Cray, John 1831 - 1917

CRAY

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 4/25/2024 at 13:13:27

Source: Cresco Plain Dealer Feb. 2, 1917, FP C4

Meets Death in Suspicious Fire.
The residence of John Cray, a bachelor aged 86 years, residing southeast of Chester was burned to the ground Sunday night and the body of Mr. Cray was found in the ruins so badly burned as to be unrecognizable, but little being recovered except some of the larger bones and the skull. A light in the house was seen by some of the neighbors about 8 o’clock in the evening, and at about eleven o’clock parties in Chester saw the blaze and located it as in the direction of the Cray farm and phoned to neighbors concerning it which was their first knowledge of the fire which when they arrived had made such headway that the building was practically destroyed. It was evident that the fire had started from the north end of the building, while the remains of Mr. Cray were found in the south end of the building near the place where his bed was placed. Mr. Cray was in Cresco a short time ago advertising for knowledge of 13 head of cattle which were taken from his place several weeks ago. Sheriff Ferrie has discovered that the cattle in question were sold in Harmony and has the check given the person who sold them, who of course gave an assumed name. In view of this affair and other suspicious circumstances, there are many who are inclined to the belief that Mr. Cray was murdered and the building fired to conceal the crime.

Transcriber’s Note: Find a Grave shows he was born in 1831 and died Jan. 28, 1917. He is buried in the Pleasant Hill Cemetery.

Pleasant Hill Cemetery
 

Howard Obituaries maintained by Constance McDaniel Hall.
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