The Teague Chronicle - Jan. 4, 1918 edition

J. P. Ham

Death of J. P. Ham which occurred at 9:20 o'clock Sunday night Dec. 30 cast a
gloom over the city seldom if ever occurring here. He had become ill while
attending service at the Methodist Church Sunday Dec. 23 and after going to his
home speedily grew worse until the end came. 

Funeral services were conducted by Rev. S.W. Thomas at 2:00 Monday afternoon at
the Methodist church. All business houses in the city were closed from 2 till 4
o'clock and the funeral was the largest ever attended here. Giving evidence of
the popularity and esteem in which the deceased was held by the people with
whom he lived. It was necessary to use the Sunday school room of the church to
seat the crowd. A very impressive and appropriate funeral sermon was spoken by
Pastor Tomas who is serving his second year as pastor of the church of which
the deceased was during his time chairman of the board of stewards. The
procession moved from the church to the city cemetery where interment was made
at 3:00.

Mr. Ham would have been 48 years old had he lived till Feb 5, 1918. He
established a business in Dew about 1900 and partnershiped with Sam R. Corley.
Later buying Mr. Corley's interest he continued for one year when John Riley
became associated with him in the establishment of the firm of Riley and Ham
now one of the most substantial general merchandise stores in Teague. It being
moved here in 1907 during the early history of Teague. Under the active
management of the deceased the business has grown steadily since the store was
opened in Teague. Mr. Riley not having taken an active interest in the
management of the business. J.P. Ham was prominent in all things of the
upbuilding of the community and took special interest in the betterment of
social and moral conditions. He was one of the foremost business and churchmen
of the town and was besides being the active manager of his firm, chairman of
the board of directors of the First National Bank, chairman of the board of
stewards of the M.E. church south and the highly esteemed member of the board
of trustees of the Teague Independent School District. Many telegrams bearing
specials of sympathies have been received from friends out of town and other
states.

Mr. Ham is survived by his father, W.G. Ham, of Weatherford, who attended the
funeral, his wife and eight children. Five boys, J. Sid, Ernest, Cleo, Wylie
and Bob and three daughters, Mrs. Lewis, Etta, and Mellie. He also had several
brothers and sisters who lived so far away they could not attend the funeral.