Gray, James Franklin 1854-1940

GRAY, CASE

Posted By: Lorelei Rusco (email)
Date: 5/5/2011 at 12:33:25

Gray, James Franklin “Frank” -
Funeral services were held Wednesday afternoon at 2 o’clock at the Methodist church in Ellston, for Frank Gray who died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Edith Woollums of Ellston, May 20, 1940. Mr. Gray lived on a farm near Lenox some years ago. He was 85 years old at the time of his death.
James Franklin Gray, son of James and Mary Ann Gray, was born Nov. 26, 1854, near Pittsburg, Penn. He was married to Ida M. Case on Dec. 25, 1883 and six children were born. His wife and a daughter, Gertrude Baker, preceded him in death in August 1931 and January, 1939, respectively.
At the age of 23 he came to Iowa and secured work on the construction of the C. B. &. Q. railroad which runs from Leon through Davis City. Later he began farming near Lenox and with the exception of a year spent in Nebraska he has lived the remainder his life in southern Iowa.
He was brought up in the faith of the old school Presbyterian but later changed his membership to the Baptist church. Surviving are two daughters, Mrs. Fleda Nesbit, San Fernando, Calif. and Mrs. Edith Woollums, Ellston, la.; three sons, Morris, Kellerton, la. and Frank and Ralph, Ellston, la.; twelve grandchildren, five great grandchildren and a host of other relatives and friends.
Lenox Time Table, Lenox, Iowa, May 30, 1940