DAVIDSON, John (1844-1923)

DAVIDSON, MORSE

Posted By: Kathy Weaver (email)
Date: 5/10/2016 at 11:12:42

Malvern Leader
Thursday, Nov. 22, 1923

In Appreciation of John Davidson - - Again the solemn notes of the funeral dirge have fallen on our ears. We are assembled today to pay our last tribute of respect, and to honor the memory of our old Friend and Comrade.

We came to lay upon his casket a simple blossom of grateful and loving memory.

John Davidson was born October 24th, 1844, near Waverly, Ill., where he lived until 1861. When a young man of but 17 years of age he went to Palmyra, Ill. When the dark clouds of war were hanging over our country like a pall and there he heard his country's call, and enlisted as a Private in Co A 32 Illinois Infantry, and marched forth in defense of the old flag.

He was on the firing line when able, from the first battle of Shiloh where he was wounded, until the close of the war. He stood guard in the wild storm and under the quiet stars, and with muscles of iron and nerves of steel he stood bravely through the many battles his company was engaged in, and stayed by his colors until the close of the war, and was honorably discharged.

All honor to Uncle John and all the boys in blue, of whom only a small remnant now remain whose courage and sacrifice brought to us the splendid liberty we who are younger now enjoy.

After his discharge he returned to Macoupin County and lived in South Otter township until 1867 when he was united in marriage to Miss Arabelle Morse. To this union were born two children, one son who died when 22 years of age and one daughter who only lived until about 10 years of age.

From South Otter he moved with his family to Hastings, Iowa, where he lived until the death of his wife about four years ago. Since that time he has resided continuously in this vicinity, making his home with Mr. and Mrs. Henry England, where he has been cared for by them as tenderly and as constantly as if he had been one of their children, until the time of his death, Tuesday morning, October 30th, 1923, when he passed into that sweet and dreamless sleep that knows no waking until the resurrection morning.

He was a man of high ideals, honorable in all dealings with his fellowmen, sincere and true in all his relations in life, believed in the Golden Rule and a square deal and practiced these principles in his daily life.

Someone has beautifully said that all human greatness shall have an end, all human things shall pass away. Time and all its circling hours with swift wings are brushing them away; decay steals upon them insensibly, and a few years hence all that is earthly shall lie in smoldering ruin and desolation.

To see the flowers fading, to behold the vines on the walls shedding their leaves, to view the forest trees stripped of their rich foliage is sad, when viewed from the dark side of life. But why gaze on the dark side when there is a bright one? Why be sad because the flowers are fading and withering? Why be sad because the vines are being robbed of their leaves? Why sigh because the rich autumn foliage shall soon be numbered with things that disappear? The flowers will soon bloom again, the vines be clothed in new branches and the trees robed in green. Why then should one be sad to see the body lose its vigor, the cheeks their rosy hue, the locks grow gray and the eyes dim?

To hear the voice of some dear friend growing feebler and feebler is not sad, when one remembers that for the old body a new one shall be given, and that a brighter and better world awaits those who live Godly and righteous here. Autumn with all its beauty does not last long. The leaves soon shall fall and fade and the bright red orange colors, that we so much admired shall soon fade. But what of this? God will not forget us. He is simply preparing us for sweeter flowers and the forest tree with a richer foliage. We trust that some how, Good will be the final goal of ill. That nothing walks with aimless feet, that not one life shall be destroyed or cast as rubbish to the void, when God hath made his work complete.