The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-08-23
DEATH OF THE
REV. JOHN DAVY
ONE OF THE OLDEST CLERGY
MEN HEREABoUTs.
In Devonshire, England, He First
Saw the Light of Day Nearly Eigh-
ty-seven Years Ago-For Many
Years He Labored in New York
State and About Fifteen Years Ago
Came to This City--Charges He
Has Had in This City and Its
Vicinity.

Vicinity.
Rev. John Davy, the oldest Methodist
clergyman in point of service in this
part of the state, died last evening at
his home on Myrtle street, near Madi-
son avenue. He was within few
months of being 81 years of age and
had been preaching the gospel for more
than half a century. Brisht's disease
aggravated by complications was the
cause Of death. This is the third death
in this city within a few months OF
clereymen who had grown gray in
spreading the gospel of Methodism.
Those who preceded Rev Mr.. Davy
to the great beyond were Rev. Thomas
B. Barker and Rev. ]. G. Eckman, ID.
D., the late presiding elder Of this dis
trict.
Rev. Mr.. Davy has been ailing for
about two years but was frequently
heard in local pulpts until last fall.
His last sermon was delivered in the
Calvary Reformed church at Monroe
avenue and Gibson street last Novem-
ber, during the absence of the pastor,
Rev. George Welsh. When he return
ed home that night he told his wife
that he had found the strain OF speak
ing more than he could endure and he
feared he would never appear in
pulpit again. His fears proved all too
true and soon thereafter he was COM
PEELED to deny himself the privilege OF
attending service on Sunday and the
weekly prayer meeting.
SANK GRADUALLY.
For two weeks he has been sinking
gradually and last night at $50 the end
came. He is survived by a wife and
the following children: Mrs. George
w. Mitteer, of Dunmore; Mrs. II. T..
Moore, of Laurel, Nd; Albert S. Davy,
of Mechanicsville, N. Y; William
Davy, of Sidney Centre, N. Y, and Ed
win Davy, of this city. The funeral
will take place on Thursday afternoon
at o'clock and in accordance with
the earnestly expressed wish of Mr..
Davy before his death, both services
and funeral will be private. He de-
sired that the service be held at his
home, that the service he simple and
the sermon short and that flowers be
| dispensed with. 1nterment Will be
made in Dunmore cemetery. Friends
can view the remains a. any time be-
fore the hour set for the funeral.
In the death of Rev. John Davy
| Methodism loses a striking and unique
| figure. He was an earnest, forceful
| speaker, whose appeals went straight
| to the heart. During the dedicatory
| services at the Court Street Methodist
! Episcopal church a few years ago
| Chaplain McCabe, in referring to
Brother" Davy, said he had done as
much, if not more than any clergymen
| of his acquaintance to build churches
| and spread Methodsm. No taskwas too
| difficult for him to undertake, and he
| was as happy and as enthusiastic in
performing his clerical duties in some
| obscure parish or on a sparsely settled
circuit as he would have been If given
the finest charge the church could offer.
BORN IN ENGLAND.
Mr.. Davy was born in Devonshire,
| England, on June 9, 1912, and in his
boyhood learned the machinist trade.
| The desire to preach the Gospel was
strong within him and eventually he
| became a local preacher whose strong,
common sense arguments and straight
| forward manner of stating the truths
of the Bible attracted considerable at
tention. In 1888 he came to this coun-
| try and located in Orange county, n.
j.. where he preached under the pre-
siding elder. After spending a year in
| New Jersey he went to the Deposit,
| n. Y, circuit, and during his first
year in that state married Miss HUI
| dab Couse. of Madisonville, Delaware
county, N. ].
| Following his work on the Deposit
| circuit, Mr.. Davy was assigned to
| preach the Gospel at the following
| places in New York state: Window,
| Catskill, New Paltz. Leedsville. Lib
'erty, Gilboy, Summit. Clovesville,
| Franklin and Colchester
Some fifteen years ago his voice
failed him, and for a time he engaged
in mercantile pursuits. After a time
his impaired vocal organs became
strengthened and he was assigned to
a mission in South Scranton. Under
his fostering care it grew and pros
pered. Today the mission he started
is known as the Cedar Avenue Metho-
dist Episcopal church.
LOCAL CHARGES.
After his work at the mission he had
charges at Gouldsboro, Paupack and
Salem. For several years he has been
on the retired list, but was frequently
heard in pulpits all over this part of
the state, and assisted the presiding
elder at many of the quarterly confer
| ences.
He was a man who took an active
interest in public affairs and thought
full letters from his pen on subjects
of general interest frequently found
their way into the public prints. Three
| years ago he paid a visit to England