Egbert Valencourt Davis
DAVIS, YOUNG, BIRDSALL
Posted By: Mike Peterson (email)
Date: 7/24/2010 at 11:49:05
From the 11 May 1916 Spirit Lake Beacon.
E. V. DAVIS, FORMER RESIDENT, DIED QUITE SUDDENLY ON SATURDAY
E. V. Davis, one of the earlier settlers of Dickinson county passed away at his home at Royal, Iowa, on Saturday after but a few hours illness. The interment took place in the family lot at Arnolds Park on Tuesday. Aged 73 years, 2 months and 12 days.
Egbert Valencourt Davis was born near Syracuse, N. Y., February 24, 1848. His parents were Robert and Coliste Davis. His mother died when he was ten years of age after which he was obliged to made [sic] his own way in the world. after [sic] succeeding in obtaining a high school education he taught school several years.
When the Civil war broke out, he was one of the first to offer his services to his country. He entered the service from Pennsylvania as teamster for three months. At the expiration of this enlistment he went to Illinois and re-enlisted for five years in Co., E. 105th Vol. Infantry.
He saw service in the western theater of war and was in all the principle battles of the west. He went with Gen. Sherman on the march thru Georgia and thru the Carolinas to Washington, being mustered out at the close of the war 1865.
He had fitted himself for an officer and obtained a Lieutenants commission.
After leaving the service he returned to Illinois where he worked at the trade of carpenter for two years. He was married in 1867 to Martha C. Young. To this union seven children were born of which three survive, Myron C. of Spirit Lake, Iowa, Mrs. Lenore Birdsall of Royal, and George E. of U. S. Navy stationed at present at Honolulu, Hawaii.
In 1869 Mr. Davis came to Dickinson county, homesteading in the southeast corner of Center Grove Township. After a few years the hardships of pioneering, Grasshoppers, blizzards, etc., disheartened him and he sold out and moved to Floyd county where he remained for about two years. He then returned to Dickinson county purchasing a farm in Richland township which was his home till about 15 years ago, when he sold his farm and moved to Spirit Lake. Mrs. Davis died the following year.
Since the death of his wife he has made his home with his daughter, Mrs. E. S. Birdsall of Royal.
Mrs. Davis was a man of reserved disposition. His reserve and quiet manner presented his being appreciated at his true worth by those only causully [sic] acquainted with him. He had a keen and inquiring mind, a life rich in experience and broadened by wide reading. He kept his interest in life and events until the day of his death. He retained the use of his faculties, excepting hearing, partial deafness having troubled him for several years.
Mrs. Davis was sick but a few hours. He was as well as usual until the afternoon of his last day on earth. About 2 o'clock he was stricken with appolexy and died at 8 o'clock.
Funeral services was [sic] held at Royal, May 8th at 1 p. m. conducted by Rev. Griffith of M. E. church of which Mr. Davis had been a member for over 30 years.
Civil War Veterans Residing In Dickinson County
Dickinson Obituaries maintained by Kris Meyer.
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