Free trader-journal and Ottawa fair dealer. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1920-1927, 1921-11-02
L|NC0LN'S KIN, 1O4,
A COUNTY PIONEER.
DIES AT EARLV|LLE:
ALEXANDER H. DAWSON, CoUS-
IN OF EMANClPAToR LACKED
ONLY FOUR MONTHS OF CELE.
BRATING 1o5th slRTHoAY-WAs
NATIVE OF VIRGINIA..

Alexander II. Davisson, l04 years,
close kindred of Abraham Lincoln.
and Earlville's grand old man has en-
tered the great beyond His death
occurring Monday night at the home
he established in the days when pio-
neering in La Sale County was lust
what that word implied to the great
men responsible for the upbuilding Of
the west.
Clean living" was an attribute
credited by Mr.. DaYisson 10 his long
and useful career. He was an alb
stainer from use of both nicotine and
alcohol for years. When death sum
moned, he entered the next life with
out any disease to speed his depart
ure; passing away in a natura! de-
cline due to old age The funeral
will be held Thursday, November 3,
23O p. m, at the residence, three
miles east of Earlvlle.
Born in Virginia.
Mr Davisson was born at Pleasant
Creek, w. Va, March 4. 1917 at the
beginning of President Monroe's first
term Of office, and had he lived until
next March 4th would have reached
the lO5th year mark. His good wife
and faithful companion, and two sons
ana daughter preceded his death, |
and he is survived by six sons, Luther
or California, Fletcher of Oklahoma. |
Gordon Of Missouri. and Jesse and
Ihaddens w. of EarIville, also one
daughter Mrs Mary Melton of Mis-
souri, and a host Of grandchildren. |
Until quite recently he has been in
GOOD health, in fact, up to his one .
year he shaved himself
with steady hand and eye.
There was not a little romance and
adventure in the life of Grandma
Davisson, as he was called At the
age Of fourteen he was apprenticed to
a tanner of hides in West Virginia
earned his trade, and later establish.
ed small tannery Of his own. besides
operating a small farm which he in
herited from his father
Vision in Dream Comes True.
Having vision of the possibilities
If the great West he sold his business
'nd farm and with a brother wan
iered westward On the way. and
his is the story as it was related bv
Nr. DavissOn, he had dream, and in
hat dream he saw a beautiful stretch
VI land, on which was a creek. and 2
Hne stand of timber. On reaching
lIinois he W9s surprised and delight
I'd to como upon the very realization
>f his dream, even down to small de.
ais and straightway decided, if pos
'ible, to acquire title to that land and
settle there, leaving his brother to go
farther west, to Iowa.
Carried Cash in Belt.
Alexander took empIovment in
small tannery in Earlville and quietly
worked away while negotiating for
he purchase Of the desired land,
which purpose he accomplished. and
hen gave uD his lob Much to the
'hagrin of his employer. the latter
earned that his "hand" had beaten (
'im to the very land which he him
self had long dreamed Of owning. aud
vas then dickering for. When young
)avisson was asked where he had OBJ
aimed the money for the purchase.
le calmly informed his erstwhile EN-.
'loyer that he had carried it around
lis waist in a money belt all the time
le had worked there This land. now !
developed into beautiful farm
property, has been the home of Grand 4
"a DavissOn ever since.
No Booze Nor Nicotine.
But his boast was uDf ,f hi 1aD1
'ut OF the facts that during his whole
ife not a drop of liquor or a taste of
obacco had ever passed his lins. and
hat for sixty years and more he had
'een a member in good standing of
he Methodist church. His great pride I
vas in his word of honor. and his !
trict integrity Il understand YOU
ire a cousin of Abraham Lincoln. !
sked casual caller one dav. yes.
hat is So but what is more important {
am a near relative of the Lord 1