The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-11-04
DISTINGUISHED C||NEADEAD'
MR.. JAMES II. RAYMOND DIED
EARLY YESTERDAY
MORNING.
HAD LIVED Mans Allotted TINE
His Death Sewers u LINK het"
Austin's Past and Present.
An Noble Man in Public
and Home Life.

Yesterday morning sortly before y
| o'clock, as the gray mist of foggy MORN
ing was slowly lifting from the earth, the
spirit of James II. Raymond passed be-
fore his Maker. The end was quiet-in
keeping with the latter years of this dis
tinguished mans life. For several years
now he has been standing ready to pass
from the friends and associates of this
world and join his Father in Heaven
I He has been patiently awaiting the sum
| mons that came yesterday morning. Al
the gentle touch of the messenger he
! quietly closed his eyes and slept that
sleep which knows no awakening. WIN
| his death Austin loses one of the last
| links of permanent citizenship that con-
meets the youth of today with the fathers ..r
of this city. Mr. Raymond came to Aus
| tin when it was nothing more than Il
wilderness. He settled here, watched
! the little hamlet sping into city and saw
| children born and grow to man and Wom-
anhOod. Mans allotted life is three score
| and ten. He had been favored with
| even more, and in his declining years he
witnessed with more than passing inter
est the advance of the times, the rush
and hustle of the rapidly crowding world.
He never lost the many admirable traits
While the world was jOstling and bustling
one another he continued to pursue his
even mode of living. His residence in
the western part of the city partook of
the mans nature of retirement. He
had his southern home, surrounded by its
broad acres. The advance of progress
and the encroachment of business did not
disturb him. He lived the day before
he died as he lived twenty-five years ago.
e IL .,,1,,n ,nI
southern homes that combine comfort,
elegance and grandeur. Surrounding it
were broad acres that gave life's sweet
breath rs the breeZes of the summer days
passed across its broad eXpanse. Here
in all the Quietness of the home that was
safely guarded from the encroachments
of the busy world Mr.. Raymond brough
a most evcntful life to quiet and peace
full close At his side was ever to be
found his loving wife who, though of
mature years herself. was blessed with
superior physical energy which permit
ted continual and tender nursing of the
declining man in the years when he be-
gan to take the last stroll down the mar
row path that leads to the grave. She
smoothed his pillow in the years of sick
ness and dropped the tear of anguish i'll
the hsur of death. The separation means
more to her than it does to any one else.
For iifty-four years they have been hand
in hand and heart in heart. No children
came to bless their union, and thus it
was that they were all in all to one an
other. The loving hand that clasped his
years ago and promised the vows at the
marriage altar have certainly tended him
with more than tenderness during the
close Of his life. With that love that is
known only to the true woman this low
ing wife has nursed and tenderly cared
for the sick and dying husband, and in
this hour the community of Austin as
one rise up in their reverential sympa-
thy to one of the purest and best women
that God ever created. Her life had been
wrapped up in the husband and while
earthly sympathy is often the tinklng
cymbal it is nevertheless of that sinceri-
ty in this instance that begets attention
and pleads its own loyalty,
Mr. Raymond was a man among men.
He was one of those noble men born in
the days of chivalry and who never lost
it's many charming characteristics in the
advancement of the times. He was as
fearless in war as he was gallant in the
presence of woman. He was the hap
py combination of gentleman and soldier.
His life at home and in the world of bus
mess and strife was one worthy of COM
mem0ration. He was tender and low
ing in the one instance, honest and up
right in the other, and as fearless as a
lion in the third. He was known among
men by the very frmness of his actions.
He was loved by women and children for
the very genteness of his nature. There
are none who read this but will mourn
the loss of this distinguished old citizen.
Many did not know him personally, but
to those who did his many admirable
traits will chime forth to his honor and
credit. Upon his monument might just
ly be inscribed: '"The friend of human-
ty-a man of noble Christian traits and
character"
Mr.. James H. Raymond was born in
Washington county, New York, on June
30, 1917, and he spent his boyhood days
Or at least a greater part of them, on
farm in that state. In 1882, like
many another country lad who grows
weary of the farm, he left home and
relatives and went to Cincinnati, and
from there he crossed the river into
Newport, Ky, which was directly op-
posite, and clerked in a store there until
1896. After brief stay at Cincinnati
he returned to New York. his old home,
in 1899. While at home he studied EN-
cheering with view of emigrating to
some southern state for the purpose of
following the surveying business. In
1910 he came to Texas and landed at
Galveston in June of that year. From
there he proceeded at once to Houston.
and hearing that a surveying corps was
being organized at Franklin. in Robinson
county, he proceeded there on foot with
Il view of entering the corps. and did
secure employment as an assistant sur
veyor. About the time that the survey
ing party was about to start out, how
ever, the Indians got on rampage ana
the party was disbanded. In October
of this same year he came to this city
in company with Geo. w. Hill, who was
afterwards secretary of war under
Houston. Upon his arrival here he was
made journal clerk of the house of the
Fourth congress, which was just on the
eve of converting for it's regular term.
Later on. in April, 1871, Lamar appoint
ed him acting treasurer, and after serv-
ing there until November he was then
elected chief clerk of the Fifth congress
of Texas. He held that position for the
subsequent four years. when the state
ceased to exist as Il republic and an
neXation came about.
While little stress was at ally tine
laid on the fact by Mr.. Raymond, he
was man with war record that en-.
titled him to mention among the heroes
of early Texas days. 1t was in 1872
that he served in the Evarkee and Vol
inyoSionc and lStiupuicboJ b;p,eolf %,