The journal. (Caldwell, Ohio) 1934-1961, 1953-07-30

mnaon to be free They afraid of battle prva-
on death They lost in the dream of Liberty Had
it not been handful of could have brought
the proud and naughty British Empire to its knees-not
whstandng the set its fafung possessions
But this handful Of courageous God inspired, did
the sun to down British possessions in
land
ZIONIST who fought under George Washington He born
at Mount Vernon Virginia in l764 He eleven of
when the first shot fired at Concord by that rude
bridge that Spanned the flood AS the started
his father picked the old muset and powder horn and
leaving his wife and eight children joined the forces of
the Revolution to do his part in completing the dream OF
Liberty that started in Old England To this dream and idea
ne paid the supreme price at the Battle OF White Plains
John sixteen years of age this time and joined the
ranks of patriots take his fathers place. He fought in
many battles and skrishes and ended his service at
Yorktown where he witnessed the surrender of the British
by CORVALLIS.
Great must been the pride in this young rebel
he watched the British sword being handed to the
Americans Perhaps he did noreaze that he watching
the sun of the British Empire go down forever the
American Colonies. Thank God it has risen again
upon hills and plains That the blow that severed
all ties the Empire the idea of church. This
was the dream fulfied-absoute freedom, political and
religious This the act that took socaled divine rights
from the king gave it to the citzenS-a system
which all are kings with kingly rights and in which no
individual crown, system which power dare
exist between the citizen and his God the greatest ideal
ever born on earth Never before had such dream
found expression and realization No wonder such
John Gray gladly served to make it possible.
AS soon as the war was over, Gray went to work on
the estate of George Washington He left Virginia in 1873
due to dissatisfaction of the hangovers of the old
order, and started west settling in section that later
WeSI IHOVSu
and settled Duck Creek the present site of Hram
burg Here he built log cabin, and lived in quiet and
peace until his death in 1863 survived by daughter The
government honored him by pension at the age of 1922 of
hundred dollars per yearather late but quite
late to make the last of his years little
John Gray deeply religious man, loved and
respected by his neighborS No. he did not build great
temples, but he helped to build temple of Liberty
soil Can of today do less than build fitting memorial
to his honor especially he the last Revolutionary
soldier to die in Ohio-only outlived him by
days-Daniel T. Bakerman, of New York.
1t is said there Revolutionary officers buried
at Marietta than in any other place in the Republic have
travelled almost every state in the Union and 1 cannot
recall county seat where there memorial, except
Caldwell in Noble county. We should not let this situation
go any longer Let's all get together and build fitting
memorial to John Grayand let it include all soldiers who
have served the Republic all soldiers Noble county
Let John Grays old bones rest in his grave you ws but
let's build worthy memorial to his service that helped
to make possible for to live in this last Acadia
such memorial and know you would have five dollars
to help start the work All necessary plans completed
for the work All need is for the citizens of the
county to show their appreciation of the services given to
make it possible that live in these hills free
and not slaves subjects to some foreign power.
Long live our Republic, and may the memory of our
honored dead cling to each of ivy that the
humble markers of their last resting place Long, long live
Republc God be with lest forgetlest forget
eve love peace but not peace at any price.
There is peace destructive of the manhood
of living than is destructive of his
material body. Chains are worse than bayonetS"
Samuel Harden Stile