Judiah "Jud" Ray (1856-1933)

RAY, GLASGOW, BENNETHUM, SHAFFER

Posted By: Gail and Dennis Bell
Date: 6/18/2005 at 19:38:30

THE MAXWELL TRIBUNE, Maxwell, Iowa, Thursday, November 2, 1933, page 1, column 1. "ANOTHER PIONEER CALLED. - "Jud" Ray, pioneer resident of Story county and of this vicinity, passed away at his home in Maxwell Sunday morning and was buried from the Maxwell M. C. church Tuesday afternoon, interment being in the Iowa Center cemetery. Mr. Ray had been in poor health for some time, with occasional improvement. He suffered a relapse during the past week which resulted in his death early Sunday morning. Judiah Ray was born January 23, 1856, near Iowa Center, and died at his home in Maxwell, October 29, 1933, at the age of 77 years, nine months and six days. He was united in marriage to Mary Goodnow, of Iowa Center, who died a few years later. He was later united in marriage to Lois Glasgow. One child, Eva, was born to this union. Both she and her mother have been dead for a number of years. "Jud" is survived by two sisters, Mrs. Catherine Bennethum, of Guthrie county, Iowa, and Mrs. Sarah Bennethum, of Colorado Springs, Colo.; and by his son-in-law, Orson Shaffer, of Nevada, Iowa, besides many friends of the Maxwell community. A number of years ago Mr. Ray united with Social Lodge, No. 463, I. O. O. F., of Maxwell, Iowa, and was a member at the time of his death. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, of Maxwell, for many years and to this organization he continued to be loyal until the end. "Jud" as he was commonly called, grew to manhood in this community. He enjoyed the friendship of many people, especially among the older residents of Maxwell. He was beloved as a neighbor, highly respected as a worthy citizen and appreciated as a friend. Funeral services were held Tuesday afternoon at 2 o'clock in the Maxwell M. E. church, conducted by the pastor, Rev. W. M. Scheuermann. The singing was by a quartet composed of G. N. Nelson, Mrs. Van Busenberg, Mrs. Emmett Scott and H. E. Fackler, with Mrs. G. N. Nelson at the piano. Pall bearers were selected from his brethren of the Odd Fellow lodge and consisted of A. E. Harris, Robert Longeor, C. B. French, M. D. Warner, John Gearhart and Ray Robertson. Burial was in the Iowa Center cemetery, where the ritualistic ceremony of the Odd Fellows was in charge of the officers and members of Social Lodge, I. O. O. F., the participating members being E. L. Woolhether, Henry Pearson, A. E. Harris, L. E. McQuiston, R. Z. Brown, M. D. Warner, C. B. French and J. S. Weaver. Out of town relatives and friends at the funeral were: Mr. and Mrs. Orson Shaffer, W. W. Finnie, Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Moore and Mr. and Mrs. Leon Hall, of Nevada; Mr. and Mrs. Jake Ayers, of Blairsburg; Mrs. Mary Cornelius, of Bagley; Mrs. Dally, son and daughter, Dorothy and Donald, and Miss Anna Bennethum, of Des Moines; Miss Ruth Confare, of Ames; Samuel Gibson, of Marion; Mr. and Mrs. Marshall Allen, of Grand Junction, and Mr. and Mrs. Ed Scott, of Iowa Center."