The Mankato free press., 1912-05-03
SIDNEY ". DAVIS DEAD;
LIVED TO RIPE OLD AGE
Was Father of Representative
From Third District.

St Peter, April 26.-Sidney w. Da
Wis, territorial pioneer of Minnesota
and one of the most prominent of the
early settlers of this part of the
state, is dead. His death occurred al
ten o'clock Wednesday night, and as
result of it st. Peter loses one ol
it's best citizens.
Mr.. Davis death was not unexpect
ed. He had been great sufferer
with chronic nephritis, and had beer
i'll failing health for the last -four
years. Three weeks ago he had an
unusually bad spell, and his condi
ton was regarded as so serious thai
his son, Representative Charles r
Davis, was called home from Wash
ington, d. c. Congressman Davis
remained at home nearly week, al
the end of which time his father
had improved materially and he felt
safe in returning to Washington
Early in the present week Mr.. Davis
began losing strength, and he failed
rapidly until the end came.
Reached Ripe Old Age.
Sidney w. Davis had attained the
advanced age of eighty.seven years
He was born in Lower Canada, some
sixty miles south Of the city OF
Montreal, on June IL, 1925, and was
the son of Orange R. and Adelaide
(Barton) Davis. He was the second
of family of eleven children. When
Mr.. Davis was boy Of eight his
parents were compelled to fee from
Ontario by the revolutionary troubles
that caused widespread unrest
throughout the Dominion of Canada
Attacks were made on several set
Elements, and the danger became sc
imminent that Mr.. Davis took his
family and fed in the night. They
crossed the st. Lawrence river in a
small boat, and spent the winter OF
1S37-3S at Sackett's Harbor.
A year later, in 1889, they left
New York and emigrated to Pike
county, Illinois. locating on a farm
near Pittsfield, the county seat
There Mr.. Davis spent his boyhood
and on attaining his majority he be-
gan farming operations on his own
account. In 1876 he was united in
marriage to Mary 0. Pettis, a daugh'
ter of Stephen Pettis, and they lived
happily until 1851, when her death
took place, following an attack Of the
cholera. .s.r .. .-.
In 1853 Mr.. Davis came to Mime
sofa and pre-empted a claim two
miles east of Kasota There he CON
tinued to reside until 1857, when he
moved to st. Peter, and opened a
meat market and general store.
Performed His Part Faithfully.
When the state hospital for the in
sane was established here, Mr.. Davis
contracted to furnish its supply OF
meat for a period Of ten years. This
contract was faithfully performed,
and on it's expiration he disposed of
his meat market, and later his gen.
eral merchandise business. Then he
entered into a partnership with Alva
Pettis to buy live stock. The firm
was known as Pettis e Davis, and
for years its operations were conduct
ed on q larger scale than any similar
firm in Southern Minnesota. Some
twelve years ago Mr.. Davis retired
from active business life, and since
that time he had given his attention
to the supervision of his farming
and other interests.
Mr.. Davis was married second
time in 1876 to Mrs. Lydia Cole,
widow of Sylvanus Cole, her death
occurring in 1898. Left to mourn
his loss are a son and three daugh-
ters. They are Representative Charles
r. Davis. Mrs. Lillian McOuat, Mrs.
Mary Dunham and Mrs. Alice Thomp-
son, all of this city. He is also sur
vived by one brother, Henry G. Da-
Wis of Kasota township; and two sis
ters, Mrs. S. II. Pettis of this city,
and Mrs. John Harlow of Sioux
City, Iowa. :.
Funeral services will be held from
the family home at two o'clock to-
morrow afternoon. They will be con-
Quoted by Rev. w. D. Stires, rector
of the Episcopal church, and the in
terment will be in Wood]awn ceme-
terry.
Congressman C. r. Davis wired to
relatives yesterday that he would
reach st. Peter at ten o'clock to-
morrow morning to attend the fu-
neral of his father, the late S. W..
Davis.