In business at Rushden as a coal merchant before his retirement eight years ago, Mr. James Paragreen, of “Beulah,” Station-road, Irthlingborough, passed away in Oundle County Hospital on Monday.

Mr. Paragreen had been in good health up to 2½ years ago and was in hospital for six weeks.

He was born in 1863 in a village in Buckinghamshire, and moved to Northampton in 1885, then on the Rushden in 1896, taking charge of the clicking department of Messrs Barratt and Gammage. In 1899 he became foreman at Messrs. Jaques and Clark’s factory, and when he left in 1907 to start his own business as a coal merchant in Duck-street, he was presented with and illuminated address signed by the employees.

He remained in business as a coal merchant up to retirement, when he left to live at irthlingborough. He was elected to Rushden Urban Council as a Labour member and served from 1907-1910, was connected with the Primitive Methodist Church, and was superintendent for many years up to the amalgamation with the Methodist Church.

A local preacher for 60 years, he assisted the late Mr. G. B. Abel on the Primitive Methodist Horsemarket plan at Northampton in 1885. He was a member of the Methodist Church, Irthlingborough, at the time of his death.

In 1886 he married Miss Mercy Hall, daughter of Mr. James Hall, watchmaker, Northampton. There were three sons, and one daughter, who died in 1927. Mrs. Paragreen survives.

The funeral took place on Thursday. A service at Irthlingborough Methodist Church was followed by cremation at Kettering, and the interment of the ashes takes place at Rushden today.