Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1910-11-08
death CLAIMED
AGED CITIZEN
OF AMERICUS.
Col. Walter 7. Davenport
| Died Sunday.
Venerable Resident of AmeFlCuS,
Aged SO Years, is Called to His
Bright ReWard---He Was Esteemed
Among All.

HhdWASe uIle SellLle SplFHl OI one
Americus' most honored and believe
citizens Sunday afternoon, when Co
Walter T. Davenport sank into tn
long, restful, f1tful sleep that viii
know no awakening until the resur
rection morn.
Gentle as was his life was tn
calm and peaceful final scene as tn
curtain was lowered here and tn
lights of the Celestial City beamet
as a beacon for him.
Tired only; not i'll; no mark o
pain left its impress upon his fea
lures. There had been no illness up
on his part, but like the giant oak tha
had withstood the storms of cen
tury only to fall by weight of years
this life went out quite as f1tfully.
And in the passing of this truly goo
man, whose life had been as an opel
volume here for three score years AM
ten, Americus loses one of her mos
nonOred c1tl1enS.
The death, of Col. Davenport hat
been expected for two days prior, AM
all of his sons and daughters, witt
the exception of one residing in dis
tant Texas city, were at his bedsid
to receive his final blessing. Up to tn,
last half hour he was conscious o
all passing about him.
A more tenderly pathetic and touch
ing death scene had never been wit
messed here before.
The Funeral on Monday.
AT 8 O'Clock Monday afternoon, il
the sanctuary wherein he Lad wor
shipped since boyhood, was enacted
the last rites that could be Accorded
and a whole community assembled
t4ere to join in fearful tribute. Rarel,
has larger funeral, or "a sadder one
been witnessed here.
The Methodist church wais filled Il
it's capacity when the fiower-covere(
Se'0HNCI was DOln W Ille CIndICel ID,
the sons of the deceased.
These were Messrs. James A. Day
enport, d. F. Davenport, Rev. T. E
Davenport, Dupont Guerry and Law
SON Stapleton, ons-in-law and Viii
Smith, Lawson Stapleton, Jr., and DAY
enport Guerry, grandsons.
Following the tender anthems rem.
dered by tie choir the funeral ser.
vice was conducted by DIR. J. P. Ward.
law, who paid beautiful and meritet
tribute to one so worthy, and whose
yong years of usefulness had been
spent here in the advancement of his
city and the community at large.
The services were concluded at Oak
grove cemetery where the body rests
beside that of his beloved k.elpmeet
who long preceded him Ito heaven.
Seventy Years Resident.
1T has been just seventy years since
Col. w. T. Davenport, then a young
man of %, left his home lin Halifax
county, Virginia, and came to the
then li5tle struggling village OF
Americus, and here he has since re-
mainei and witnessed its growth in
to proud city, contributing his part
thereto
He was born December 25th, 1917
and had he survived few weeks
longer would have celebrated his
ninety-third anniversary.
Coming here in 1841, he has re.
sided longer in Americus titan AMY
otLer citizen, even those who may ex
ceed him in point of years.
in 1845 he weddeI1 Miss Mary e
Frederick, of Houston. Eleven child
rem blessed this happy union, the frs
two surviving but few months. Hi
surviving sons and daughters ar,
Mrs. F. D. Hollis, Mrs. B. ]. Baldwin
Mrs. Dupont Guerry, Mrs Lawson Sta
pleton, Messrs ]. A, D. F. and T L
Davenport.
Two other daughters, Mrs. A. W
SMITH and Mrs. s. w. Dixon, passe
away many years ago.
Long Career in Business.
Col. Davenport embarked in bust
ness at once upon his arrival here
engaging first in dry goods and gen
eral store, with branches at Bottsfor
and old Pondtown, now ElEauille. |
later years he was long engaged
the drug trade and general insuranc
until he retired from active bushes,
He gave his services to the SoutI
ern Confederacy, and was made co
onel OF the Elghty-sixth Georgia reg
fment by gubernatorlal appointment
| Under his instruction the men wh
were to follow Lee and Jackson j
/ the Virginia valley were given til
needed training here and sen to Il
front. Col. Davenport WAS tythc
agent here for the government and !
this capacity was captured by the en-,
my and carried to Macon to take ii
oath of allegiance.
This was at the close of the war an
the fall of the Confederacy.
His was grand life; noble OF
and we'll worthy of emulation. Sever
ty-sdx descendants, are among h
children, grandchildren and grea
grandc{ {fsdren, and these will ev
bless his saintel emomry