Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-02-12
Mr.. J B. DAVIS DEAD.
A BRIEF ILLNESS FSDs his LIrEA THE
AaE OF sEvgNTY
Sketch OF His Career as Contractor and
Banksr-hrrangements for
the Funeral.

anksr-krranRements for
the Funeral
Mr.. John b. Davis died at 2;SO yesterday
morning a, Moutczuma (bis farm, on the
Mechanicswlle turnpike, TWO miles from the
>esrporsie limits.
y Wedncsday he was feeling unwell. but
made no special complaint. On THURSDAY
he beesn 20 suffer from nausea, hut still did
not think be- was sick enough 10 require
medical advice. Fnd,y he was 80 deoili-
ia'ed pa + be determined 10 come 10 Rich
uond and see Dr. Brock. aud this be did
and wa pir.crbed fir. saturday be was
but little lmnfovcd. and sunday morning NJ
3 O'Clock no was 20 sick that, reluctant a. ne
ever was 90 cali pBysician for himseb, nc
requested ihat The Doctor be scoi FOR
li. cnse was a. once seen TO be serious. IL
s0oo~hcqan lo hr alarming, ana IN tue eve
ming Dr. Brock Informed The iamiIy tna' q
cousultaiiou VS. dc.raDle, and Dr. tuicn
wa summoned; ru' nOibing thal 'ouio De
dome could arrest tbe course OF De d'seAFe.
sad he soon lrli into urcon-ciousness' ana
ef haIi.na-t2 - quietly. as GRADUALLY ~ t'e
son sinks bcyoud The bonz u, ne passed
tro,o ft,s bfe INTO the world beyond. His
disease. o.. determined by bis physicians,
wa heart failure.
W0GrArnrAL.
Holm Rrown Davis was born In Howard
county. sid, go 1919, aOd married Mss Bar
lrp 81 BALTIMORE. ffom which city be came
a. Richmond about f0rty-Gso years ago, ana
nerf.fsb,i.hiug himself became contractor
for = Great deal ~ eucei-ptvinT wbich was
ttrr f,eirg done on tbe streets Oi Richmond
aud y ucbcsicg.
Thqf le hsi had 30 make his own way IN
bfo Was never m1ttcr Of c0ncealment WIN
hin. On the contrary. be- frequently re-
fcrrea 10 his carly struggles, and ol"ays al
ftcfionstols remembered those who had aided
or enc uragcd BIN.
Tor many years he was In the stone husl-
ncss here, and for ioug time bis yard wa- on
the l0t on which B,ancbard's warehouse was
built. When TIE found,ton for THIS ware
house was being dug "a railway irac6 was uu-
cartbcd 90 the di.f8uce OF several feet below
the surface ~ tbe hillside. and for a good
while 30 was mystery how IL got there, but
Mr. Davis. seeing newspaper notice o' what
was characterized as "pienistorlc railway" "
came forw ird With an explanation.
n was fhc track buiit 10 reach his stone
ward. aud hayiOg been abandoned long
time ago. the hillside sided down upon II
sad covered 10 up. and so It passed out OF
3hc memory Of IMAM until the cxcaYators
suck their shoyels sud picks into the bill
ea.' Of ,hockOe Warehouse.
PHosrEmNG.
Mr.. psvis prospered In the stone cutting
end paving business, ard extended his en-
ierpr,,c ln many other directions, aud was
au active and public spirited citizen.
some ycsrs before the war the Traders
Bank wls established and he was made tho
pre.idtut OF Ii. Il continued 10 do fine
hn.lnr>. unul the night OF the evacuation,
when. 70. coin having been transferred 10
tbe bsnds0f the epubhc cauihodtie, and lost IN
tbe cnllaIee 81 the Confcferacy II, like all
our Old banks, closed busincs, never again
10 resume. Mr. Davis, however, was rich
man. aud witt a fOndness and aptitude Tor
nanking. iu the course ~ q few years after
the close Of the war came 10 be a. ihe head
oi the Planters National Bank and the Rich
moDd Banking and Insurance Company
both large Institutions.
BANGING.
