April 7,1939 Atkinson Graphic MINER DAVIS PASSES AWAY; WAS NEARLY 92.
CELEBRATED SEVENTIETH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY LAST JANUARY; 106 DESCENDANTS SURVIVE.
Miner Davis, aged pioneer, Atkinson resident, passed away Friday evening, March 31, at the home of his daughter, Mrs Ethel Morrison, at Newport. Mr Davis was nearly 92 years of age. He came to Atkinson in 1884, and homesteaded on Holt Creek south of this city.
Last January Mr Davis and his wife celebrated their 10th (that is the way it is in the paper), anniversary. Besides his wife, he is survived by 106 descendants. They include 7 children, 40 grandchildren, 57 great grandchildren, and 2 great great grandchildren.
Funeral rites were held at the Methodist Church in Atkinson Monday, Interment was in Woodlawn Cemetery, the pallbearers being Leonard and Wilber Davis, Vernon Morrison, Lawrence, Harry and Elmer Slaymaker, all of whom are grandsons of Mr Davis.
Sylvanius Miner Davis was born May 6,1847 in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia; and departed this life Friday evening, March 31,1939, at 9:30 o’clock at the home of his daughter, Mrs Ethel Morrison, of Newport, at the age of 91 years, 10 months and 25 days.
When he was 5 years of age he moved with his parents to Princeton, Ill, where he resided for a short time before the family moved to Bear Valley, Minn. At Bear Valley on Jan 24,1869 he was united in marriage to Miss Clarissa Jane Spicer. To this union 10 children were born.
In 1873 they homesteaded near New Ulm, Minn, but later moved back to their former home, Bear Valley. In 1884 Mr Davis and his family moved to Atkinson and took a homestead on Holt Creek south of here. Later he took a Kinkaid claim on a section of land just west of the old Inez postoffice.
In 1907 they moved to Glen, Nebraska, where they again took a homestead. Later they moved to Newport, where Mr Davis continued to reside until his death.
By trade he was a carpenter and blacksmith. He was a skilled woodworker, and made many violins which are still in use in this vicinity. He had the typical pioneer spirit, and with his wife, endured many of the early day hardships. He was a kind and loving husband and father and a faithful friend.
He leaves to mourn his passing, his wife, Clarissa Jane, 7 children, Charles of Atkinson, Mrs Nettie Hovey of Miami, Florida; Mrs Floy Bailey of Wichita, Kan; Jess of Long Pine, Lewis of Crawford, Clyde of Atkinson and Mrs Ethel Morrison of Newport.
Also surviving are 40 grandchildren, 57 great grandchildren and 2 great great grandchildren and a large number of friends and neighbors who mourn his passing. Three children preceded him in death. Mrs Bertha Slaymaker, Mrs Ina Emery, and Lulu Davis.