Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1922-08-10
John CORAM
DIES At ACE
Of 81 YEARS
Pioneer of Camas Prairie and
Veteran Steamship Engineer
Answers Call of Death
He Was for Almost Forty
Years One of Leading Gil
tizens of Idaho County

Death early Tuesday morning sum
moned John Coram, 81 years old, pio-
neer, and for almost forty years one of
the leading citizens of Idaho county.
Mr.. Coram had been ailing for two
years or more. He spent last winter in
California, and returned, to Grange
vile late in The spring. His death oc-
Cured in the home of his daughter,
Mrs. NJ L. Ayers, in this city.
Mr.. Coram was born in Bristol, Eng,
on Aug l, 1s41. At the age of 6, he
removed with his parents to Canada,
where his mother died in 1853. When
he was II, Mr.. Coram left Canada for
New Orleans, were he engaged in saw
mill work for two years, and then he
went to sea.
ON SEA % YEARS
Mr. Coram was on the ocean from
1860 to 1883, occupying the response
BILE position of engineer on n steamer.
During the twenty-three years he was
on the high seas he visited many of the
important ports of the world, and had
numerous thrilling experiences. On
Dee. 81, 1861, when on the steamer
Columbus, in Central American wat
ers, he was shipwrecked. The vessel
ran ashore and dashed to pieces against
the rocks at night. On July o. 1862,
he was on the Inflated steamer Golden
Gate when she was destroyed by fire
while enroute from San Francisco to
Panama. Mr.. Coram escaped death by
swimming to shore, but never forgot
the terrible disaster. The boat ran
toward shore, but he did not leave his
post until flames enveloped the 16-foot
ladder on which he depended for escape.
He was badly burned, but rushed
and swan to land, distance of 500
yards. Sears from burns incurred at
this time, he carried with him to the
grave.
CAME HERE in 1888
In 1888, Mr. Coram came to Camas
Prairie and took up a homestead. He
followed agriculture and stock-raising,
and made remarkable success of this
business. Mr.. Coram and family re-
moved to Grangeville in 1900, so that
his children might attend the schools
here Since that time he has lived a
life of retirement.
Up to few years ago, when he di-
vided much of his property among his
children, Mr. Ooram was considered
one of the wealthiest men in Idaho
county.
In, 1884, Mr.. Coram married Miss
Mary Catherine Carrothers, of Ontario,
Canada.
He is survived by his widow, by four
daughters, Mrs. M. L. Ayers, of Grange
vile; Mrs. K. B. Brown, Irvington.
N. j.. Mrs. Roy Wethered, Wallace,
and Mrs L. w. Jordan, Downey, Cal,
and by a son, DIR. Edward j. Coram,
Detroit, Mich. DR.. Coram and Mrs.
Brown, who had been here for a family
reunion, departed for their homes only
recently. While it was felt at that
time that Mr.. Coram could not recover,
his condition was not considered criti-
cal. Mrs. Wethered, who also was here
for the family reunion, had gone to her
home, but returned to Grangeville
when appraised of her fathers death.
FUNERAL SERVICES
Funeral services were held Thursday
afternoon at ?, in Odd Fellows hall,
and were largely attended. w. N.
Knox, minister, officiated Mt. Idaho |
lodge No. 9, A. F. & A. NJ, of which
lr. Coram was member, conducted
services at the grave in Prairie View
cemetery A. J. Naugg directed the
funeral.