In addition 10 banking deceased had been
largely interested i'm Virginia agriculture
and stock raising. aud in the canning busl-
ness, and also conducted tho Horse Bazaar
here.
lis public spirit and indeiatigable energy
were displayed in almost every direction. lie
was a good. Kind friend ana helper 10 hun
dreds OF men Of humble fortune. Many OF
these, now pTOsp per0us, say that but for ms
kindness and hbcraiity they never could
have succeeded.
His heart Was always open TO ihc pleas OF
poverty and misfortune. sometimes he Ven
iured beyond the safety line 90 ald those who
hal bis confidence. aud 50 II came about that
a. NN fsf tr-
ing aud Insurance Company h8d 20 suspend
p4vmtnt and close ITS doors. 10 was nard
blow and a great grief 20 him, but he had
the happiness in fhc course 0f year or TWO
~ knowing that every creditor oi The bank
was paid boa fuil-pnncipal and interest
But one other bank lu tuis country ever
made such q record When bank susncnds
10 generally means something terrible 10 the
deposltor- Here 10 hut meant that after
short DELAY they would sct their claims IN
full. with interest added.
Decpa, was Mr. EAVis's modification at
having to suspend, Go him there WAS great
consolation; a calm satisfaction IN know
inr that the bank bad o clean, clear acquit-
tauce.
Not ten days sgo Mr. Davis came 10 the
Richmond post Office to see his old friend Cut
HnrwoIfh To- ash Il tue latter could give him
rome addresses that could not Ice found in
the city directory. II seemed that there was
about St,S0O deposited M the Planters
Bank To the credit OF the Richmond Banking
aud Insurance COMPANY g creditors, and
these creditors could not be found; had
never c~ucd Tor their money. Mr. DAVIS
wanted 10 ind them or their heirs and nolny
them io draw The money. That was typical
Of toe man. lie vas proud Of the good namo
be had made, honest TO The farthlug, and
iust to AN with whom hc dealt.
MoNrTZCMA.
The day of The suspension OF the Banking
and Insurance Company Mr.. Davis tfSus-
icrrcd 10 others bis interest in The Planters
Bsuk and rc.lcDcd it- presidency. lie was
succeeded los Mr.. Charles T.. WhitiocA, who
served as president until toe annual election,
january l3, lSs3 when Mr.. James Is Pace
WA. chosen, ana has ever since remained at
tbe head Of the bank. which IS one ot the
most lourisbing In this city or country.
Mr. Davis later on ceased operations at
the great Lcstor Manor cannerv. turned over
The horse bazaar 90 his son Joseph H., and
resolved TO devote himself TO agriculture and
stock-rai,iug at Moui'zuma.
NouicIuma is q uuc tract Of land on the
cast side OF the Mechaoicsyille turnpike, and
Nj payls's improvements have made the
fields rich. The house stands In the midst OF
nue 0id trees and Oh gentle emineoce. All /
about ihe place arr signs OF the deceasod'S |
I1dustry aud Tariff The comfortable dwell /
Ing look. aS Il newly painted, the fences are |
whitewa.hsd. the Walkways and PATHWAYS !
travelled. aud nesineSs aud order every /
s. here prevail. lie bad made il lovely /
home, aud between hIs iarm.lue and daily |
visits 90 the city WAS spending BIS old age |
in comfort.
FAMILY.
Mr.. Davis has two brothers liying-ex- |
senator Henry G.. DAVIS, Of Deer Park, W. |
Va. snd Mr. Thomas DAVIS, "a coal operator |
AZ Piedmont, W. Ns.
Decreased leaves only two children Mrs. !
James Leigh Jones aud Mr.. Joseph Il. Davis. !
Another son. John Calvin, who was the /
ea.nier o. the Planters Bank and a member +
OF the City Council. died very suddenly /
come twelve or tilieen years ago.
The expressions of the people upon the /
death Of Mr. Davis are si kindly. lie is re-
membered AZ usciul public.spirited man; 1
proulp, 10 respond 10 tbe calls OF friendship /
aud charity. aud those nearest to hlm kuow 1
that in bis home hie he was as gentle as