The journal. (Caldwell, Ohio) 1934-1961, 1953-06-25
A LASTING MEMORIAL

years l0bo
John Gray passed at his log cabin in the Hramsburg
community at the of 04 years. two months and % days
ne Was e 1dSt surviving soleI % tle 1oeS
Daniel T. Bakeman of New York died who, according to
records the last surviving soldier of General Washing
tons army.
In the years that have ensued since John Grays DEATH
the nation and Noble county in particular have paid little
heed has marched and the general public
gotten about John Gray who lies buried in untended
plot in community cemetery at Hiramsburg
This reflection the residents of Hiramsburg for
John Gray belongs not to that community alone but to the
county, the of Ohio and the nation They all
blame for the neglect which should not be.
From historical standpoint in the county, John Gray
is also little known Ask any out of ten students in
grade and high school and they would that they
heard of John Gray let alone know his history
Once again aren't blaming the students for it has
they know about John Gray and is believed
that in the months to come this very purpose will be
accomplished
Sias Thora prominent resident of Noble county for
many years and residing with Mrs Frank Moore at
Zanesve is believed to be the only living person TODAY in
this section who remembers John Gray Mr. Thora we'll
over the 9Oyear mark himself being 95 years young.
Mr. Ihora was only nine years old when Mr. Gray died
and he said that most of his knowledge strictly hear
say. His mother knew him quite well and always spoke
highly Of Of Mr. Gray except for his habit of chewing tobacco
The late Cy Scott another prominent resident of this
county, told Mr.. Thora that he was young when
He said he took his fathers oxeam hitched to a sed
and went to Hramsburg get the coffin and take it to the
Gray home There two men living in the Burg at that
time who cabinet and coffin makers They Eli
Thompson and Eli Covert.
When pressed for time perhaps they worked jointly like
Alex Lyons and George Wiley did down Hosinsville
Thorla pointed out
81 believe Scott said there was snow on the ground
Going after the coffin with sled would indicate that
However, this the ground little difficult
concie with the funeral History says that there
large concourse of people and that funeral was held in
grove Of course the weather in the latter of March
could change" MIR. Thorla said.
Mr. Thora has visited the grave of John Gray in the
McEoy graveyard several times and he firmly believes
that suitable marker memorial is fitting for this
last surviving Ohio veteran in the Revolutionary
The first step in the proposed movement of reinerrine
at Caldwell, where suitable memorial could be erected
taken Monday when the Noble county commissioners
indicated they would 60 along with the idea
The commissioners asked to designate small plot
of ground the courthouse lawn where the grave would
be located and which the memorial to all veterans of
the Revolutionary War in Ohio would be erected.
There many, many steps yet to be taken in this
project, legal and otherwise.
1t necessary that the public get behind the move
ment and back 100 percent for without their support the
hours spent by few, would be for naught
Noble county residents being solicited for their
opinions this proposed project.
The columns of this paper open for that very pur-
If all for the idea let hear from you If you
agn it, we want to hear that too and the for
your thinking.
1t is vtally important first and foremost, that the
people of Noble county back the memorial If such thing
comes into being, it must be thru your support
We quite that the state of Ohio would be proud
to have memorial to all veterans of the Revolutionary
War erected in Caldwell, the county seat of Noble.
John Gray would at long last into his own, after
In the final analysis the people of Noble county must
decide 1t will be their pennies and dimes that will finance
the memorial
keep the ball rolling until it gains such momentum that
several months hence even year we can attend
in Caldwell and pay our respects to this grand ole
of the Republic, who lies in untended grave
at Hiramsburg
We predict that day will When and how is still
purely matter of con lecture.
Won aoHyO a1O cpt tho