Rev. R. B. Davidson (1871-1936)

DAVISON, CARSON

Posted By: Mark Christian
Date: 12/17/2008 at 03:37:17

Ames Daily Tribune and Times, Ames, Story County, Iowa, Wednesday, January 15, 1936.

R. B. Davidson, Baptist Pastor, Dies Wed'day

The Rev. R. B. Davidson, pastor of the Ames Baptist church since 1920, died about 3:15 p. m. Wednesday at his home in Roger Williams house, Baptist, student and church center at 120 Lynn avenue.

The Rev. Mr. Davidson had been ill since just before Christmas, when he contracted tonsilitis. Heart complications were believed to be the cause of death.

A native of Scotland, the Rev. Mr. Davidson came to this country at the age of nine. He held pastorates in Rockford, Ill., and Marshalltown before coming to Ames.

Ames Daily Tribune and Times, Ames, Story County, Iowa, Wednesday, January 15, 1936.

REV, DAVIDSON'S FUNERAL IS TO BE HELD FRIDAY

Many To Attend Rites At Church At 2:00 P.M.

Members of the Baptist church, Baptist students at Iowa State college and many friends in Ames and thruout Iowa will attend the funeral services of the Rev. Robert Bailey Davidson, 64, pastor of the Baptist church and student pastor of the Roger Williams house, who died Wednesday afternoon.

Funeral services will be held at 2:30 p. m. Friday from the Baptist church at Fifth street and Kellogg avenue, where the Rev. Davidson had served as pastor since 1920. The Rev. Nelson P. Horn, director of religious life at Iowa State college, will be in charge of the services. Assisting him will be the Rev. A. W. Caul, Canby, Minn., former Baptist pastor here, who will deliver the sermon; the Rev. Le Roy S. Burroughs, rector of St. John's by the Campus Episcopal church, representing the Ames Ministerial association; the Rev. Mr. Dierks, Iowa City, representing the Baptist ministers of Iowa, and the Rev. Frank Anderson, Des Moines, executive of the Baptist state organization.

The body will lie in state at the Duckworth Funeral home from 9 a. m. until noon, Friday. Burial will be in the Ames cemetery.

Died Suddenly

The Rev. Mr. Davidson died suddenly about 3:15 p. m. Wednesday of heart trouble. He had been ill for nearly three weeks of tonsilitis and a cold, but his condition had not been considered serious.

He was born in Glasgow, Scotland, Jan. 24, 1871. When nine years old he came with his parents to the United States, the family settling in Holyoke, Mass. He was graduated from the Holyoke high school.

After receiving his bachelor of science degree from Bucknell university, Lewisburg, Pa., the Rev. Mr. Davidson attended the University of Chicago from which school he received his master's degree and bachelor of divinity degree.

Minister For 34 Years

On Aug. 28, 1901 he was married to Miss Jean Carson at Ann Arbor, Mich., and the same year he began his ministerial duties at a Baptist church in Pittsburgh, Pa. After serving here and at Detroit, Mich., for several years, he took over the pastorate of the Baptist church in Rockford, Ill., where he served from 1909 until 1914.

While at Rockford he organized the first mutual hospital insurance association in the country, a type of organization now operating in 62 cities in the country. Under this plan of which hospital bills will be paid when hospital treatment is necessary.

From Rockford he moved to Marshalltown, and served as pastor there from 1914 to 1920, coming to Ames in 1920.

Also Student Pastor

In addition to serving as pastor of the Baptist church here, the Rev. Mr. Davidson several years ago assumed the added duties of student pastor of the Roger Williams house, where the family has made its home for the past six years. The Roger Williams house was built by the national board of educatino of Baptist churches. In this work he became acquainted with hundreds of students at Iowa State college.

He was active in Masonic affairs in Ames, being a member of Arcadia lodge, Joshua chapter and Gebal council. Ames masons will attend the services in a body, meeting at the Masonic temple at 2 p. m. before going to the church.

Guides De Molay

His chief interest in Masonic work lay in sponsoring and guiding the De Molay chapter for boys from 16 to 21 years of age. He served as principal advisor to the group during the life of the organization here, about 15 years. As advisor to this organization he endeared himself to many young Ames boys ans was known to many as "dad."

Keenly interested in all sports, he was particularly interested in wrestling. He was also active in the Bobby Burns club here, and attended many of the anniversary dinners given here by persons of Scottish descent.

Surviving him are his wife and two children; a son, Paul of Ames, and a daughter, Ernestine, of Ottumwa. Also surviving him are two grandchildren.

Ames Daily Tribune and Times, Ames, Story County, Iowa, Saturday, January 18, 1936.

Many Attend Final Services For Pastor Fri.

Final services for the Rev. R. B. Davidson, pastor of the Baptist church here for 15 years, were held at 2:30 p. m. Friday in the Baptist church.

Hundreds of Ames persons and many ministers from over the state braved the heavy snow in order to pay a final tribute to their pastor and friend.

Pallbearers C. S. Jackson, Ed Allen, George Hartman, George Davis, Lou Roberson and G. S. Pohlman bore the casket into the church. Honorary pallbearers were B. L. Allen, R. A. Norman, C. S. Parkhouse, George Fuller, L. W. Butler and A. A. Benedict.

The Rev. Nelson P. Horn, director of religious life at Iowa State college, was in charge of the services and Howard Chase played the pipe organ. The Rev. C. W. Caul, Canby, Minn., pastor of the Baptist church here before the Rev. Mr. Davidson, preached the sermon.

Attending the services as distinct groups were members of the Ames Ministerial association; state Baptist ministers and members of the Ames Masonic lodges.

Following the impressive services at the church, a short final service was held at the Ames cemetery, where burial took place.