Decatur County Journal

March 5, l908

The subject of this sketch, "MELLIE" SEVERE, as he was familiarly called

by his friends and acquaintances, was born at Liberty, Ohio, July l8,

l852, and died at his home in Davis City, Iowa, at 4:30 a.m. Friday,

February 2l, l908, aged 55 years, 7 months and 3 days.

At the age of l3 years he came with his father's family from Knox County

Ohio, to Akron, Harrison County, Mo., where he grew to manhood, and

received a common school education. In l875, he went to Eagleville,

Mo., and began work in a general store for G.M. Nordyke & Co. After two

years labor there, he came to Davis City, Iowa, and began work for J.E.

Teale, in the store and continued with him until the year l879, when he

entered into partnership with his brother, F.M. SEVERE, and his

brother-in-law, S.R. FRAZIER, under the firm name of Frazier & Severe

Bros., doing a general mercantile business at Davis City. This

partnership continued until l885, when the firm dissolved, and the

Severe Brothers formed a partnership and did business as Severe Bros.,

and a little later established a branch store at King City, Mo., and

still later one at Memphis, Mo. They continued in business until l900,

when the firm dissolved, and MR. SEVERE came back to Davis City and

entered into business of his own and in which he was still engaged at

the time he was stricken down with his fatal sickness and death.

While the deceased had never identified himself with any particular

church or Christian denomination, yet, he was a believer in God and good

works, and in all mankind doing right and in treating his neighbors as

he would be treated, and that finally all would be adjudged by one who

was able to give just judgment and according to the deeds done in the

body. He was of a quiet turn, not having very much to say, and one that

made many friends, and but few, if any, enemies.

On February l7, l884, he was united in marriage to MISS LILLIE WARNOCK,

of Davis City, Iowa. She being the third daughter of HON. W.S. WARNOCK,

now deceased. To this union was born one child, a son, FLOYD, who is

left to comfort and cheer his mother in this bereavement. He was

preceded to the great beyond by his father, mother, one sister and one

brother, and leaves to mourn his departure his beloved wife and son, two

sisters and three brothers.

BRO. SEVERE joined Davis City Lodge, No. 3l4. I.O.O.F. by card, December

l7, l88l, and was quite an active member, having filled all of the

principal offices in the Lodge and was re-elected as Secretary a number

of times and later was repeatedly elected as Treasurer, as well as

having passed the chairs as Vice and President.

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Copied by Nancee(McMurtrey)Seifert

October l6, 200l