Los Angeles herald., 1905-12-02
"MAY GO TOMoRRoW,"'
SAID Mr.. DAVENPORT
AT REUNION THURSDAY

At the Davenport home last night
there was much sorrow and more than
a score of friends of the family called
to offer their sympathy and lend aid to
bereaved members OF the household.
we all held reunion yesterday,
said II. M. Watson. one of Mr.. Daven-
PORTS sons-in-law. Mr.. Davenport
seemed to be happy and we all spent
an enjoyable afternoon talking Of old
times together.
During the conversation my father
in-law said. Well children, am get
ting older every year. At that one OF
his daughters looked UP and said, Why.
daddy. you will live for twenty years
more"
'Mr. Davenport smiled and said I
don't know, daughter. 1 may die to-
morrow His prophesy was fulfilled
within twenty-four hours.
I'VE were notified first OF the acci-
dent by my fathers partner, who was
on one OF the cars at the time of the
accident. He was the first to reach MIR.
Davenport and he assisted I'm lifting the
body from under the wreckage. My
father-in-law had number Of impor-
tant papers in his pocket: papers which
he kept always with him, and these
were scattered about. l understand
that they were picked up by one Of his
friends and placed in the care of a
u
The papers contained, besides records
of considerable Importance, a list Of all
his property holdings, among them be-
ing a list of houses which, through his
real estate business, he had been build
Ing in various parts of the city for the
past few months.
'He had recently moved to his new
home at 1856 West Eighth street and
had been living here about two
months"
James p. Davenport was born at
Alexandria, w. Va, in 1S41. His father
was a farmer and he was reared on the
farm until he was IS years of age, when
the home place was sold and the family
moved to a farm in the vicinity Of
Brooklyn.
When the Civil War broke out four
years later, Mr.. Davenport was one of
the first to volunteer. He was accepted
through the New York naval examina-
tion station and was mustered into the
United States navy.
He was sent to the scene of opera
tions on the Mississippi Immediately
following his enlistment and as the tide
of war swept westward he was sent
with number of picked men to guard
the federal interests on the Pacific
coast. He remained there during the
remainder of the war and was mus
tered out with honors at the close of
the war.
From the naval post at Mare Island
he went to Nevada City and became a
commercial salesman. He married in
that city and later moved to San Fran
cisco. where he represented the COM
merctal house of Sherwood & Sherwood
for many years as one of their most
efficient workers.
Thirteen years ago he came to Los
Angeles and built a home at Tenth and
Maple avenues The home still remains
and is known as the Davenport home
stead.
Mr.. Davenport was known and we'll
liked by hundreds of prominent and in
fiuential families of Los Angeles. 10y
atty to the city of Los Angeles was his
first thought and many of the great
Improvements of the city have been
fathered by him.
His widow and three daughters Mrs.
X. M. Watson of 1856 West Eighth
street, Mrs. G. NJ. Grove of 1877 Fran
cisco street and Miss Ethel Davenport,
survive him.
Mr.. Davenport was an Elk in good
standing and was populare with all
members of the order.
Funeral services will be held Sunday
afternoon, probably at the First Meth
odist church