Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1884-03-13
DUST TO DUST.
JAMES TOAY,
TRIED AND VALUED CITIZEN sue
CUMBs TO THE DIVINE WILL.

An unmistakable cloud Of univer-
sal sorrow spread over our city last
Saturday morning upon the an-
nouncement of the death of Mr..
Jas. Toay, and to chronicle the
event proves one of the most painful
tasks in all our newspaper work.
We fain would do him justice as a
citiz en-, a neighbor, friend, :. ran,
1 but conceive our inability with q
sense of sadness. Death seized him
SO suddenly that it was appalling.
The Sunday previous he superln-
tended the p. M. Sunday School;
the next day, (Monday,) he went to
Chicago, returning the following
Thurday, and on Friday he was on
our streets greeting old and young,
great and small in his customary
manner, apparently enjoying usual
health. That evening he went home
/ just before six O'Clock, and about
nine retired to bed, remarking that
he did not feel well. Shortly after
a choking sensation troubled him
and he got out of bed and sat in .
chair, when his wife prepared to ad-
minister to his wants. He remarked
to her, 81 am dying" which were
about his last words. Mrs. Toay
hastened to . neighbours to tele
phone down town for a physician,
but it was useless - Jas. Toay was
dead.
Although not generally known,
Mr.. Toay had been troubled with
disease of the heart, of late years,
and to the immediate friends who
were aware of the fact the shock
comes less severe than it otherwise
might. The funeral, which took
place on Sunday, was one of the
largest ever witnessed in Iowa
county, several adjoining towns
being represented, and of the multi
tudes there was not one but seemed
eager TO do homage to the remains
of the beloved man. His usefulness
in life was great and good and con
slant. To illustrate his life the fol
lowing short sketch is taken from
history:
James Toay was a native of Corn
wall, England, and was born Nov.
29th, 1928; he grew to manhood
there, leaving for the United States
in 1912, and came to Wisconsin, ar
riving al Mineral Point June 2lst, of
that year; he engaged in lead and
copper mining, and continued In
thai business until 1850, when he
went TO California, and remained
there for eighteen months, and then
returned and engaged in farming in
the town of Linden, and carried Oh
that business for eighteen years, af-
ter which he moved TO Mineral Point
and since then had not engaged in
active business. Five years after
first coming TO Mineral Point (Nov.
18Th, 1870 Mr. Toay was united in
marriage 10 Miss Ann Vivian,
daughter to Francis Vivian, one of
the oldest settlers now living in this
section of the State; he came here
i'll 1882. Mr.. Toay has held various
county offices; he was elected a mem
Der of the Board of County Super
vlsors; he was Chairman of the
Town Board of the town of Linden
for five years; he was elected Pres
ident Of the Iowa County Agrlcultu-
raj Society, aud for four successive
years he was elected President OF
the Southwestern Wisconsin Indus
trial Association; when he came
here, he had very littIe; he owns
some of the most desirable located
I property III the city; he has been ac-
uyely identified with the interests
OF the county, and his success in life
Is owing to his own efforts. lie was
consistent member of the Primitive
Methodist Church.
In addition to this il is but due
the deceased to say that he was one
IF the most energetic and enthusi-
astic workers in the starting Of the
Zlnc Works in this city, and always
ready TO encourage any enterprise
that he thought would result in a
benefit to Mineral Point, proving
beyond doubt one Of the city's best
friends.
MONEY TALKs.-Al. Hornung has
challenged Willis Proctor, Of Oar