Strong A. Davis 1833-1900

DAVIS, MORRIS, DAVIDSON, PEED ANDERSON

Posted By: Joe Conroy (email)
Date: 7/5/2010 at 07:42:06

Carroll Sentinel
Carroll, Iowa
2 Sep 1900
Page 3

Death of an Old Settler.

S. A. Davis, one of the pioneers of this county, died at his home in Newton township last Thursday afternoon at 5:20, after a lingering illness. He had been sick for nearly a year and for the past three weeks was confined to his bed, growing weaker every day until Thursday he quietly breathed his last. The funeral was held Saturday and was attended by a large number of old friends.

Strong Davis, as he was generally known, was born in Ohio June 12, 1833. At an early age he came to Iowa and to Carroll county in 1855, settling upon the place where he died. The first Fourth of July celebration in Carroll county was held in 1856 on the grounds where the funeral services were held last Saturday and the old oak still stands under which the declaration of independence was read. In 1857 Mr. Davis was married to Katharine Morris, who survives him. Besides the widow, four children are left to mourn his demise. They are Charles Davis, Mrs. Ida Peed, Mrs. Dina Davidson, Mrs. Cora Anderson, all of whom are living on the home place.

Mr. Davis was a veteran of the civil war, having enlisted in 1862. He was sent home when convalescent from his wound. He never entirely recovered his health after the war and it probably hastened his death.

The funeral services were in charge of the Masonic lodge of Coon Rapids and the Grand Army post of Coon Rapids attended the funeral in a body.

The Carroll Herald
Carroll, Iowa
5 Sep 1900

S. A. Davis Passes Away.

One of the Sturdy Pioneers of Carroll County is Gathered to His Fathers, Leaving an Honored Record.

In the death of S. A. Davis which occurred last Thursday afternoon this county loses one of its honored and honorable pioneer citizens. For some time he had lingered between life and death and when the final summons came his family were prepared for the shock. The funeral was held at the home last Saturday afternoon, conducted by the Rev. Mr. Rinehart. Friends of the deceased were present from all parts of the county and joined in the sincerest sympathy of the sorrowing family. His remains were laid at rest in the cemetery at Carrollton within a short distance of where he had spent nearly a half century of his life.

Strong Davis, as he was known by his friends, was born in Mercer county, Ohio, in 1833, and was therefore in his 68th year at the time of his death. At the age of six he moved to Iowa, settling in Washington county. In 1855 he came to Carroll county and located on the farm which has been his home for 45 years. There were but few settlers in this whole section then and he labored with the spirit that inspired the hardy settlers on the frontier everywhere. In 1857 he was married to Miss Catherine Morris who has been his faithful and helpful companion for all these years. He contended with the elements and hardships of pioneer life and when the war broke out in 1861 he left his new home and young wife and family and enlisted in the service of his country, serving in Co. C. of the 4th Iowa, General G. M. Dodge's regiment. He made an honorable and valiant record in the army, and retired to civil life with the hope of enjoying the pleasures and profits of peace. In 1864 he was honored with the office of sheriff of this county and held the office till 1867 when he voluntarily retired. He used to smile in talking about the munificent salary received while in office. If he did all the work himself and kept down his expenses he could realize about $150 a year. He afterwards always took a keen interest in the welfare of his party and was a loyal Republican, but he never aspired to office.

His good wife survives him, with one son, Charles A., and three daughters, Lina, wife of Ed Davidson; Ida, wife of J. W. Peed; Cora, wife of Mr. Anderson. All were present at the funeral.

Strong Davis was a man of rugged character and his neighbors who knew him through the course of a long life regarded him with the highest esteem. He was an excellent citizen in every sense of the word and his influence was good in the locality in which he lived. His memory will be cherished by all who had the good fortune to know his true worth of character.

A singular coincidence is noticed in the fact that the funeral was held on the same spot on which the first celebration of the 4th of July was observed in the county, in 1856. Under the spreading three that has shaded the yard through the years since past the declaration of independence was read on that occasion and the nation's flag for the first time flitted beneath its branches. The deceased used to refer to the patriotism and love of home on the frontier of those days and the glory in the fact that such feelings were not dimmed by the isolation of pioneer surroundings.

One by one those pioneers are passing, but the work they accomplished and the impress they made on the population of this great state is enduring.