The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-08-21
One of Best Known Business Men of City Dies in
 New Orleans
BODY WILL ARRIVE
 HERE THIS MORNING
Deceased Was One of Pioneers Re- sponsible for Upbuilding of Bir- mingham-Formerly Reporter
 on The Age-Herald

Robert Patton McDavid. builder of Blr- mingham, successful business man and one of the most widely known men In the state of Alabama, died yesterday morning at 11:45 o'clock In New Orleans following an illness of several weeks.
 The remains of the deceased will ar- rive in Birmingham this morning at ( o clock over the Alabama Great Southern from New Orleans. Funeral services will, be conducted tomorrow, the exact hour to be announced later
 While the death of the deceased was not wholly unexpected 1t came as a dis tinct shock to his many friends and ac- quaintances throughout the state. Mr. McDavid moved to Birmingham from Florence, his birthplace. in 1887 and with the exception of d few years residence in Montgomery while secretary of state was a resident of Birmingham.
 Reporter on The Age-Herald
 MT. McDavid was a graduate of the University of Alabama Upon finishing there, he came to Birmingham and en- tered the real estate business. After |, short time he entered the newspaper field and was reporter on the Birmingham, Age-Herald. at that time the Birming- ham Age. In 1895 he went to Montgomery and opened a news bureau. In this ca pacity he became the correspondent for nearly every large newspaper in the Uni ted States. In 1896 he was elected secre- tary or state. After serving his term he was succeeded by Thomas Hefln, who was appointed congressman before his term expired. E. R. McDavid was ap- pointed as MT. Hefin's successor and served the remainder of the term. In 1eoo the deceased came back to Birmingham m and re-entered the real estate business.
 MT. McDavid was unusually successful in the realty field and was an ardent be- liever in the future of Birmingham. He was instrumental in the promotion of some of the largest developments that have ever been made in this city.
 An incident that will always be as- sociated with his past occurred just a few weeks before his death At that time A. E. Jackson and his associates were planning to take over the Jefferson County Savings bank. Mr. McfJavid was appointed to make an appraisal of the value of the property. For days he worked with the vigor which was charac- teristic of his entire life, and persuaded MT. Jackson to take over the property at the estimated value. which bore out his opinion of the worth of the prop erty. The result was that the bank was recrened just a few weeks before his death
 Always Kindly
 Mir. McDavid always had kind word for every one with whom he came In contact. He was generous, magnanimous, scrupulously honest in all his dealings, and possessed the confidence of every one whom he knew. His advice to all young men who came to him in the time of need, was to be honorable above all things. and to invest in Birmingham real estate all their savings. His advice sell dom went unheeded He was loved by the old. the young, the fortunate and the unfortunate. A kind word with a smile of encouragement, was always upon his lips. He knew not what 1t was to bear i'll will against any one. A Chris tian, gentleman and scholar. the whole city will greve over his death
 His firandfather was the late Governor Robert Patton He came from one of the finest families in the state of Ala bama. He married Miss Irine Smith, the daughter of Dr. Joseph R. Smith, in 1886. The deceased Is survived by his widow, and seven children R. P McDavid Jr. Mrs. Maclin Smith, Joseph McDavid. Charles McDavid. Ned McDavid. Tom Me- David and Miss Martha McDavid also one brother, E. R. McDavid. and three sisters Mrs. Betram Ware and Mrs. Louis Wal ters of Texas. Mrs. N. c. Wilkins of Tullahoma, Tenn.