John Henderson DAVIS

DAVIS, FEES, BLACK, SALTZMAN, WILLIAMS, COAKLEY, LUKE, HARLOW

Posted By: Sharon R. Becker (email)
Date: 11/20/2008 at 11:50:00

The Mount Ayr Record-News, 1927

OBITUARY - JOHN W. (sic) DAVIS

John Henderson DAVIS, son of T. H. and Anna (FEES) DAVIS, was born in Indiana November 2d, 1851, and died at his home in Kellerton January 17th, 1927, aged 75 years, two months and 15 days. When he was but a year old his parents came to Iowa and settled in Adams county. He grew to his majority in that neighborhood. For ten years he taught school during the winter and farmed in the summer. In 1884 he entered the mercantile business and conducted a general store in Mt. Etna for several years. From Mt. Etna he moved to Lenox where he lived five years or until 1899 when he came to Ringgold county, settling ten miles south of Mount Ayr. In 1910 he came to Mount Ayr, later going to Shannon City, and two years ago coming again to Mount Ayr, and then later to Kellerton.

November 1, 1881, he was married to Martha Almina BLACK, of Adams county. Three children were born to them - Alvin Roy DAVIS of Kellerton, Mrs. Lora Elma SALTZMAN of Mount Ayr, Harold DAVIS of Mount Ayr, all of whom survive.

Mrs. DAVIS passed away January 28th, 1911. December 12th, 1912, Mr. Davis was married to Maude WILLIAMS, of Lone Tree, Iowa, who survives him.

Of the ten children of his father's family four still live - Wm. H. DAVIS, M. D., Chandler, Okla.; Mrs. Cynthia COAKLEY, Creston, Iowa; Mrs. Rachel E. LUKE, Toppenish, Wash.; Mrs. Edna HARLOW, Kirkland, Wash. He leaves seven grandchildren.

From his twenty-first year Mr. DAVIS was a member of the Masonic fraternity. In early life he identified himself with the Christian church, joining first the Evangelical church in Mt. Etna. Upon coming to Ringgold county he united with the Baptist church at Oakland, and later moved his membership to Mount Ayr. For several years he was Sunday school superintendent and served his church favorably and efficiently, his name appearing frequently in the records. Wherever he lived he was a highly esteemed and worthy citizen, living before his fellowmen a consistent christian life. He always took a lively interest in community affairs, being nominated for office a number of times, but never accepting, preferring to work in the ranks. All his life he was an active and valiant champion of prohibition. He stood for the things that were right and good for the people.

CARD OF THANKS

We wish to take this means of expressing our sincere thanks to those who so kindly assisted us during the illness and death of our loved one. Also for the beautiful floral offerings.

MRS. MAUDE DAVIS
ALVIN R. DAVIS
MRS. LORA SALTZMAN
HAROLD DAVIS

NOTE: John Henderson DAVIS was interred at Rose Hill Cemetery, Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa. Martha Almina (BLACK) DAVIS, John's first wife, was born May 24, 1858 and died January 28, 1911, with interment at Rose Hill Cemetery, Mount Ayr. Harold DAVIS, son of John H. and Martha Almina (BLACK), was born August 19, 1895, and died April 30, 1976, interment at Rose Hill Cemetery, Mount Ayr.

Transcription and note by Sharon R. Becker, 2008