The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1870-08-29
DEATH Of kkv. HENRY DAVIS,
d. ID.
PASTOR OF THE FIRST BAPTIcr CHURCH,
ROCK ISLAND.

GCommunicatedl
| The friends and acquaintance OF the late
| DR.. Davis, in this city. were startled az the
telegram received last week, conveying the
.ad ;n,al);uenee of his sudden and unex-
pec,ed death. He left the city on the lth
day of July last to spend few weeks vscs,
lion among his friends in the eastern part
of the state. After stopping short time
in Indiana, where he owned farm and at
tending to business connected win inc ia' ="
he returned to the residence OF ms hePhe"'
Ho, n 7, Davis. of Danville, Fermiiilon
conp,v Illinois, where he expected to remain
until sometime in September. his wife,
who had been east most of the summer,
Joined him at that place. He appeared to
be enjoying his usual good health, and the
following Sabbath after arriving at Dsnviile
he preached by invitation, in one of the
churches there. Although the sermon was
one of his most profound and best ones, yet
his friends noticed that its delivery required
creator efforts than usual for him. From
that time he commenced feeling i'll, but was
able to be about until the following Sabbath,
when he had a severe attack of vomiting
attended with dizziness compelling him TO
take his bed from weight he never arose
Naturally of robust build and strong
constitution he was almost always In the
enjoyment of perfect health, and wholly
unused TO sickness, but when it came in its
full power, taking possession of that healthy
body, the strong man had to yield. His
physician pronounced the disease bilious
remittent fever. During the week, while
the fever was highest, his mind was wander
| ing, but only for q short time. In his lucid
moments while tossing about on his couch
rscked with pain and suffering, the
thought that lay nearest his heart, the cause
of Christ" and his ''desr church at Rock
| Island was the theme of his converse
ton Only short time before the spirit
took its flight to the world of light, there to
remain pure and spotless angel in the
| presence of God, around his throne forever,
the last words the good shepherd and chris =
,ian man uttered were. "Oh my church, my
church, God take care of the church"
/ The best medical aid was called and
! everything that human skill could do was
doue to arrest the disease, but all to no pur-
pose. He continued to grow worse until
fifteen minutes before twelve noon Sunday,
| August Plat, when quietly he closed his
/ eyes to that sleep that on earth knows no
waking
| MIR Davis was born in Saratoga county,
! New York, IN April, 1900, and was there
fore, 20 years of age. He left promising
business in New York city, in 1923, and
being licensed to preach the gospel by one
of the Baptist churches there, entered upon
the work of the christian ministry. After
devoting nearly four years to study, he was
ordaiaed and sent as a missionary in 1877
to Detroit Michigan, then the boundary o
civilization in q north western direction
There he planted q church. But failing
health obliged him TO return in less than 1
wear to New York. He has occupied i'm
portant fields as pastor and as agent snC
secretary of benevolent societies Among
the churches was o@e In New Gork city TO
seven years For long time he was paste
of church in Rochester, n. Y, and also il
Columbus, Ohio, before coming to Rocl
Island His whole term of service IN tn
ministry was II years. He has been YER
successful in his pastorshlp, and OF this th'
people of this city can testify, SO lar as h
isbors among them are considered as evi
dence. But his work is now ended and h
has one to his reward, and the church O
which he was pastor in this city has experl
enced great loss in his death. To many
''being dead, he yet speaks" His excelIen
=. wife. a devoted christian woman, endearet
to all who know her Tor her sterling virtues
and the CON psnion of his early years sur
wives him. In this trying ordeal and sal
bereavement she has the sympathy of thi
whole community. But she mourns not 70
him as one without hope. 1t will be bu
few wears at most before she too will pas
t away from earth to join that companion i
Heaven with those dear children who hav
gone before