The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-06-14
COL. RICHARD J. DAvANT DEAD.
His Funeral VIII Take Place at
Guyton To-day.

Col. Richard J. Davant died at his home
in Guyton al go o'clock yesterday
morning. His death came as the termina-
ton Of lingering illness, that had i'm
paired mis- health, strength and bodily
activity for more than two years b.
had never Iessened or weakened the sp,en-
did qualities of mind and manner thai
made him always the scholar, the gentle
man and the man.
Col Davant was born at Allendale,
Beaufort county. South Carolina. sixty
five years ago. his father, Richard J.
Davant Esq. being a noted lawyer and
successful planter of that section. lie
spent his early life at his fathers coun-
try home, imblbing those principles of
ehivalric honor that were the heritage in
the Old days of the young men of the
South. and that during his life always
dlsiing ulshed b IN his education was Sc
cured at che South Carolina HILLARY
Academy, the famous Charleston Citadel
and In the later day when the call 10
arms was sounded this military training
stood him and has country N good stead.
In MS early manhood Col. DdVaIIl came
TO savannah ana VITA Col Edward Law
ton, who had married one Of MS sisters
formed che firm of Davant & Lawton, and
engaged IN the cotton business on the
Bay. Al The outbreak OF the war, the firm
was dissolved, both of the partners volun-
teering for service at the front one of
them, Col. LawCOn, never returned, but
lost his Afe in an heroic charge at the
battle Of Fredericksburg.
Coz. DaVantS service was equally honor
able and distinguished and attended with
better fortune.
He lett Savannah as a first lieutenant of
cavalry, 10 which commission he was
elected by the Georgia Hussars, and with
which command he saw hard service and
gallant lighting IN the battles in Virginia.
lie was successfully promoted for gal
liant aud meIitorious conduct on Ihe held
OF batue, becoming finaHy lieuteuant-coi-
onel of the Fifth Georgia Cavalry. In this
command he served in the cavalry corps
under Gen. Joe W heeler and with that
dauntiess and active commander saw All
the duty and service and hard lighting that
was taking pace anywhere near the pO.nC
at which the corps was encampod.
When Gen. Wheeler came 10 Savannah
with the PRESIDENTS party last Decem-
Der, Col. DaVant stood upon the platform
at Guyton to meet him, ana though
then stricken with the fatal disease, he
greeted his old commander with all Of the
ardor he had displayed upon the field
of battle. Gen. Wheeler was equally glad
to meet his old comrade, and the greeting
between the two warriors of a lost cause
was affecting TO all by whom 81 was wit
messed. Age had rot impaired Gen.
Wheeler vigorous activity, but upon Col.
Davant death had already set his seal and
ton of this fact forced itself upon the
consciousness of the general, ard he knew
when he shook hands at parting with The
gallant gentleman who had galioped by
his side in foray, skirmish and pitched
battle that 1t was for the last time.
At the conclusion of the war Col Da-
want returned to Savannah and formed
the firm Of Davant, Waples e Co, of
which he was the senior partner, and
which, for number of years, carried on
a successful cotton business. Upon the
dissolution Of this firm he entered the
insurance business with his son, Mr. r
j. Davant. Jr.. under the firm name Of
r. j. DaVant & Son. When the disease
which caused his death attacked him he
retired from business, and for the past
two wears mas been living a quiet home
life at Guyton
Col Davant married Miss Anna Manner,
who, with four of their children, survive
him. One of his daughters, Mrs. J. G.
West, died IN Atlanta two years ago. His
living children are Mrs. r. NJ. Berrien
of Atlanta, Mr. William NJ. DaVant
cashier of the Merchants National Bank,
and Mr.. Richard J. Davant, Jr. of this
city, and Mrs j. Donald Pickard of Baltl-
more.
The funeral will take place this morn
ing from the residence at Guytoa. The
burial will be IN the family LOT at the
cemetery of that place. He was in life
an active and consistent member of the
Methodist Church. and had of late fire.
queutly said that he would rather wake
the next morning In heaven than on
earth. He has had his wish, and thus
passes away the soul of a good citizen and
a gallant gentleman