John E. Davis 1868-1921

DAVIS, ARMBRIGHT

Posted By: Sharon Elijah (email)
Date: 5/31/2018 at 09:53:24

17 February 1921 - West Branch Times

Page 1
J. E. Davis was suddenly stricken last Wednesday afternoon and altho his condition was known to be serious yet his family and friends were not prepared for the end which came Sunday night at 12:30. Before this he had not been seemingly seriously ill yet his health was not of the best and he had made a brave fight to keep up and attend to his duties.

Mr. Davis had owned the West Branch Bakery for a number of years, he was also an important factor in the local band.

He was a man of excellent character and worthy citizenship and to the bereaved family sympathy will be tendered by all who know them.

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John Edwin Davis was born in Muscatine, Iowa, January 6, 1868, and passed peacefully away, while asleep, a little after midnight, Sunday morning, February 13. When five years of age he removed with his parents to Wapello, Iowa, where he lived most of his life until manhood years. March 3, 1897, at Columbus Junction, he was married to Bertha Lillian Armbright, and the new home was set up. For twelve years, after removing from Columbus Jct., they lived in Wapello and then for about the same length of time in West Branch, Iowa. During his residence at West Branch he played with the concert band and was faithful as its financial manager. In the fraternal relations he was a member of the Wapello Woodman Lodge. While never a member of the church, his sympathies were with the church and he was willing to help, especially in the music. Practically all of his life he followed the trade of a baker.

John was a very quiet man with very little to say about his own affairs or condition. For this reason his friends did not appreciate the fact of slowing declining health. All that medical skill and loving hands could do did not prolong his days because God's ways are not our ways. Thru it all he maintained a cheerful, patient attitude.

He leaves to follow him his bereaved wife, daughter, Gladys, and son Harlan. His father and one sister passed to their reward in 1903. His mother, Mrs. Maggie Davis, resides in Wapello; as also does his brother, Will H.; and sister, Mary. The brother, Fred A., resides in Chicago, Henry C. in Faribault, Minn.

A brief funeral service was held in the home in West Branch Tuesday afternoon at one o'clock during which all the business houses in town were closed. The family then took the remains to Wapello where a service was held in the Presbyterian church Wednesday afternoon. His home pastor Rev. W. G. Rowley preached the funeral sermon at Wapello. Interment was in the Wapello cemetery.