Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 20, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 January 1911 — Obituary of James A. Gray. [ARTICLE]

Obituary of James A. Gray.

James Allen Gray was born June 9, 1865, and diet January 19, 1911, at the age of 45 years, 7 months and 10 days. He was raised on the farm near Remington and followed farming until the autumn of 1901, when he was married to Stella DeWitt, of Parr, Indiana, November 27th. They then moved to a farm near Gowrie, lowa, where they remained one year, moving from there to Manson, lowa, where he engaged in the livery business with his brother Albert, continuing in that business until November 15, 1903. He then purchased a rural mail route out of Manson and had driven the route .continuously with the exception of about two weeks when he was not able to drive, and the fifteen days’ vacation allowed carriers each year, st whioh times his wife, who was his substitute,' did the driving. In the capacity of mail carrier he gave entire satisfaction and left hosts of friends on the route, and in and around Manson. The fioral offerings were presented by the post office force and other friends there. He had been ailing for the paot two months, but had continued to drive until Monday before he passed away. Some two weeks before his death his physician advised him to go to the hospital and have an operation performed, which he decided to do, and his wife accompanied him to the hospital at Fort Dodge, lowa, on January 17th. The operation was performed on the 18th and he seemed to be getting along all right and conversed with his wife during that afternoon. About 4:09 o'clock the next morning pnuemonia set in and he passed away at 3:00 o’clock in the afternoon. He was baptised by the Methodist minister that morning and in answer to the minister’s question as to how he felt in regard to the future, he said, “I feel that I am saved and that all is well with me.” His wish had ever been that he might* be buried at Remington, near his old home, and his wish was gratified by his wife having him brought here for burial. * , He leaves to mourn their loss, his wife Stella, his aged mother, who Is now past 80 years of age; two brothers, Sylvester, of Rensselaer, and Jacob Albert, of Kenosha, Wis.; two sisters, Josephine Burns, of Goodland, Ind., and Alice J. Babcock, of Parr, Indiana, and his little stepdaughter Pearl, who has made her home with Allen and Stella since they were married; also many relatives and friends. The funeral services were conducted at the M. E. churob by Rev. Charles Harper, of Rensselaer, assisted by Rev. R. H. Crowder, of Remington. Interment in the Remington cemetery.

C. A. Harris, an agent for the Home Fire Insurance Co., Just being organized in Indianapolis, Is in Rensselaer trying to Interest some business men in purchasing stock in the company. The Home Insurance company has for its president, John C. BUlheimer, former auditor of state; for vice-presi-dent, John W. Holtzman, former mayor of Indianapolis, and for secrtary, Cyrus Neal, who for fifteen years was at the bead of the Insurance department of this state. The company expects to establish its agents and to begin writing business within 60 days. Mr. Harris states that or nineteen big Insurance companies doing business in Indiana, all bat one are foreign companies, and that this state sends out as premiums more than $9,000,000 each year on fire Insurance. He had statistics to show that fire Insurance stock, where the companies are properly managed, is a big paying thing, and It is probable that he will Interest a number of stock subscribers here. A Montioello a number of leading professional and bustness men took stock, and it looks like getting In on the ground floor. A Classified Adv. will sell it.