Cut Bank Pioneer Press (MT), 31 March 1950

Mourners Fill Sanctuary at Rites For Jim Ransom

Friends and neighbors of James Harvey Ransom, 81, filled the sanctuary of the Presbyterian church Sunday afternoon to hear the Rev. T. M. Kingsley intone a tribune to a man had served his community faithfully for many years. Death ended three years of suffering for Judge Ransom Thursday of last week.

Forty of his brother Masons sat in a body among the mourners, later conducted graveside services at Crown Hill.

James Harvey Ransom, son of James Harvey and Mary Elizabeth Ransom, was born Nov. 10, 1868, in Baltimore, Md. In 1880 he moved with his parents to Lanark, Ill., and in 1884 to Blairstown, Iowa, where he grew to manhood.

He was married to Musa E. Bolger on March 11, 1896, at Marengo, Iowa. He farmed in Iowa until 1910, when he came to Cut Bank. He homesteaded near Ethridge and worked for the Great Northern Railway for 18 years.

Judge Ransom was police magistrate of Cut Bank for 18 years and for a number of years served Glacier county as justice of the peace here.

He was among the early officers of the Presbyterian church, was past master of Cut Bank Lodge No. 82, A.F. and A.M., held offices in Tyrean chapter, Royal Arch Masons, and was a past patron of Glacier chapter, Order of Eastern Star.

Surviving are his wife; two sons, Ralph of Ottumwa, Iowa, and Glen of Summit, N. J.; a daughter, Mrs. William R. (Evelyn) Carlson of Fort Ransom, N. Dak.; seven grandchildren; four brothers and two sisters: Sam C. Ransom, Marietta, Minn.; William W. Ransom, Waterloo, Iowa; Charles F. Ransom, Clear Lake, Iowa; Nathan C. Ransom, Blairstown, Iowa; Mrs. William Dunty, Fullerton, Md.; Mrs. Einar Hansen, Cedar Rapids, Iowa.