HARVEY RAY DEAD
PIONEER BUSINESS MAN SUC-
CUMBS TO PARALYSIS
Was One of the Most Prominent Figures in Early Commercial and in-
dustrial Circles.
Harvey Ray, the last of the pioneer wholesale merchants of Burlington, passed away at noon to-day at the residence of his son Geo. O. Ray, 914 North Sixth street. A Week ago he sustained a paralytic stroke which, at his advanced age, he was not able to sur-vive.
The career of Harvey Ray is possibly the most interesting of any resident of Burlington. He was born in Tyrone, Ireland, March 31, 1817, of Scotch-Irish parentage, belonging to the English (Episcopal) church. He came to America and lived at Wheeling, Va, until 1843. January 12, 1843, he was married to Miss Sarah Kelsoll [Kelsall], at Wheeling. He was at that time engaged in the manufacture of burr stones for grinding mills, and his first visit to Burlington was in 1842 when he came selling the stones to the mills along the Illinois, Des Moines, Skunk and other rivers. The stones were manufactured at his establishment in the east and shipped west. Water power was the only power in the towns along these revers at that time and the sones were in demand for grinding corn. In the fall of 1842 he returned to Wheeling overland, on horseback. He settled up his business in that city and in October of 1843, he came to Burlington, by boat with his wife. He engaged in the same business in this city adding the tombstone department. His products were sold all over Iowa and the adjoining states.
In 1852 Mr. Ray first began the manufacture of plows, and the Ray Plow works became one of the most noted farm implement industries in the west. In 1856 he assumed entire control of the plant and conducted it alone in 1857, the output for that year being 5,000 plows, only one or two plants in the country exceeding that output for the year. The panic of 1857 was very disastrous and he was one of the few men in that line of business who was able to meet all obligations when due.
In 1858, with a brother, he bought the Ray farm, consisting of 4,200 acres of land. The farm lay in Jackson and Huron townships and at times there was as high as 5,000 head of cattle feeding on the farm in one season. At the death of his brother he became the sole owner of the farm.
In 1868, with General Dodge, William Postwaith, Robert Kendall and William Branigan, Mr. Ray hauled overland from Burlington to Virginia City, Montana, a stamp mill. The following year a second mill was shipped. This mill Mr. Ray and Robert Kendall accompanied. After reaching Montana, Mr. Ray became interested with Charles Hendrie, who at one time operated a foundry where the present Union depot stands in Burlington. Mr. Hendrie then operated the only foundry in the state, and with Mr. Ray they established the first stamp mill in Butte, Montana, which is the the largest mining camp in the world.
In Burlington Mr. Ray was connected with several prominent enterprises. He was president of the Hendrie foundry, which was afterwards bought by the Murray Iron works. He was president of the Orchard City Agricultural works and later of the Ray Plow Co.
The first school election held in Burlington was in 1849. At that election there were sixty-three votes cast and of the men who cast those votes, Dr. Salter and Harvey Ray were the only survivors. Now Dr. Salter remains alone of that number.
Mr. Ray was one of the old type of influential men of Burlington. He did much to help the city grow in the early days when the work of progressive citizens was needed. Surviving are the widow and four children, George O. Ray of this city, Mrs. Pollock of Wheeling, W. Va., Mrs P. M. Crapo of Burlington and Mrs. Mitchell of Chicato. The funeral announcement will be made later.
