Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1911-05-11
THOMAS RAYCRAFT I.
GratiOt County Pioneer Died at His
Home in Pine River Township
MONDAY MAY EIGHTH 1871
His Friends We're Numerous Funeral Services
Held wednesday

Thomas Raycroft was born in the
County OF Cork, ireland, May Is,
1874, and died at his home in Pine
River, Gratiot county, Mich, May :,
1911.
His parents were Richard Raycroft
and Martha Gay Raycroft They
immigrated to America in 1S45, set
Ting in Rochester, N. Y, where the
early boyhood of Thomas Raycr"ft
was spent. His mother died when
he was eight years old. His father
married again and with his family
moved to Clinton county, Mich, where
his father died when he was 13 years
Of age.
AT this tender age he was thrown
out upon the world to make his own
way. For few years he worked for
his board winters and attended the
district school, securing a common
school education such as the schools
OF that day provided. At the early
age of 16 he took a mans place, and
in a few years had saved enough
money to purchase farm, which he
did, in Clinton county He later sold
this farm, after living some years in
Ionia county He moved to Gratiot
county in 1870. where he met Mary
Kuhlman. who became his wife July
4. 1871, and has shared with him the
many years of a happy welded life
Together they settled on the farm in
Pine River, which has since been their
home
To them were born eleven children
eight sons and three daughters-all
Of whom, with the devoted wife and
mother, remain TO mourn his depart
ure to the life beyond.
The children are as follows: Dora
May Wiley (widow of the late Edwin
]. Wiley) of Alma; Ralph Ely of
North Chilli, n Y; William Lee OF
Pine River; Ora Adell Michaels OF
Pine River; Lottie Bellwood of Forest
Hill: Thomas Clyde of Detroit; Her
man Glenn OF Shepherd; George Rich
ard, Ray Earl Roy Mearl, and Har-
low Henry, the last four of Pine
River.
There are eleven grandchildren,
brother and two sisters, and many
relatives and friends who mourn his
loss.
He is we'll known in Gratiot county
as an industrious. honest and public
spirited citizen. In politics he was
Democrat-later voting with the Peo-
pies party in $500. He was inter
ested in all matters pertaining to the
betterment OF the community. A KIND
neighbor, always ready and glad to
aid anyone in need OF good turn
No man was his enemy, and he num-
bered his friends by the entire COM
munity.
He was a kind husband and father,
and the memory OF his kindly dispo-
sition and cheerful goodwill to all
leaves a sweet remembrance. He has
been in failing health for a year or
more: ever hopeful, he fought the
grim destroyer to the end.
He affiliated himself with no church
during his life time-saying that his
creed was malice toward none and
charity for all He lived to this
ideal. He expressed his trust, and
faith in God the Father, and Christ
his Savior. and asked his children TO
SO live that they might meet him in
the better land, where tears and sor-
row are not known, and where death
cannot come.
The funeral was held from his late
residence in Pine River, on Wednes-
day May 10th. 1911. at 200 p. m. Rev
G. w. Ripper. officiating. Six OF his
sons acted as pail bearers. Interment
in Riverside cemetery. Ommediate).
He will be missed by his family
and his many relatives and friends,
the community. and all who appre-