W. J. Davis, 93, Retired Miner, Dies Early
Today
William John Davis, 93, retired miner, and a
resident of this city and vicinity for 37 years, died at 3 o'clock this morning
in a Jacksonville hospital, where he had been a patient nine months. He
had been in poor health for three years.
Mr. Davis was born at Cape Kock, North Aberdare,
Wales, England, September 2, 1858, the son of the late John and Mary Davis. He came to the United States when a young man, and before coming to
the Taylorville community 37 years ago, he lived at Hiteman, Iowa. Possessed
of a beautiful singing voice, he was director of the Boys' Welsh Choir of
Hiteman, which many years ago gained an enviable reputation in a series of
concerts throughout Iowa. Mr. Davis was a member of the Congregational
Church of Hiteman.
He was married to Elizabeth Ann Jenkins at
Ottumwa, Iowa on December 24, 1887, and she died April 8, 1900. To this
union seven children were born, one of whom, Mrs. Mae Fennel, died in
1910. In November, 1903, Mr. Davis was married to Selina Havelock, and to
this union, five children were born, on of whom, Mabel, died in infancy.
Surviving are his wife, Selina, of Tovey; six
children by his first marriage: Mrs. Edward Nowac, Pana; Mrs. Perry
Noren,
Taylorville; Mrs. Elizabeth Jones, Pekin; Mrs. Alfred Moses, Maywood; Mrs.
Florence Helmers, Moline; Clarence of Taylorville; four children by his second
marriage: Mrs. Ernest Rowley, Tacoma, Wash.; Mrs. Phoebe Bryan, Aurora;
Mrs. Hazel Smith and Mrs. Jesse Brown, both of Tovey. He also leaves
several grandchildren and great grandchildren.
The body was removed to the Abel funeral home
where friends may call after 7 o'clock tonight.
The funeral cortege will leave Saturday morning
for Albia, Iowa, where funeral services will be held Sunday afternoon in the A.
L. Lewis funeral home. Burial will be in the Albia cemetery.
W.J. Davis died Friday morning, March
21, 1952 at 3 o'clock, Jacksonville, Illinois and was buried in Albia,
Iowa.
Kathy Mantell
cat50@mcleodusa.net
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