Jacob Ray (1847-1922)

RAY, KURTZ, WHITE, SUTHERLAND, THORNTON, MATTSON, COUGHENOUR

Posted By: Gail and Dennis Bell
Date: 6/18/2005 at 19:34:32

THE MAXWELL TRIBUNE, Maxwell, Iowa, Thursday, February 28, 1923, page 1, column 6. "JACOB RAY DEAD. - Jacob Ray, former resident of near Iowa Center, and brother of John Ray, of this place, died at his home in Nevada at 10 o'clock Wednesday morning after an illness of several months, at the age of seventy-four years. Mr. Ray is survived by his wife and four daughters."

THE MAXWELL TRIBUNE, Maxwell, Iowa, Thursday, March 2, 1922, page 5, column 3. "JACOB RAY. - …attended the funeral of the late Jacob Ray which was held at the home in Nevada Saturday afternoon at 2 o'clock conducted by Rev. M. E. ___, pastor of the United Evangelical church at that place. Interment was in the Iowa Center cemetery. Jacob Ray was the son of Judiah and Clara Ray, pioneers of Indian Creek township, he being born in Marion county, Indiana August 4, 1847. He died at his home in Nevada February 22, 1922. He was but six years of age when he came with his parents to Story county and this had been his home for sixty-eight years. Jacob was the second son of a family of eight children, two of whom are left to mourn the death of the parents, the brothers and the sisters. Those still living are Mrs. A. J. Kurtz, of Nevada, and John Ray, of this place. He came with his parents to Iowa in 1853. They spent the first winter at Pella, coming to Story county in 1854 and settled on what became known as the old Ray homestead in Indian Creek township a mile north of Iowa Center which later became the homestead of the Jacob Ray family and which was still owned by him at the time of his death. It was in September of 1905 that Mr. Ray, with his good wife, moved to Nevada, where he has since resided. Mr. Ray was united in marriage to Miss Lucy White, September 25, 1868, and she with four of the five daughters are left to mourn his death. One of the five daughters born to bless their union died in infancy. The others are Mrs. Allie Sutherland, of Nevada, Mrs. Carrie Thornton, of Nevada township, Mrs. Annie Mattson, of Nevada and Mrs. Nellie Coughenour of Indian Creek township. The daughters have been constant attendants at the bedside of the father during his long illness and were a source of great help and comfort to the devoted wife and mother who had an undying devotion to the husband and helpmate of the many years of her life. Besides these he leaves ten grandchildren and three great grandchildren, besides a host of neighbors and old friends who extend a sympathizing hand to the sorrowing ones, in their dark hour of bereavement. It was on December _ 1921, that Mr. Ray suffered a stroke of paralysis which added to his previous complications, and was the immediate cause of his death. Jacob Ray has been one of the staunch, sturdy hard working citizens that have been the real factors in making Story county what it is today. He had lived in this county for almost sixty-eight years, was known and respected by many and numbered his friends by those who knew him. He was always generous and kind, every** ready to help in a worthy cause and assist those who needed help." **Editorial note - spelling, punctuation and grammar are from the original newspaper article.