The Washington times., 1925-10-09
AN(;E.
ENDED BY
DEATH
William w. Davis, 70, Dies
in Arms OF Wife, Sweet
heart Of Childhood

When death chilled the body of
William w. Davis, seventy -nine-
year-old civil war veteran, last
night, his head rested on the lap
of his wife, his childhood sweet
heart from whom he was separat-
ed during the civil war and whom
he found again and married six
years ago.
Was Wounded Twice
Their plans to be married were
rudely interrupted when the North
and the South crossed bayonets be-
cause the intended groom felt It
his duty to serve for his country.
As many other young lovers they
parted only temporarily, they
thought, but not until a half
century later did their paths again
cross.
Lieutenant Davis, for he rose to
that rank for his bravery on the
field of battle, was twice wounded
during the four years he served
and finally was taken prisoner by
the enemy as he lay pierced by q
bullet on the plain Of the battle of
the Wilderness.
Her sweetheart reported among
the missing, the girl married Doc
tor q. N. Morley, who lived to cele
brate their fiftieth wedding ami
versary.
AS his sweetheart had not waited
he came to Washington, the place
of his birth. and obtained employ
ment in the Postoffice Department.
Veteran EmpIOye
His marriage to Mary A. Baum
shortly preceded his getting a po-
sition in the War Department, where
he remained until retired in 1920,
after moro than ferty.nine years
service.
Before his wife died in 1911 they
had reared five children, Mrs. An.
gelo r. Di Petta. Henry B., William
7. and George M. Davis, and Mrs.
Anna James.
In 1918 the sweethearts of the
civil war, their mates both having
passed on, met again in Whining
ton, Del, where their friendship
rtpened into renewed regard for each
other, and they were married before
the year was up. Mr.. Davis was
seventy-three and his bride was
seventy-one years old.
Last night their grand daughter.
MISS Marie James. teacher iii
Friends Select School and an in
structor in music, returned to the
FAMILY home at ST G street south
west. She noticed that the light
they usually kept burning for her
was not visible from the sitting
room window
Entering the house Miss James
investigated and found her grand
parents locked in each others arms
the husband kneeling on the floor
with his head in Mrs Davis lap.
Both were apparently asleep.
Lieutenant Davis was dead and
his wife, sensing the danger of a
stroke. which he had, always feared,
had tried to revive him before she
also was stricken with paralysis.
from which she is confined in beG.
How is Billy?" Mrs. Davis
whispered this morning when she
had partially regatned her senses,
Il dreamed that something terrible
happened last night-Billy burned
his hand on the stove staggering
to me as l sat in the chair. by the
bed-he seemed to lose conscious
ness-that's all / remember was
so tired"
Not Told of Death
The she relapsed into untroubled
sleep because the family has not
yet told her how her husband died
In her arms from heart disease at
the same time she was stricken.
She has awakened twice and on
each occasion they have told her
never to mind that her Billy" has
gone out for little while.
On the table beside Mrs. Davis
chair were bottles of ointment
which she intended using to relieve
the scared hand of her husband.
When found her fingers rested
tenderly on his brow where she
had been caressing him although
death had already superseded her.
After Emergency Hospital physi-
clans had pronounced him dead,
Lieutenant Davis body was removed
to Elmer Speare's undertaking
establishment where it will remain
until funeral arrangements have
been completed.
Masonic and military rites will
probably be observed as Lieutenant,
Davis was also a member of Fed
eral Lodge No. /, +. A. A. M.