Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1900-04-05
A Pioneer Passes Away.

OBITUARY:-Died at his home in
South Audubon, Friday, March 80,
1900, James Davis, at the extreme age
of four score years. " Uncle Jim," as
he was Familiarity called, represented
that grand class of heroes who helped
to carve the infant state of Iowa from
the wilderness and plains to the bloom
ing fields of civilization. He has al
ways been public spirited and pro-
gressive man. He was born in Knox
county, Ohio, December 6, 1919. At
the age of % he was the assistant keep
er of the Ohio penitentiary. Two
years later he went to Missouri, and
after residence of two years in that
state, moved to Clayton county, Iowa.
From there he went, IN 1S47, to Moline,
Illinois, to remain year, and then re-
turned to Clayton county and settled
on farm. His worth soon made
him Sheriff of his county. He served
four years, giving faithful service, and
again retired to his farm. Again in
1861 he was elected Sheriff, and re-
elected each term until he had served
eight years, making twelve years of
public service in his county. In 1874
he moved to Audubon county, north
of Extra, retaining from the prairles
the black loaned soil of mother earth
to one of the best farms in the county.
In 1881 he sold his farm and retired to
town to rest and live life easy.
Thus the deceased has passed life
of busy usefulness, and we remain, as
it were, in the shadow of good, kind
and noble man. These simple humble
words have something mystic in them,
whose god-like touch makes kings of
men. The deceased was more than
great. He was wealthy in the gifts of
good-full of love and lovely charities.
He gave holiday to everyone he met.
The windows of his soul looked south
ward and were ever open. to the strong
est light; this made him grand and he
walked boldly in the faith he held.
He was an optomist. Earth was to
him so sunny he saw but few shadows.
There never was cloud of gloom so
black above but was edged with sun
shine, and had smiling faces, full of
hope peeping through it's riffs. His
heart was all humanity. 1t would
have started smoke in every chin
ney, put roast in every harder, and
built a song in every poor mans heart.
He died with eighty winters on his
head, but he had as many summers in
his heart.
To those who knew him we'll his
life should be revolving headlight on
the highlands of the future, Turing
them to kindlier deeds, nobler aims,
holier charities and loftier purposes.
With convictions in his conscience,
gold in his heart and silver in his hair
he bravely travelled from the spring of
life, redolent with the perfumes of Or
ange blossoms and Powered with q
thousand varigated blossoms, through
the summer, hot with the heat of ac-
tivity, with its dust and sweat, shade
and shine, smiles and tears, to the
droning days of autumn when the
glowing red of changing earth put on
her darker vet lovlier dress when
death, the fate of ALL with its sable
wing famed his face to pallor and
softly whispered, Come your car
riage waits.n
He passed into spirit life like De
cember into May, through a mist OF
! April tears, content to know the future
was his.
May faith, the connecting link be-
tween the known and the unknown,
smile soiace to the heaving heart OF
her who, with the heroism OF Il wite's
devotion, stood by his bed through
sickness ana helped him to carry life's
burdens. For forty years they
have walked hand in hand, driving
away scudding clouds of darkness, see
ing ever the pale gleam of the dawn
of hope tripping through the dewy
gates of morning into the millenial
harbor of the tomorrows of rest.
Three children, son and two
daughters survive to see loved father
pass through the last act in the TRACE.
dy of life; to see that death is a bene-
diction, when through it the traveller
on this barren glebe of earth gains a
restful, starlit home. Two sons, Oscar
and Sanford have been laid to rest.
The living are Anthony, Mrs. James
McAninch, of Extra; and Mrs. leila
Davis-Smith, of Chicago.
The funeral services were held in the
Presbyterian church, conducted by
Ed. B. Cousins, after which they bore
him to Maple Grove Cemetery where
loving hands lowered him to rest.
The Best in The World.