Co. F, 83rd Indiana Vol. Inf. Reg.

from The News-Sentinel:

Taps were sounded today by the "Great Bugler" for William S. GRAY, aged 98, last veteran of the Civil War in Liberty township, who died at his home on South Main Street in Fulton at 2 o'clock Tuesday morning after an illness of one year.

The deceased was born January 23, 1842 at Osgood, Indiana, in Ripley County. His parents were Henry Lynn and Elizabeth (SULLIVAN) GRAY. He moved to Fulton to reside 29 years ago from Fowler. Prior to that time he had lived in Union City, Michigan for several years.

In a ceremony performed May 30, 1867, at Osgood he was married to Sarah J. GRIFFITH who preceded him in death several years ago. During his lifetime he was both a farmer and a lumberman. Mr. Gray was a member of the Masonic lodge at Fulton and the Odd Fellows lodge at Osgood.

Mr. Gray enlisted in the Civil War in Ripley County August 15, 1862. When he was honorably discharged, February 2, 1865, at Memphis, Tennessee, he was a sergeant of Company F, 83rd Indiana Volunteer Infantry Regiment. He took part in a number of the important battles of the Civil war and marched with General Sherman to the sea.

Two of the battles he took part in were Chickamauga and the siege and fall of Atlanta. At the battle of Chickamauga, Mr. Gray was wounded and was confined in the Overton hospital in Nashville, Tennessee, for ten weeks before he could return to his regiment.

Mr. Gray until two years ago was wonderfully preserved for a man his age. He was able to drive his car and could read without the aid of glasses. An illness at that time sapped his strength.

Mr. Gray's family held a birthday dinner in his honor last January 23 at which time he expressed the hope that he could live for two more years so as he said, "I will become of age when I reach the century mark."

Mr. Gray is survived by four sons, Ancel GRAY of Fulton; William GRAY, Rochester; George GRAY, Union City, Michigan; and Everett GRAY, of Seattle, Washington; five daughters, Mrs. Leota NORDLOH, of Fulton; Mrs. Nettie DOLBEE, and Mrs. Elizabeth GRAY, of Union City, Michigan; Mrs. Edith DOLBEE, Battle Creek, Michigan; and Miss Mary GARY, at home; 21 grandchildren, one of them, Mrs. Kline REED, of this city, and 18 great-grandchildren. A daughter, Mrs. Ollie RENTSCHLER of Fulton, died in 1935.

The funeral services will be held from the Gray home in Fulton at 1 o'clock Thursday afternoon with the Rev. Franklin ARTHUR in charge, assisted by the Rev. J. W. MILLER. Burial will be made in the cemetery at Fulton.

The body will be taken to the Gray home Wednesday morning where it will lie in state until the hour of the last rites.