The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1907-10-03
R. ". Davidson Passed Away
An Old Veteran and Former Minot Citizen Dies
/, at oneil, oreeon---Rsmains Brot to Minot
and Funeral Held this Afternoon---
Conductsdby the Masonic order---

read in this and other papers.
His collection is large and may
later be put into book form. He
was q natural born poet.
Mr.. Davidson was a good
christian man aud at the time
of his death was an elder in the
Presbyterian church in this city.
He lived in Minot until about q
year ago when he went to Ore
gon where he hoped the change
Of climate would benefit him. He
spent some months in a Sanitar-
ium with good results. He had
purchased quite a tract of land
in Oregon and was improving it.
Mr.. Davidson became a mem
Der Of the Masonic order and
Eastern Star about six years
ago and a better member was
not enrolled on the lodge re-
cords.
In 1870, the deceased was
united in marriage to Miss Hell
en- Jones, whose parents, one OF
Ward county's most aged
!couplee, reside on their home
stead near Logan.
To this union four children were
born Ernest, a prominent mer-
chant of Portal, N. D., Florence
the wife of Rev. Mr.. Hayes of
Aneta, N. d., Miss Lillian, and
Edna. wife OF Asa W. Benton, OF
Oneil, Oregon. M. Davidson's
first wife died in 1889, and
some years later he was united
in marriage to Mrs. Mary Gates
who survives him.
Mr. Davidson's father. ali
old gentleman nearly 96 years
OF age, died in Alinot a little
more than a year ago, and
many will remember him us be.
J ing one of the oldest living Ma
son in the United States and
N. d. oldest Mason.
The deceased spent most of his
life in new countries. Pioneer
life became to him a second ma
: ture, and in it he developed
| sturdy manhood only as such life
! can develop. In political life as
well as in private, he always
stood for that which was right.
He believed in morality to a high
degree, and no one can point to
q single thing in his life which
does not bear us out in this state
ment. He was a good christian
, man, and his example was the
t best. While life has passed and
all that is mortal lies cold in
Z death, the good that he has done
> will live long in the minds Of
, those who knew, him.
, Mr.. Davidson was growing
: steadily better in his Oregon
home, when q malady that seem
ed to be passing all over that
Z country attac ked him as we'll as
MANY others, but his old disease
manifested itself, causing hie
: death in about two weeks. His
friends and relatives in Ward
3 county were notified of his sick
! ness but it was not known that he
! could not recover until four days
before death took him, and tele-
grams and letters calling his rel
atives to his bed arrived too late.
: He was conscious to the very
: last, and his last words were
!, when he informed those near
and dear to him that he was 20
ing to Jesus. His life was a
noble and grand one. His
friends can be comforted in the
thought that it was we'll that he
| lived. He contributed his share
III the uplifting of mankind.
!, His advice 80 freely sought and
50 graciously given will long be
remembered by those who sought
!, his counsel.
The funeral was held this af-
!, ternoon from the Methodist
church, Rev. Mr.. Lawrence of
the Presbyterian church officia-
J, ,fting He was assisted by Rev.
G. L. Powell, pastor Of the
church. The funeral was in
/, charge Of the Star in the West
! Lodge, "A. +. and A. " NJ, and