James R. Davis (1921)

DAVIS, HENDERSON, HIGGS, KENNEDY, YOUNG

Posted By: Treva Patterson
Date: 3/2/2006 at 19:41:06

The Winterset Madisonian
Winterset, Iowa
Wednesday, August 31, 1921

James R. Davis

James R. Davis was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania on Sept. 17, 1832 and died in Winterset, Iowa, August 26, 1921. Age 88 years, 11 months and 9 days. In 1841 he moved with his parents to Guernsey county, Ohio. He attended school there and grew to manhood and began his business as a farmer there. He moved to Madison county, Iowa, arriving May 2, 1857. He came with an ox team and settled in Union township. Here he resumed the pursuit of agriculture until the civil war. Aug. 19, 1862 he enlisted in Co. F, 39th Iowa Volunteer Infantry. He was promoted to a corporal and never faltered in his duties as a soldier. When driving an ambulance wagon, he was taken prisoner, but fortunately was rescued by his comrades. On June 5, 1865, he was mustered out of service at Washington, D.C. On returning home he resumed his farming and stock raising.

In 1879, he was elected sheriff of Madison county, which office he filled for four years. At the expiration of his term of office, he returned to his farm in Union township. In 1887, he was appointed steward of the county farm, filling this office for seven years. He set out trees and made several permanent improvements, and did all he could to make the farm pleasant for the inmates. For eight years he served as justice of the peace in Union township. He retired from actively conducting the farm and moved to Winterset in 1908, but even after coming to town he served a term as justice of the peace.

Mr. Davis was married to Miss Margaret Henderson in Guernsey county, Ohio, Feb. 10, 1853, who preceded him to the heavenly home, passing away on June 17, 1899. To this union were born nine children, five of whom have passed on before. Elizabeth Ann, Findley, James Butler, Leslie M. and Mary M., Mrs. W. C. Young of Minnesota, Mrs. C. A. Higgs of Santa Monica, Calif., W. T. Davis of Truro and J. M. Davis of Mitchell county, Iowa, together with 24 grandchildren and 21 great grandchildren remain to mourn his loss. On March 28, 1901, he was married to Miss Hannah Kennedy, who has been a faithful help-meet and devoted companion for 20 years and was constantly at his bedside during his last sickness.

He was a devoted member of the United Presbyterian church and served this congregation as ruling elder for 46 years. He was a member of the Grand Army of the Republic. Integrity and recitude have characterized all his life, as a citizen and in his domestic and church relations. Appropriately, we can say with the Psalmist, Ps. 91:16, "With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation." and Ps. 116:15, "Precious in sight of Jehovah is the death of His saints." Funeral services were held Sunday afternoon at 2:30 in the chautauqua pavilion, under the auspices of the G. A. R. The sermon was preached by Rev. Malone, pastor of the United Presbyterian church and the body laid to rest in Winterset cemetery.

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