Father J. C. White is the pastor of St. Patrick's Church at Marengo, Iowa, and is a man of profound erudition and of a genial, whole-souled and generous disposition. He was born at Paradise, Monroe County, Pa., August 10, 1855, his father, John B. White, having been born on the Isle of Erin. He learned the trade of a mason, and when a young man sought a home on the free soil of America. After his marriage, which occurred at Binghamton, N. Y., he located at Paradise, Pa., and in the fall of 1855 became a resident of Des Moines, Iowa, where he followed his trade and did contracting until the year 1870, at which time he became the owner of a good farm in Madison County and followed the honorable, independent and healthful life of an agriculturist until his death, January 25, 1888. His wife was Bridget Lennan, who was also born on the Emerald Isle, and who now resides in Pocahontas County, Iowa, with her eldest son, James W. She became the mother of nine children, eight of whom are living, and all reside in Pocahontas County, Iowa, with the exception of the subject of this sketch and Dr. M. W. White, who was graduated from the Kentucky School of Medicine at Louisville, and from the medical department of the University of Pennsylvania, and is now chief resident physician of the Polyclinic Hospital College, of Philadelphia.

Father J. C. White was reared in the city of Des Moines and was educated in the public and parochial schools, after which he was graduated from the city High School. After teaching school for some time he began following the calling of a carpenter, architect and builder in Des Moines, being under the able direction of Capt. F. S. Whiting for three years. He then entered St. Joseph's College at Dubuque, Iowa, which he attended five years, during which time he finished the classical course, and for a year succeeding attended the Jesuit College of St. Louis, Mo. He then entered St. John's College, Stearns County, Minn., where he remained two years, the two subsequent years being spent in a theological seminary. At the end of that time he entered the Grand Seminary, of Montreal, Canada, where he completed his theological studies in three years, after which he was ordained a priest of the Catholic Church in Davenport by Bishop McMullin, October 29, 1882. He was then in Chariton, Lucas County, as pastor of St. Mary's Church for twenty months, and during that time he established and organized the congregation at Osceola, purchasing the property and raising the money for a new church. In July, 1884, he was appointed to his present pastorate, since which time he has organized the St. Mary's congregation in Williamsburgh, comprising fifty families, and in the fall of 1890 he built the church at that place. The congregation over which Father White presides in Marengo has been established many years and includes the members of some city families. They have a very beautiful and well- appointed church, and Father White has a pleasant residence, which has been improved and repaired since his locating here, he having paid out for improvements and debts about $9,000. He is in full sympathy with the members of his church, with whom he is very popular, and he is highly respected by all classes, and is evidently deeply interested in the noble work in which he is engaged.

Carson B Wray, a leading cititzen (sic) and honored pioneer settler of Iowa, has for more than fifty years been a constant resident of Madison Township, Johnson County, where as County Supervisor and Township Trustee he has been an important factor in the upward growth and progress of this part of the Hawkeye State. Our subject was born in Hamilton County, Ohio, July 24, 1819, land was the son of Richard Wray, a Pennyslvania (sic) farmer, who after a time emigrated to Ohio and settled in Hamilton County in an early day. The Wrays were of Irish descent, Grandfather Wray* and a brother having come from the Emerald Isle to Maryland, where they separated, the grandfather journeying to Pennsylvania, while the brother was never heard from again. Richard Wray was one of six sons, two of whom were farmers, two blacksmiths, and two tinners. Father Wray emigrated to Indiana in a very early day, and was accidentally killed at a house raising in 1825. The widowed mother was Catherine (Buford) Wray, a native of Maryland, and , a most estimable woman, lived to a good old age, dying in her eighty-fifth year. She was the mother of eight children, three of whom are yet living.

The boyhood of our subject was passed amid pioneer scenes, and his educational opportunities were limited to a brief schooling in the primitive little log house, which received most of its pupils during the winter season. After his father's death he went to a neighboring farm and worked out by the month, finally securing more remunerative employment in a distillery, where he remained engaged for seven years. In the spring of 1841, our adventurous subject, determined to try his fortunes in the West, started out on foot and alone for Iowa, arriving in Iowa City, Johnson County, May 8. Coming at once to Madison township, he took a claim on section 2, and when the Government placed the land in market bought it. He spent his first year breaking the land with ox-teams, making fences and building a rude log house. Game was abundant and herds of deer could be seen peacefully feeding. He was surrounded by Indians and had some stanch friends among them. In the spring of 1842, he ended his days of loneliness by marrying Miss Mary Ault, of Ohio. Her father died in her native State, after which her mother emigrated to Illinois and two years later came to Iowa.

