The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1888-04-20
The DIG Red IEOnse.


ing the disposition of the old brass knock
err inscribed ~. Ray" which adorned the
door OF the house until its demolition.
''Zaccheus Ray was born in Alloways-
town at about tue time Of the breaking out
of the revolutionary war, or perhaps year
or two later, aud had a brother William
who was captain Of a military company.
Samuel, the father of Zaceheus, was
large landholder, even for those early days
and was owner of great deal of real es-
tate Of what is now comprised in the limits
of The village of Alloway, as the records
of the courts and old deeds Of land given
at that time and later will show.
After his death the property was divided
between his five boys and two girls, not
equally. however, the boys, as was the
custom at that day, and the elder son
more particularly, receiving the largest
share. Somewhere about the opening of
the present century, Zaccheus, having mar
ried, settled down to the business of halter,
for a short time following the vocation in
his native village. After this he moved to
Woodstown, built the old red building so
recently taken down, and for some time
q have no dates at hand 70 determine how
long, followed the business OF manulac-
turer and dealer in hats, his shop being a
At this place Elizabeth his eldest daugh-
ter, and mother of the compiler OF this
sketch, was born, or at least passed part
of her young and quite brief life. About
the year 1915, | take it, Zaechens sold out
his establishment at Woodstown and re-
turned to Aliowaystown. establishing him
sci in trade on the main street of the vii
lage at abont opposite the residence Of the
late DR. Thomas ]. Yarrow. This factory
doubtless stood on property inherited from
his father, as during his lifetime, in addi-
tion to managing real estate and other bus
mess, the latter carried on the general 81 ore
trade on the adjacent corner. For some
years following his return TO Allo@ays-
town. Zaecheus Ray was central figure
of the place, or what was known 10 those
days as ''head man of the town" He was
Justice of the Peace, member of Assembly
two terms, Judge of the inferior Cenft,
delegate to one or more state conventions,
and to various county conventions; an I'M
successful nominee for State Senator and
filled in the interval almost nninterruptedly
III some public capacity as commissioner
OF appeal, executor or administrator OF es-
tates, &C., and there was hardly public
trust of his fellow townsmen up to the
year 1890 or 81, but that be was called
upon to perform, or in some way exercise
a controlling influence In addition to
this he was local preacher in the Methodist
connection and | have heard it said, that
while not particularly demonstrative, he
was broad pattern of a Christian minis
ter and did the cloth nodiscredit, either as
an intellectual or religious teacher.
His daughter Elizabeth partook some
what of the evangelical spirit and zeal of
her father and at the early age OF fifteen
and sixteen publicly addressed large audi
ences at home aud abroad, rare work IN
these days for ladies, young or old. In
fact my grandfathef's house was known
for miles around as ''the preacher home
and have heard the Newelis of Salem
county say, that when living at penn's
Neck it was their custom to come to Al
Youngstown on quarterly meeting occasions
and visit him. Among other contributions
of his to the church at AllowaystOwn was
the Gift of the ground on which the church
stands and the burial ground.
Zaccheus Ray was a tall, broad shoulder
ed, Quakerish looking man who wore
broad brimmed hat and plain attire.
While at Allowaystown, Samuel Pauilin,
late of Rridgeton, Joshua Thompson, late
of Salem. Isaiah conclyn, at one time
Sheriff of Salem county. and Andrew Me
lick, of AlloMaystown and several others
learned their trade of him. Susanna Ray,
his wife, was OF French extraction and OF
remarkable beauty and survived him about
eight years, dying at the Shaker village of
Union. Hamilton county, Ohio, in the
year 1888.
Her former home was New Brunswick,
this state, and she enjoyed the acquaint-
anee aud close companionship of very many
worthy aud somewhat distinguished per-
sons of that vicinity. She was relative
of Elizabeth Dodlay who gave the grant II
land to the first settlers of Port Elizabeth,
in this county, as port of entry. and my
mother, Elizabeth Bodlay Ray, was named
after her.
Zaccheus Ray like many politicians, ia
fact like most of them at that time as well
as the present, instead of getting richer
and making money out of it grew poorer
and poorer until in the decline OF health he
was sold out by the Sheriff and left quite
poor. lie couldn't endure this, not III his
old home, at least, and so resolved to ind
a retreat Ia the far west where, il not TO
begin life over again, he would ut least De
spared the modification of living amid the
" reclS of his former prosperity.
The reader will smile, perhaps, when |
say that this far OFF western wilderness was
only short distance beyond the Pennsyl-
vania line west and within few miles Of
the now large city of Cincinnati.
In October of 1891 with one or two OF the
old Conestoga style of wagons standing out
in front Of his residence packed with goods
aud awaiting The order to move, and with
everything ont of the house except the
chairs, the neigibors were called in and
after season OF prayer and the singing OF
the hymn beginning 'Blest be the tie that
binds, . &C., they turned their backs on
their old home, never again to see it. IL
was a pathetic spectacle, as ! have been
told. and the neighbors along the road for
a long distance, came out to say good
bye, in some Instances turning away in
tears.
shall not weary the patience of the
reader in the recital OF this story further
than to say that after living at his new
home keeping public boarding house
some four years, on bright Sabbath
morning rs the family were prepa ring for
church, aud while sitting in a chair pre-
to start, he fell over in an apo
pletic tit and when the service at the church
was concluded, or before. the spirit of Fac
cheus Ray had taken its flight.
His widow survived him about fenr
years and died leaving at her bereased and
desolate home the writer OF THIS article and
an aunt, both of whom were subsequently,
in 1899. brought to New Jersey ir charge
of William T. DuBois, OF Bridgeton, then
a resident Of Allowaystowb.
ThuS f.llous A hrief and very ltDperfecf