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- Note on Find a Grave:
Blandinsville Star-Gazette, page 7
Thursday, March 3, 1904
Our Aged People.
Last Week's Macomb By-Stander codtained [sic] half-tone cuts of Mr. and Mrs. James J. Ray, our most worthy townspeople. They are each 84 years old and both are natives of Kentucky, where, November 8, 1837, they were married, Mrs. Ray's maiden name being Farris.
They emigrated to this state in 1848, settling at Warsaw, but after a residence of eleven years returned to Kentucky, where at the outbreak of the war Mr. Ray enlisted in the 19th Ky. Inf., serving almost three years.
In 1869 the family returned to Illinois, and, with the exception of two years spent in the state of Washington, Blandinsville has been their home.
Their children are Thomas, Isaac and Mrs. Belle Leffler. The sons are respected citizens of this village, the daughter being a resident of Idaho.
Eighty-four years seems a long, long life, and 66 years of married life is seldom granted. That this worthy old couple may yet have many years of happiness in store is the wish of their many friends and in this the Star Gazette joins.
The write-up in the By-Stander--the source from which our in information is gathered--was by Mr. Henry Harmon, and excellently done.
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The Ray family is not found in either Hancock or McDonough County in the censuses of 1850 and 1855. Obituaries for two sons, Thomas (born 1851) and Isaac (born 1853), stated they were born in Hire Township (which wasn't yet named at that time.) That location does not jibe with the chronology outlined in the above article. Locations included in Mary Jane's obituary also do not match the above article: "In 1848 she moved with her husband from Kentucky to the neighborhood of Blandinsville, Ill., where they lived until they moved to this city in 1856." The distance between Warsaw, Hancock County, and Hire Township, McDonough County, is the full breadth of Hancock County.
Excerpted from James' obituary, "Deceased with his wife came to Illinois in 1848, settling near Blandinsville. Here he remained until 1859 when he went back to his native state...."∼
The Macomb Journal, page 9
Thursday, January 17, 1907
BLANDINSVILLE
(Clipped from Star-Gazette.)
James J. Ray, a pioneer of this city, is reported seriously ill at the home of his son, Isaac Ray.
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Colchester Independent, page 1
Thursday, January 17, 1907
James J. Ray.
James J. Ray, an old and highly esteemed resident of this county died Sunday morning at six o'clock, at the home of his son, Isaac, in Blandinsville, from old age and general debility, aged 87 years and 28 days.
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Blandinsville Star-Gazette
Ray.
James Ray, one of the pioneers of Blandinsville passed away Sunday morning at the residence of his son, Isaac Ray of this city at the advance age of 87 years and 28 days, after an illness of a few weeks, although he had been in declining health for the past year or two.
James J. Ray was born Dec. 16, 1819 in Washington County, Ky. He was the eldest of a family of six children and his parents being in limited circumstances, he was compelled to commence at an early age to support himself. In the fall of 1836 [sic], he was united in marriage to Miss Mary Jane Farris of his native state. To this union have been born, 9 [sic] boys and 5 girls, all having been called to the great beyond, except one son, Isaac, of this city with whom the deceased has been living and who has so kindly looked after and cared for this father in his declining years. The wife preceeded [sic] the deceased in death, passing away the 3rd day of last May.
Deceased with his wife came to Illinois in 1848, settling near Blandinsville. Here he remained until 1859 when he went back to his native state and when the civil war broke out between the north and the south he enlisted in the service of the Union and for the [large portion of the page torn away]
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1819 - 1907 (87 years)
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: County/Shire
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