DAVENPORT, Jesse Cooper 1869 - 1951

DAVENPORT, PARNELL, DAYTON, BULKLEY, HOIT

Posted By: Pat Ludeke (email)
Date: 4/19/2016 at 01:00:53

J.C. DAVENPORT, 81, DIES; LONG ILLNESS

Funeral services will be held at 2:30 Friday afternoon at the First Methodist church for J. C. Davenport, 81. The Ward funeral home is in charge of arrangements. Rev. W. M. Hubbard, pastor, will conduct the rites if he returns in time from a trip to Texas. Burial will be in the Clear Lake cemetery.

Besides his wife he is survived by three adopted children, Mrs. Alvah Bulkley, (Donna) Bath, N.Y.; Mrs. Roy Hoit, (Dorothy), Clear Lake; and David C. Davenport, Cedar Rapids. Also seven grandchildren. A niece Hazel Davenport, Odeboldt, also survives. He was preceded in death by two brothers and two sisters.

Jesse Cooper Davenport was born Sept. 6, 1869 at Elwood, son of Charles L. and Mary Parnell Davenport, and passed away at a Mason City hospital on Tuesday, July 17, following a long illness, being confined to the hospital two months.

He attended school at Elwood and Odeboldt and in Los Angeles, where he moved with his mother in 1887. He graduated in 1888 from the International Business College. He returned to Iowa and worked first at the Odeboldt Reporter, then for the Odeboldt Chronicle. While still in school he learned the printing trade at the Odeboldt Reporter during vacations and other spare time.

In 1891-92 he attended Morningside College at Sioux City, in 1893 and 1894, attended Northwestern college at Evanston, Ill., and 1895, the State University of Iowa at Iowa City. He worked as a reporter, solicitor and collector for the Des Moines Daily News before coming to Clear Lake where he founded the Clear Lake Reporter on April 16, 1896, and was owner, editor and publisher until he sold to the present owner, B.D. Merriman in July, 1945.

On June 21, 1896, he was married at Waukon to Anna Dayton, who was a teacher in the Clear Lake schools. He purchased the Reporter building and lot in 1902.

Mr. Davenport was a city clerk and water commissioner from 1903 to 1911 when he resigned to become postmaster which position he held until 1915. He was a member of the Methodist Church, a member of the official church board, secretary 40 years, and Sunday school superintendent 15 years.

He was a founder and charter member of the Rotary club in 1920 and a past secretary and past president. In December, 1950, he received honors as a 30 year member without a single absence at any meeting. He was a member of the Hawkeye Press club, Iowa Press Association, National Editorial association, the Knights of Phythias, A.F and A.M. and the Commercial club.

Transcriber’s Note – Jesse Cooper Davenport was born September 6, 1869 and died July 17, 1951.