Rooks County Record
Friday, August 31, 1900.
Reuben DeLay Obituary
Reuben DeLay, for many years a resident of Rooks County, died at his home in Topeka, on Friday, Aug. 24 at 10:20 p.m. he had been failing for two years or more. The remains were taken to Downs for burial, accompanied by his son Willis and wife, and the funeral was held on Sunday at 3 p.m. in the M.E. Church. Two brothers and two children were present. The services were in charge of Odd Fellows and Rebecca of that place. Mr. DeLay was a member of the Topeka lodge No. 293 I.O.O.F. and the Rebecca lodge No. 17. He had for many years, in fact since he was 21 years old, been a mason, and would have been accorded a masonic funeral had not the officials all been absent.
Reuben DeLay was born in Jackson county, Ohio, Jan 12, 1834. He was the oldest of a family of six sons and three daughters. When quite young he came to Appanoose county, Iowa, with his parents. In 1856 he first came to Kansas and settled in Linn county, participating in the early troubles of the state. We have heard him relate some interesting reminiscences of that period. Afterwards he returned to Iowa and enlisted in 1861 in Co I, 3rd Iowa cavalry, serving as a lieutenant. He was captured and spent nine months in southern prisons.
At the close of the war he lived in Missouri and Nebraska for short periods. He was married in May 1867 in Missouri to Miss Mary Hercules,* who survives him. Six children were born to them, five of whom are living.
In 1872 he again moved to Kansas and took up a claim a mile from where Downs is now located. When the town was started in 1880, he opened a meat market there. While living in Osborne county he and his brother killed buffalo there, and often went on extensive hunting trips through western Kansas. He continued his business until 1882 when he took a timber claim three miles south of Plainville. In 1887 he was elected sheriff and was re-elected in 1889. Shortly after the conclusion of his term he moved to Topeka where he has since resided. His mother, over 90 years old is still living. The deceased was a man highly respected by all who knew him. His impulses were invariably sympathetic and kind and his memory will be cherished by a wide circle of acquaintances.
*Mary Hercules was his second wife. Our ancestor was his first wife, Margaret Thomas.
Link to original newspaper Obituary. (Note this may require a subscription, but the above is a faithful transcription.) Obituary for O BITUARY-REUBEN DELAY – Newspapers.com
Return to Thill-DeLay Family History: Thill, DeLay Family History – Outlaws, Outrages and Outright Lies (azrockdodger.com)
Outlaws, Outrages and Outright Lies 