The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-05-04

! best citizens was a native of Georgia. | He was born at Penfieid on December 3. 1877. Ills father was John Washington Ray and his wife Martha Conyers, both | of prominent Georgia families. His father was one of the earliest set- tiers of Montgomery County. When MT. Ray was only 15 years old. his family ! removed to Montgomery and since that time he had continuously resided here. The deceased saw Montgomery grow | from a mere hamlet to the typical city of the old South The dire days of re- construction and the momentous events of that period passed before his eyes and he saw Montgomery, Phoenix-like. rise | from the crushed emblem of the glory of | an epoch that had been, to dourishing city of modern times.
 His impress on the success of Mont gomery was marked. Through the veins of over a haif-score of the most promi- nent families of Montgomery courses the l blood of William o. Ray and many of the family names that are as familiar to ! Montgomerians as the name of the city itself perpeAat the honored name Of Ray.
 His Successful Career. Mir. Ray began his long and success full business career with John Farrior, prominent business man of the early uhyS OL MOntBOueEy. E1S was dAtSTWdtup connected with the firm of Anderson & Gilmer, Gowan & O. and others.
 On January 1s, 1sas, he married Miss | Mary Baker of Wetumpka and after over half century of married life, Mrs. Ray says that she can point to no period. when their love was not as great as the day that they stood before the nuptial altar. At that ime Mir. Ray built and
 moved into the handsome residence, 7So AN- Ans Al1t
 resided at the time of his death. For
 over fifty years that house was their
 home.
 A few years after his marriage he formed partnership in the grocery busl-
 ness the firm being Stewart, Ray Smith. After the war with Robert H.
 SommervIlle he entered the cotton busl- ness, in which he later became one of the most prominent factors in Alabama. AS a cotton broker his word was law in Montgomery and Alabama. His esti- mates of the crops were universally sought and he was recognized from New Orleans to the opulent cotton men of Wall Street and the operators of the factories at Fall River, Bangor and throughout New England,
 It was said yesterday that at one time years ago when the feecy staple was drawing the highest of prices, MT. Ray owned at least 100O0 bales.
 Up to a few months prior to his death, Mir. Ray was an active factor in the Montgomery cotton business and he was a familiar figure in business circles.
 In all his dealings. the integrity of the man was never questioned. His Judg- ment was always conservative and he never entered the intrigues. which figure so largely in the cotton business
 Too old to Be a Soldier.
 Mfr. Ray was over age at the outbreak of the Civil War and did not enlist. but was an ardent sympathiZer with the cause of the South. He was appointed to take charge of the collection of sup plies for the soldiers. During the war his home was always at the service Of the soldiers and 1t was frequently crowd ed with the sick and the wounded. After the war when the soldiers returned with out means or the power to acquire the means of living. hungry one and tired one was never refused admttance to the l Ray home
 The deceased was one of the oldest | subscribers to The Advertiser, Several | years ago, he was given life subscrip- | tion to the paper, as being one of the | ten oldest readers of this journal
 He is survived by his wife, two | daughters. Mrs. T. B. Wilkinson and | Mrs. William B. Jones and a son. MT, | John c. Ray. all of Montgomery. Six teen grandchildren and four great grand | children also survive him., |
 The funeral services will take place | this afternoon at { o'clock from his late | residence, 1t being his request that he | be buried from his home. Rev D. E. | Cobbs. Rector of St. Johns Episcopal | Church of which the deceased was for | years a consistent member will officiate. Rev. Charles A. Stakely will assist
 At the request of MT. Ray his four grown grand sons and his four grand sons-in-law will bear his body to the grave. They are as follows: w. Ray Wilkinson. Ray Jones. Josiah Morris Jones, William C. Ray. Samuel J. Cas- sels. A. Coke Smith. Junius J. Pierce and Louis H. Moore.
 Four of his intimate friends Messrs John W. Durr, Sr., Fred Hammond George c. Clisby and C.. D. Bayne will act as honorary pallbearers.
 All of yesterday afternoon the resi- denco was crowded with friends tender ing their sympathy te the bereaved family