J. N. Mcdavitt 1862-1910

MCDAVITT, SCHENCK, BERRY, WHITELEY, STRECKER

Posted By: Volunteer: Roxanne Riggan
Date: 2/25/2012 at 21:36:39

J. N. McDavitt

J.N. McDavitt was born in central Illinois Feb. 17, 1862 and died at Burlington, Iowa; Nov. 18, 1910 aged 48 years, 8 months, and 29 days. His death was caused by a very malignant form of erysipelas and came very suddenly.

He went to Burlington Saturday evening to make an over Sunday visit with his wife who had gone there a few days before and had opened an office for the practice of medicine.

He was entertained at the home of his wife’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Walter Schenck, but the happy home was soon changed to a home of mourning. Mr. McDavitt was taken seriously ill Sunday evening. All that medical skill and trained nurses could do was done to prolong his life, but the end came Wednesday morning.
The disease was first noticed during the previous week in what appeared to be a small boil on his chin.

His mother died when he was about twelve. When he was seventeen he began teaching school, took a course study at a normal school and graduated from a business college being an expert accountant.

For several years he was in Wellington, Kansas, where he held various positions as abstractor, insurance agent, county officer, etc. In 1891 he married Miss Hattie Berry, a sister in law of George Whiteley. His wife died in 1894 after a short illness. During the panic of 1893 Mr. McDavitt lost considerable by the failure of two banks in Wellington.

He was for several years in the employ of J.W. Watteley and Sons, for a time being engaged as manager of a handle factory at Walnut Ridge, Ark. Afterward he came to Bonaparte and opened a furniture store in the Robt Cresap building, in which business he has since been engaged. He had an extensive insurance business, probably larger that that of any other agent of this vicinity.

Previous to the Wellington, Kansas experience he was engaged as cattle buyer and rode horseback over the southwest, some of the incidents of his life being very interesting.

August 25, 1909, he married Dr. Bertha S. Stecker of Bonaparte and was most devoted husband and companion until death.

Funeral services were held at the Schenck home at 801 Starr Ave, in Burlington Friday afternoon and the remains were interred in a Burlington cemetery. The sermon was delivered by Rev. Allen of the M.E. church and the further exercises were in charge of the Masonic order of which he was a member. He was also worthy Patron of Magnolla Chapter.

Note: unreadable text in Genealogy Society article has been added from identical obit from Entler Scrapbook.

Source: Van Buren Co. Genealogical Society Scrapbook A, page 328, Keosauqua Public Library; Keosauqua, IA

Source: Entler Scrapbook Collection, vol. 5, Iowa Historical Library, Iowa City, IA