The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1916-03-08
PIONEER RESIDENT
DIED LAST NIGHT
Wiley 3. Ray, In Livery and Feed
Business Here for Thirty.three
Years, Answers
WAS I'LL FOR SOME TIME
Heart Trouble Was cause-Came to
This Part of the Country With
Parents In Early
Days.
WAS I'LL FOR SOME TIME

Wiley B. Ray, a pioneer resident O.
Keokuk and one of the city's mos
Highly esteemed and honored citizens
passed away at his home 126 North
Fourth street, at 1920 o'cock last
night after an illness of several
months.
Mr.. Ray had been in the livery and
feed business here for thirty-three
years, having first established him
self in 1888. During his long resi-
dence in this city, first coming here
in 1850, he made a host of friends
and acquaintances and all will learn
with regret of his death last night.
Although Mr.. Ray was in his eighty
third year, he was hale and hearty
up until his last illness, and even then
bore up bravely to the end.
The decedent underwent an opera.
ton at Graham hospital shortly be-
fore Christmas and had been removed
to his home about two months ago.
He had entirely recovered from the
operation, but his heart was left in
a weakened condition and this had
been bothering him for some time
Yesterday, however, he felt better
than usual and was up during the
day talking with a number of friends
who called on him. After eating his
supper and reading the evening news
paper he retired early and shortly
afterward complained Of a pain in
his chest. The doctor was called, but
it was only matter of time before
he passed beyond, the final summons
coming at 1920 o'clock.
Mr.. Ray made a valiant battle
against death during the last few
months and it was only his hardy con-
stitution that held him up so long.
OF Pioneer Stock.
The decedent came of the old pio-
neer stock that was used to hard
ships and privations. He was one of
the earliest residents of Keokuk and
during his many years in this city
was connected with a number of lines
of business.
The Indians inhabited this part of
tue country when Wiley Ray first
came here and he had many expert
ences with them and with the early
desperadoes who infested the middle
west Mr.. Ray always had fund of
interesting stories of the old pioneer
days with which he delighted his
friends and acquaintances.
The decedelt was man of many
fine qualities. His straightforward
honesty in all of his dealings was
noted and he was open hearted and
generous. A plea of help was never
turned aside by him. His life was
modelled on strictly moral lines and
he held strong religious views. His
many friends remember him as
kind, courteous and friendly man. He
was an interesting talker and was
well informed on all the chief topics
of the day. Mr.. Kay was a wide
reader and was especially versed in
the history of the middle west from
the early days to the present
Through Mr.. Rays death, Keokuk
loses one of her most esteemed citi-
zens and the family has the sym pathy
of the entire community in its be-
reavement- His many friends all had
something good to say about him
when the news of his death became
known about town.
Wiley B. Kay was born In Knox
vile, Tenn, on Oct. 25, 1888, his par
ents being William and Harriet (Par-
mer) Ray. His grandfather William
Ray, was one of the pioneers who
took the light of civilization westward
from the Atlantic coast in the
first years of the past century. He
was a friend Of Daniel Boone's and
accompanied the latter on many a
hunting expedition.
To West In Houseboat.
The deeedent's father in 1S43 made