Gray - James Banning - Montgomery InGenWeb Project

Rev. James B. Gray was born July 23, 1818 in Butler County, Ohio, and died at Rhodes, Iowa, January 18, 1891 attaining the age of 72 years, 6 months, and 25 days. On December 19, 1839, he was married to Elizabeth Overpeck with whom he lived 51 years. By this union eight children have been born, seven of whom are living, one dying 27 years ago. In 1844 they moved to Indiana and in 1852 he became a member of the Northwest Indiana Conference at its first session, and filled seven of its appointments. After eleven years of itinerant work he took a superannuated relation to his conference on account of poor health. In 1864 he went to Iowa and located in Lisbon. He has been a resident of Cedar County 20 years. Seven years ago he went to his present home. Mr. Gray was a man of sterling integrity, loved and respected where known. His preaching was always the Gospel of Jesus Christ. His life was a powerful attestation of its saving power. While in the regular itinerant work he always had success and while superannuated, he was ever preaching the Gospel to the needy without compensation, and his monuments of success are visible wherever he went in beautiful temples and worshipful congregations. Mr. Gray was at the time of his death, class leader and Sunday school superintendent. May the walls of memory with old and young long have the impress of this man of God.

S. C. Gray writes from State Center, Iowa, that his brother, Rev. James B. Gray, died at that place last Sunday evening. Rev. J. B. Gray is known to every old resident in the county.