Davis, Harrison I. 1840-1925

DAVIS

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes
Date: 2/7/2014 at 08:50:39

The Grinnell (IA) Herald
Tuesday, February 3, 1925

"TAPS" SOUND
FOR H.I. DAVIS
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One of Grinnell's Civil War Veterans
And Honored Citizens
Passes On.
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MILITARY FUNERAL
HELD THIS AFTERNOON.
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Mr. Davis Had Lived A Useful Life In
This Community For
Many Years.
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In the death of H.I. Davis which occurred Sunday morning at seven o'clock Grinnell and Poweshiek county have lost one of the early settlers in this section and one of our most distinctive and honored citizens. Since 1866 Mr. Davis has been a resident of Poweshiek County and since the middle 80's his home has been in Grinnell where he has been honored by membership on the City Council and on the School Board, each position at two different periods.

H.I. Davis was born in Chenango County, New York, February 19, 1840. At the age of twelve Mr. Davis' parents moved to Bureau County, Illinois, near Princeton. Here he lived until 1866 after which time he made his residence in Sheridan township and later in Grinnell city.

In 1862 Mr. Davis enlisted in Company K, 93d Illinois volunteers and served nearly three full years, being mustered out on the 23d of June, 1865. He took part in the Vicksburg campaign and when Sherman was later transferred to the east Tennessee district of the war, the 23d followed him and Mr. Davis was a participant in nearly all the hard battles fought from Chattanooga till after the conquest at Atlanta. He was a young man of iron constitution and during all the three years of his service nearly all of which time he was on most hazardous and arduous duty he never missed a day from his mess and his company. He was commissioned Lieutenant and was mustered out in that rank. Among the severe battles in which he took part from Chattanooga to Atlanta were Missionary Ridge, Chickamauga Creek, Allatoona Pass and Kennesaw Mountain.

Mr. Davis was married December 20, 1866 to Miss Emily E. Trimble in Bureau County, Illinois, and she at once took up her home with him in Sheridan township.

Mr. Davis was a hard working and thrifty farmer and in all that he did he prospered. Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Davis in Sheridan township, five of whom are now living and four were present at the funeral.

In 1879 Mr. Davis was elected member of the County Board, a position for which he was well qualified and which he filled with eminent satisfaction to the people. In the middle 80's Mr. and Mrs. Davis moved to Grinnell to take advantage of the school opportunities. The six children all graduated from the Grinnell High School and the family was recognized as one of character and worth. In the middle 90's Mr. Davis was elected to a position on the School Board and gave his strength and time to the cause of education in which he was much interested. In the 90's he served on the Council which established the water plant and the original sewer system in 1894 and 1895.

After he had served two terms as member of the Council he retired from office but was at once elected a member of the School Board which position he held until he voluntarily retired.

However, Mr. Davis was of the type whose services the people constantly demand and soon after he was re-elected to the City Council and gave the same devoted care to the city business' that he had given to both the city and the district in the years that had passed.

Mr. Davis was a man of pronounced convictions, an uncompromising Republican in politics, and an earnest admirer of Lincoln for whom he cast his first presidential vote and of Roosevelt and the long line of able Republican presidents who have served the country since 1860.

In manner, Mr. Davis was a mild but outspoken and fearless in his demand for honesty in government and political fairness in party spirit.

The last years of his life have been spent in quiet at home though he has been a frequent visitor at the Elks Club of which he was a member. Few men have attained more prominence than Mr. Davis in a local community and few have served their people better than has Mr. Davis. Straightforward, uncompromising honesty was a (settled?) habit. Fearlessness in conviction, determination in action and unswerving loyalty to his country and his flag were characteristics for which his old friends will remember Harrison I. Davis.

Mr. Davis' death was the result of a stroke which he suffered about four weeks ago following his long life of robust health and strength. In just a few days more he would have been eighty-five years of age. Named after the Whig candidate for president in 1840, the Whig's nickname was given to him by his friends and during all these years the familiar figure of Mr. Davis has been known by his nickname "Tip" and when the years have merged into the long eternity, to his old friends who held him in admiration and who esteemed him for his manly and worthy qualities, he will be known, familiarly and lovingly, as "Tip" Davis.

To mourn his loss, there remain his wife and five children: Harry L. Davis, Darline Preston, Wilbur Davis, Glenn Davis and Mrs. Edith Bentham.

Funeral services were held from t he home at 2:30 o'clock this afternoon. They were of a military character and were conducted by Rev. C.A. Carman commander of Focht-Tennant Post of the American Legion. Members of the Legion post were pall bearers and the Legion ceremonial was used at the interment service in Hazelwood cemetery. Music was furnished by the Denver Male Quartet made up of Rev. C.A. Carman, Cecil Myers, (????) Dawkins and D.E. Peck.

The following acted as pall bearers Harold Evans, James Ford, Ora Haag, Ralph Longley, Leslie Swisher and Ed Jantzen.