Mr. and Mrs. Wray began their housekeeping in the little log cabin which he had previously built, and which was replaced in time by a frame house erected upon the same spot, a commodious and attractive residence. Our subject has continuously for about two years more than a half century occupied this home locality. One of the severest trials of the pioneer experiences of our subject was the long distance he was obliged to go to mill, sometimes being caught in most severe storms and blinding snows. Many farmers did their own milling, pulverizing the corn in a rude and laborious fashion. Mr. and Mrs. Wray have been husband and wife fifty-one years and have had eight children: Catherine J., Isabelle, (deceased), Joseph C., David W., Eliza A., Maria Florence (deceased), Clara Candace and Ann Elizabeth. Aside from his other positions of trust previously mentioned, our subject was for many years a School Director, vigorously aiding in educational advancement. Frequently the members of the Board would not put in an appearance at the appointed time of an election, and Mr. Wray, becoming tired of this lax way of doing business, at last upon a certain day when he was the only member present called the meeting to order, nominated himself Chairman and Secretary, and then placed a good, useful neighbor in nomination for Director, voted for him in the regular way, and secured his election. Our subject filled out a certificate and notified him of his election, and he duly served and proved a most valuable addition to the Board.

Mr. Wray is a stanch Democrat and has represented his party as Delegate to various township and county conventions. He has been chosen many times when he has declined the honor, not desiring to serve. Mrs. Wray has for long years been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and, a woman of kind and generous heart, is a liberal giver, generously aiding in benevolent and social enterprise. Fraternally our subject affiliates with the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons and lives up to the requirements of that ancient order. When Mr. Wray first settled upon the old homestead he had but eighty acres of land, which are now increased to four hundred and twenty. He has been owner of eleven hundred acres, but has given his sons some and sold a portion. For many years engaging extensively in stock-raising, Mr. Wray has handled some of the finest-bred "Mambrino" horses in the State and has some especially excellent animals now in his barns. For thirty years continuously our subject engaged in shipping stock, making Chicago his market, and has during this time gained a comfortable competence. He began life with less than $100, but, hard-working and industrious, has steadily won his way upward to assured success. To his wife he generously attributes much of his prosperity in life, and that she has been a helpmate indeed is a well-known fact. During the Civil War the exceeding kindness and broad liberality of Mr. Wray to the families of the soldiers who were far away endeared him and his family to many grateful hearts. The years are flying fast, and in the approaching evening of their age Mr. and Mrs. Wray will yet more fully realize the firm hold they have upon the esteem and confidence of their fellow-citizens, by whom they are beloved and appreciated for their sterling qualities of mind and heart.

Richard H Wray, County Supervisor and a lifetime resident of Madison Township, Johnson County, Iowa, is one of the most able, energetic and enterprising citizens of this part of the State, and has held with faithful efficiency various important positions of the township. Elected to his present responsible office in 1889, he gave such satisfaction to his constituents by his conscientious discharge of the duties entrusted to his care that he was in the fall of 1892 almost unanimously re-elected. A prosperous agriculturist, he resides upon a fine homestead of three hundred and thirteen acres, which, with the exception of thirty acres of fine timber land, is under a high state of cultivation and improved with substantial and commodious buildings. Aside from general agriculture our subject profitably engages in stock-raising and has some excellent horses, cattle and hogs upon his valuable farm. Mr. Wray was born in what is now Jefferson Township, Johnson County, Iowa, March 25, 1843, and in less than a year moved to Madison Township. He is the son of David Wray, a pioneer of the State and one of the first settlers of Johnson County, locating land in Madison Township when wild game was abundant and the Indians were yet possessors of most of the State. Building a little log house and breaking the land with ox-teams, the then young and vigorous settler courageously endured the hardships and privations of pioneer life until his beloved wife, who had shared his sorrows, sickened and died in 1848.

The mother of our subject was Mrs. Maria (Ault) Wray, who bore four children, two of whom died in infancy. The father married again, his second wife having been Miss Eunice Holt, who died some years later, and never had offspring. David Wray died in the early '70s, being a man of upright life, and universally respected. Hard-working and industrious, he won his upward way and was successful, at his death owning a large property. He had held official positions, and for many years was Assessor of the township, and although often approached with a bribe was faithful and steadfast to the honest principles which governed him throughout his life. His son, Richard H., was born in the primitive log house and reared upon the farm. He attended the little district school, and, an ambitious lad, well improved his time, and at eighteen years of age enjoyed the benefit of a two years course in the State University at Iowa City. Returning home, he then farmed in partnership with his father until the death of this parent, when he continued in the duties of agriculture alone. In December, 1870, our subject was united in marriage with Miss Eudora Dennis, of Johnson County, a daughter of Milton and Jane (White) Dennis, early settlers of the county and people of position and influence.

Immediately succeeding his marriage, Mr. Wray settled with his wife upon section 3, Madison Township, where he has since constantly resided, and where his eight bright and promising children were born. Henry A. is the eldest; then follow Jesse G., Nellie, Charles, Eddie and Freddie (twins), George and Beulah. Politically, our subject is a strong Democrat and an ardent supporter of the party. He has served with efficiency as Township Clerk and Assessor, and was elected Justice of the Peace, but never qualified for the position. Esteemed by the "party of the people" as a wise counselor, he has been a delegate to county and State conventions, and there ably and vigorously represented the wishes of his constituents. As County Supervisor he is an important factor in the advancement of local improvements, and thoroughly posted in all matters pertaining to county interests, devotes himself to the work in hand with earnest and intelligent consideration. Fraternally, our subject is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, and has ever been prominent in social and benovolent (sic) enterprises. A native of Johnson County, he is widely known throughout the same, and commands the high regard and esteem of a host of sincere friends.