Charles Jerome Spray

January 2, 1893 to April 14, 1911

Charles Jerome Spray enlisted in the 29th Infantry of the United States Army on February 12, 1910.  He was 18 years and 1 month old at the time of his enlistment.

Charles was the son of Frank Edward Spray and Mary Catherine Schumm Spray. 

When Charles enlisted, he lived on Frederick Road in Harrison Township.

He died on April 14, 1911 Fort Niagra, New York after suffering an illness.

Obituary:  The Portsmouth Daily News, April 17, 1911:

Charles Spray, aged 20, a son of Frank Spray, a Gephart's Station farmer, died last Friday night at Fort Niagra, New York, after a brief illness.

The young man had been complaining of feeling ill in recent letters to his parents, but it was not thought he was in a serious condition and news of his death, therefore, came as a severe shock.  He had been in the regular army for a year.  John Spray, a mill man of this city and Ed and Will Spray of Wheelersburg, are the surviving brothers.  The remains are expected to reach Gephart's tonight. 

Article in The Portsmouth Times, April 22, 1911, p. 3:

Body Arrives

The body of Charles Spray, young soldier boy who died last Friday at Fort Niagra, New York, arrived at Gephart's Station via the B & O railroad Tuesday morning.  The remains were taken to the home of the bereaved parents Mr. and Mrs. Frank Spray and on Wednesday at 10 a.m. the funeral will be held from the Tick Ridge Catholic Church.  The last rites were conducted by Rev. Father Carey and burial was made in the cemetery nearby.