The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1918-01-19
OBITUARY

On last Wednesday evening, Jason
Richardson Stock died. He was born
IN Lisbon, Ohio. June the 21, 1924,
making him more than ninety-three
years old. But few men reach such
ripe old age. Father Stock has al
ways been a student. He kept up
with the changes of the world. The
day he was taken Ill he had been
reading the daily papers. His mind
was bright up to the last. He knew
the history of his nation, and many
happenings, the passing historians
failed to mention he would mention.
He was well acquainted with such
men as John Sherman, Charles Thorn,
Mark Hannah and William Mckinley.
In fact he and William McKinley's
father were school boys. To spend
few hours with him listening to
him make review of his nations his
tory were hours well spent. Politic-
ally he was republican, and a strong
advocate of protective tariff He was
well qualified to defend his opinions.
At the age of seventeen he was ap-
prentlcd to a cabinet maker by the
name of Hasness- He learned his
trade well, and at the age of eighty
SIX he was still an expert with his
tools. A few days before his death
he asked for them desiring to do
some work to pass away the time.
On November II, 1850, he was
married to Mrs. Elizabeth Lee Early.
70 this marriage six children were
born, Frances Stock, George L. Stock,
Ezra Stock, Mary SwinI, Cassius NJ.
Stock and Jennie Reed An the chill
dren are alive but Frances.
He with his family moved from
Ohio to Illinois in 1852, and in 1855
moved to Iowa, and in the year 1878
moved to Kansas locating in Rush
County near McCracken. Mr. Stock
took an active part in matters per
tanning to all community and nation
al welfare. For ten years he was q
county official and for many years
town judge of McCracken.
In 1902 his beloved wife, Eliza
beth died, and in 1904 he was united
IN marriage to Mrs. Sarah NJ. Griffin
who died in 1912 In 1913 he came
to Hays, where he has made his home
with MS daughter, Mrs. Frank Reed
Mr.. Stock was converted and united
with the Methodist Episcopal church
IN 1S41. For seventy-six years he
was faithful member. He was a
man of large experience. He had al
ways taken an active part in the great
| temperance cause. Oft times he
would tell how he stood for this
! movement. But a few days before
he died he was told of the action of
the United States Congress in voting
to have the constitution amended so
as to make it a dry nation and his
dim old eyes frightened, and then he
said, "And 1 have lived to see that
day. When I was a boy everybody
drank whiskey."
As he grew weaker he would say,
Il want to go home. l have so many
more friends over there. 1 am so
lonesome. Why does he not come
for me-" In the afternoon he took
his pastor by the hand, he could not
! speak, but he pointed up to his Ileav-
enly home. The last words he ut
tered were, 81 am going home"
When a young man he was told
| by his doctor he could not live long.
! But nature had given him a wonder
! full vitality and On Wednesday even
ing, January 18th, about 1890 he
went home.
The funeral services were held at
| Mrs Reeds on Friday morning The
pastor use dthe text Zech Ia fiat
| the evening time it shall be light. -
| On Friday afternoon his body was
taken to McCracken for interment.