Rayburn, Charles 1869-1918

RAYBURN, BLAIN, INGRAM

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 5/10/2011 at 18:06:03

The Grinnell (IA) Herald; Nov. 14, 1918

CHARLES RAYBURN

Montezuma Republican: Sunday night at 9:30 o'clock Charles Rayburn died suddenly at the home of his brother-in-law, Fred Ingram, this city, from hemorrhage of the lungs. The demise was unexpected by his relatives although he had been a partial invalid for many months, caused by a stroke of paralysis affecting his right side. The funeral services were held Wednesday afternoon at 3:30 o'clock at the Ingram home, conducted by Rev. Blagg of the M.E. church and interment made in the Montezuma cemetery.

The deceased was the son of the late Mr. and Mrs. J.G. Rayburn, and was born September 12, 1869, in this county. His boyhood days were spent amid the scenes of Poweshiek county and he was graduated from the schools of Montezuma. About 20 years ago he left this county and only occasional visits were made to renew old acquaintances and to visit his immediate relatives.

For many years he was in the service of the Rock Island railroad as an engineer. For eleven years, until a little over a year ago, his headquarters were at Dalhart, Texas. He was a trusted employe and had the confidence of his employers. From Dalhart he went to Willows, Calif., where he suffered a stroke of paralysis, which forever disabled him for railroad service. His right arm and lower limb were affected and also his speech. His brother, A.W. Rayburn, went to California and bro't him to this county a year ago last September. He was not confined to his room at all times and was out in town, Saturday, apparently as strong as he had been for some months.

When the Spanish-American war was declared the deceased displayed the patriotic devotion to the flag that his father had shown during the Civil War and enlisted April 26, 1898, in Troop M., First Cavalry, of Illinois, as Q.M. Sergeant, was mustered out October 11, 1898. The troop was not taken to foreign soil but was quartered most of the time at Chattanooga, until the boys were honorably discharged.

The deceased was a member of the Knights Templar, Elks and Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and has many friends in this county and in other states who knew him as an employe of the railroad, who will regret exceedingly his death.

Surviving are three brothers, F.C. Rayburn, of Ewart, A.W. Rayburn,of Montezuma, and H.S. Rayburn, of Clark, S. Dakota, and one sister, Mrs. Clyde Blain of near Montezuma, and many relataives, who have the deep sympathy of the public in their hour of sorrow.

Besides the parents who preceded him in death, a sister, Mrs. Fred Ingram, died in 1901.

At the age of 44 years he laid down the cares of life which he had borne without murmur or complaint.