The Monmouth inquirer. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1865-1933, 1925-02-12
Obituary
wrLLrAM FRANCIS aRAvATr.


WILLIAM FRANCIS GRAvATT,
of near Clarksburg, and one Of the best
known residents of Millsgone township,
where he had resided all his life, was
| trapped in his auto about o'clock on
/ Sunday night last, Feb. Sth, 1925,
and while probably IN the act of OPEN
ing the side door of his Ford sedan was
asphyxiated by the gas fumes from the
engine and his body almost ineinerated.
J He was seen driving along the road very
slowly and pulled out to the side when
near the old Friends Meeting House. at
Covelps Hill above Clarksburg. Pc
destrians noticed that the car was ON fire
/ and went to telephone and notified
3 state trooper who was soon on the
scene. On account of the fierce heat
! no one could go near the car for some
time. when they did they found Mr..
Gravatt's remains. It is thought Mr..
Gravatt stopped on account of the en-
CINE becoming oyerheated, as no water
was found in the radiator, and encum-
bered by his clothing and wraps was
unable to get out of the auto.
Earlier in the evening he was accom-
panied by Fred Leaning of Clarksburg,
and young man named Fenton, who
generally accompanied him in his auto,
owing to Mr.. Gravatt's rheumatic affec-
ton. The latter he had left at Per-
riDeville and the former at Clarksburg,
Mr.. Gravatt was born near, Clarks-
burg July %, 1857, and has always re-
sided in that township. His father,
prominent farmer, was Paul NJ. and his
mother. Elizabeth Francis Gravatt.
AT one time deceased kept the Smith
burg hotel but later purchased the
John B. Robins farm, where he has been
extensively engaged in farming and lum-
boring. He has always taken great in
terest in the Republican party and rep
resented his township as committeeman
and for several terms in the Board OF
FreehoI ers.
He married Feb. 16. 1881, Mary Ely.
daughter Of David b. and Mary Gravatt
Ely. His widow, survives with six
childrens Arthur, of Clarksburg; Mrs.
Thomas Gray of Montclair, Mrs. Burtis
Patterson, Hightstown; Mrs. Samuel
Tantum, Allentown; Mrs. II azel Moore,
and Mrs. NJ arie Prick EFT, both OF Tren-
ton. Also a brother, John r. Gravatt,
Of the Sheriff's Office, Freehold; and two
sisters, Mrs. b. K. Clayton. Ciarksburg;
and Mrs. Fred Thompson, Of near Free
hold. Rev. Holmes F. Gravatt and
Frank NJ. Gravatt, both deceased, were
brothers. The Francis family were
among the first settlers of Monmouth
County.
The funeral was held at the Freehold
M, e. chur h, Wednesday, at o'clock,
Rev. Walter F. Atkinson, the pastor,
officiating. Interment was in Greene
lawn cemetery.
MRS. MARY ALLING FoRMAN,
widow of DR.. Samuel Randolph For
man So, of Jersey City formerly of
Freehold, died Thursday, She is SUR
vived by one son, DIR. Howard 5.
ForInan of Jersey City, and two
daughters. Mrs. Helen Forman Smith
and Mrs Mary Forman jackson. Inter-
ment was made in Forman burial
plot in Old Tennent cemetery.
GEORGE LIVINGSTON DUBOIS.
who has been suffering from nervous
breakdown for some time, shot and
killed himself at his home; Broad
Street, Freehold, on Wednesday noon,
Feb. 18th, 1925, aged 81 years. He was
the son of the late Livingston and
Mary Hunt Dubois, Of Milhurst, and
was born on the homestead farm He
attended the Freehold Institute and
was very diligeRt scholar and faith
full attendant. He was a farmer most
of his life on fine farm located on
the Freehold Tennent Road, Besides
his wife, he leaves a son, Warren, of
Philadelphia The following brothers
survive, VIM H., John H., Joseph E.,
Frank G. Dubois, and sister, Mrs.
Harry Taylor, all of Freehold. The flu
neral will be private, Saturday, 2 PM,
at his late home, conducted by Rev.
MIR. Bates, Of the Tennent Church, of
which the deceased was an Elder and
long had been a,faithful and devout
member. Interment was at Tennent'
cemetery.