DAVID, Charles 1818 - 1898

DAVID, HURT, GAINES, BURNS, HURST, BILLS

Posted By: Joey Stark
Date: 5/26/2006 at 20:01:50

"The Fairfield Ledger"
Wednesday, February 2, 1898
Page 3, Column 3

After a Life of Kindly Deeds.

Charles DAVID, a pioneer citizen of Fairfield and Jefferson County, died at his home on East Burlington Street Friday. He was stricken with paralysis several months ago, and friends had feared for some time past that there was no hope for his recovery. Mr. DAVID was in the eightieth year of his age. Nearly sixty years of his life had been spent in this community. He had his faults, as all men have, but the entire period of his residence here was marked by a succession of kindly deeds. The lessons of pioneer life, when every man was every other man's brother, was never lost on Charley DAVID, and he followed their teachings till the end. It is probable that no two men in Jefferson County rendered so much assistance to their fellows in time of sickness and death as Mr. DAVID and his lifelong friend, the late J. S. BECK. It mattered not how distressing the circumstances, how severe the hardships, what the nature of the disease, at what hour the summons came--they answered it. The stranger was like their nearest of kin when their tender ministrations and kindly attentions could make easier his last moments or when with gentle hand they committed his body to the earth. They were not men of great deeds, but their memories will be better perpetuated in this community by the record of their entire lives than by any single act of bravery or heroism and should prove more enduring than the granite which marks their final resting places.

Charles DAVID was born in Bellefonte, Penn., March 18th, 1818, but removed with his parents in early childhood to Wayne county, Ohio. In 1837 the family removed to Richland county, Ill. In 1840 Mr. DAVID accompanied the late John W. Culbertson and his family to Iowa and located in Fairfield. The remainder of his life was spent here. Mr. DAVID was married to Miss Sarah A. HURT in this city March 7th, 1841, and eight children were born to them. Five of these children, with the mother, are now living -- Mrs. R. E. GAINES at Hermosa, Col.; Mrs. Lizzie H. BURNS and Mrs. T. C. HURST, Denver. Col.; Miss Lucy DAVID in this city; Charles B. DAVID, Chicago, Ill.

In a note which Mr. DAVID addressed The Ledger during his last illness he related many incidents of early life in Fairfield. When he came here with the Culbertson family in February, 1840. there was but one vacant building on the town site. It was a shanty with practically no roof, and when a spring snow came the family was compelled to seek shelter in the hotel. Mr. Culbertson purchased a lot on which the opera house now stands and proceeded to erect a log house on it, a building 16x24, and Mr. DAVID did most of the work on it. In the fall Mr. DAVID entered a claim of eighty acres, now the DuBois farm just northwest of the city. The following winter he erected a cabin on it, and here in April following he took his bride and began housekeeping. During the sixty years Mr. DAVID spent here he was engaged in various occupations and lines of business. His first summer he worked as a journeyman carpenter. In 1848 and 1849 he was landlord of the Eagle Hotel on the west side of the square. He was for many years a partner of J. S. Beck in the hardware and implement business on the east side, and was the owner of the only frame building now standing on the square. At other times he lived on a farm and was for several years engaged in shipping stock. He was an energetic and industrious man, in the active years of his life progressive and public spirited.

Mr. DAVID's remains were interred in the City Cemetery (sic - Evergreen Cemetery, adjoining Old Fairfield City Cemetery) Sunday afternoon, where those of his father and five brothers and sisters, all of whom passed away more than forty years ago, repose. Rev. J. F. Magill conducted the funeral services, and among those present when the last sad rites were performed for their dead friend were a number of persons who had known Mr. DAVID during nearly all his life in this community.

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"The Fairfield Tribune"
Wednesday, February 2, 1898
Page 2, Column 4

Death of Charles DAVID.

Last Friday afternoon at one o'clock, after a long sickness, Charles DAVID, one of the pioneers of Jefferson county, passed peacefully away. His residence in the county dates from January, 1840, and during the more than half a century which has elapsed, he has ever proved a good and worth citizen. On the twenty-fifth of last October Mr. DAVID was stricken with paralysis, and although he was afterwards able to be out he never really recovered, and for many weeks before his death he was unable to leave the house.

Mr. DAVID was the son of Carpenter and Mary M. DAVID, born in Center County, twenty miles from Bellfount, Pa., on March 8, 18I8. His parents moved to Wooster, Wayne county, O., when he was an infant and here his boyhood days were passed. In 1837 they went to Lawrence county, now Richland county, Ill., and there Mr. DAVID made his home until he came to Fairfield in 1840. On March 7, 1841, he was married to Sarah A. HURT, who now survives him. To them were born nine children, five of whom are stil living. They are: Cora, now Mrs. R. E. GAINES, of Hermosa, Col; Elizabeth is the wife of C. M. BILLS, of Denver, Col.; Alice, now Mrs. T. C. HURST, also of Denver, Col.; Lucy E., who is at home, and Charles B., of Chicago.

When Mr. DAVID first came to Fairfield he worked at the carpentry trade and afterwards bought and sold stock. Also, for many years he was in the hardware business on the east side of the square, the firm being under the name of David & Beck, but for many years past he has been leading a retired life.

In politics Mr. DAVID was a lifelong democrat, earnest and enthusiastic in his views, and at one time, in 1867, held the office of Mayor of Fairfield.

The funeral was held at the residence Sunday afternoon at two o'clock, Rev. Dr. J. F. Magill conducting the services. The funeral was largely attended.

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"The Fairfield Tribune"
Wednesday, February 2, 1898.
Page 7, Column 2

... Charles B. DAVID returned to his home in Chicago the first of the week. He was called here by his father's death. ...

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*Transcribed for genealogy purposes; I have no relation to the person(s) mentioned.

Note: Buried in Evergreen Cemetery, Fairfield, IA, in Lot 1st.023. Wife Sarah died in 1907 and is buried with him.