Newspaper & Date unknown

Alfred Jefferson Ray was born in Petersburg on July 1, 1872, the son of Sylvester and Mary Ray, pioneer residents of this community. He grew to manhood in this community and was married here on January 22, 1892 to Miss Mary E. Brady. To them were born ten children, of whom three preceded their father in death.

Al Ray, as he was familiarly known to most people in this community, was an honest, conscientious, hard-working man. He followed farming as a vocation the greater part of his life, and managed through thrift and hard work to rear his large family. A few years ago, after farming for many years west of Petersburg, he came to this city and lived in or near this city the remainder of his life, farming part of the time and part of the time working as a miner.

He is survived by his wife and the following children: two sons, Alfred Jr. and Dewey, both of Springfield; five daughters, Mrs. Frances Griffin, Mrs. Mary Price, Mrs. Helen Dawson and Doris Ray, all of Petersburg and Mrs. Albert Morris of Chandlerville. Surviving also are sixteen grandchildren and two sisters, Mrs. Perry Altig of Greenview and Mrs. Thomas Wilson of Petersburg, and a number of distant relatives and friends.

Funeral services were held at 2 o'clock Thursday afternoon at the First Baptist church in this city, conducted by the pastor Rev. E. L. Banta, and burial was in Rose Hill.

Newspaper and Date Unknown

Menard's Oldest Woman Dies After Breaking Hip

Mrs. Eliza Hohimer, Menard County's oldest woman, died at 5:10 Sunday evening, November 3 at St. John's Hospital where she had been a patient since October 25 when she broke a hip. She was 100 years old on September 8, this year.

Mrs. Hohimer was born September 8, 1868 in Menard County, a daughter of James and Parthena Elmore. She was married May 30, 1885 at Petersburg to John A. Hohimer, who died October 25, 1950. She had made her home at Sunny Acres Nursing Home for several years.

Mrs. Hohimer, who was a member of the New Hope Baptist Church, is survived by two daughters, Mrs. Leona Wilken, Petersburg; Mrs. Bessie Gebhards, Oakford; and one son, Frank Hohimer, Springfield; 20 grandchildren, 41 great-grandchildren and 10 great-great-grandchildren. One daughter, Mrs. Dave Stahl, preceded her in death.

The body was taken to the Hurley Funeral Home where services were held Wednesday afternoon at 1:30, the Rev. Odell Bell, pastor of the First Baptist Church of Petersburg, officiating. Burial was in Rose Hill Cemetery.