pastor.—Lime Springs Record.

Pleasant Hill Cemetery
 

Howard Obituaries maintained by Constance McDaniel Hall.
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