Shelby County Indiana History & Genealogy, Obituaries

Shelby County Indiana
Obituaries

Davis

The Shelbyville News
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
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Leon Eugene Davis, 91, of Shelbyville died Sunday, May 8, 2011, Ashford Place Health Campus.
Born July 7, 1919, Hancock County, to Horatio and Venice (Curry) Davis.
Married Waneta Wallace on March 14, 1946, and she preceded him in death on March 11, 2010.
Survivors: son, Douglas E. (Aimee) Davis of West Chester, Ohio; daughter, Linda (Jack) Skillman of Shelbyville; sisters, Velma Wortman of Morristown and Helen Jean Kilby of Southport; grandchildren, Douglas C. Davis, Liam Davis, Andrew Skillman, Brian Skillman and Grace Pauline Davis.
Preceded in death by his parents and brothers, John K. Davis and George Davis.
Lived in Shelbyville since 1997, having previously lived in Morristown.
Graduated from Westland High School in 1937 and was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II, serving with the 1st Armored Division in Africa and Italy.
Heating, ventilation and air-conditioning contractor employed by J. R. Wortman Co. of Morristown for 40 years, retiring in 1996. After retirement, he spent several years as a volunteer and employee of Grover Museum, retiring in 2007.
Member of Morristown Methodist Church; a 50-year member of Morristown Masonic Lodge No. 193 and of Morristown American Legion Post No. 102; and past president of Morristown Lions Club.
Loved repairing items, attending grandchildren's activities, involved in his community, an avid reader.
Glenn E. George & Son Funeral Home, 437 Amos Road; Masonic service preceding funeral service with Rev. Nathan Wilson officiating.
Burial: Asbury Cemetery in Morristown, graveside military services.
Contributions may be made to Hospice of South Central Indiana or Major Hospital Foundation.
Contributed by Jill Knitl
Summarized by Phyllis Miller Fleming

The Shelbyville News
March, 1981
abstracted information
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Fairel Davis, Indpls, born October 8, 1934 in Shelby County and died Monday March 23, 1981 at an Indpls. Hospital. He was the son of Frank and Hallie (Richardson) Davis. Surviving are his wife, Edna; 2 children; Garry and Wanda Davis; 2 brothers; Eldon B. Davis, Shelbyville; Grant Davis, Las Vegas; a sister, Mrs. Delores Wanda Williams, Shelbyville; he was a U.S. Navy Vet. Shirley Bros. Funeral Home, Indpls. He is buried at Park East Cemetery, Indpls.
Submitted by Melinda Weaver for Wanda Counsil

The Shelbyville News
November 20, 1947
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Rites Conducted At
Arlington, Va. for
County War Victim
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          The body of another of the county's young men who made the supreme sacrifice in World War II, has been interred in the soil of his native land after being returned from an overseas cemetery.
          Funeral rites and burial for the late Harold Raymond Davis, son of Mr. and Mrs. Chester B. Davis, of Boggstown, were conducted today in the national cemetery at Arlington, Va. Mr. and Mrs. Davis and two of their children attended the services.
          The Davis youth, who was 19 years of age when he lost his life in action over the China Sea on May 19, 1945, enlisted in military service when he was 17. He was serving as gunner on a naval plane when shot down by Japanese forces.
Contributed by Phyllis Miller Fleming

A Kosciusko County Newspaper
Circa 1941
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RICHARD DAVIS DIES
NEAR SILVER LAKE
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Death late Sunday night took Richard Frederickson Davis, well-know, longtime farm resident of Silver Lake, following a prolonged illness of 12 years. He was 77 years old, died of complication at his home two miles north of Silver Lake.
The deceased was born January 25, 1864, at Shelbyville, son of the late William H. and Rachael Davis. He was married in Tipton 43 years ago to Mary Jane Julius, who survives. Following marriage, the couple moved to Etna Green vicinity where Mr. Davis was engaged in farming for 10 years, later removing to present residence where they had lived for the past 26 years.
Mr. Davis was a member of the Center U. B. church, one and one-half miles north Silver Lake, where services will be conducted Tuesday afternoon at two o'clock CST. Rev. I. E. Longenbaugh will officiate. Interment will be made in the Claypool cemetery. Other surviving relatives are three daughters, Mrs. Irene Phiscator, St. Joseph, Mich., Mrs. Helen Lervis, Greensboro, N. C., Edith Davis, at home, a son, Roy Davis, of Claypool, and two grandchildren.
Contributed by E. J. Patrick

The Shelbyville Republican
Thursday, May 4, 1939
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RITES TUESDAY FOR
MRS. HATTIE DAVIS
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Services for Wife of William
Davis, of Marietta, to Be
Tuesday Afternoon.
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Mrs. Hattie Davis, about 78 years old, wife of William Davis, died at their home in Marietta at 6:30 o'clock Sunday evening, after having been ill for about three weeks. Heart disease caused her death.
Mrs. Davis had resided in the Marietta community for many years. Besides the husband, she leaves one daughter, Mrs. William Campbell, of Shelbyville. Other survivors include three brothers, George Beard, of Indianapolis, James Beard, of Colorado and Pearce Beard, of Illnois.
Mr. Davis, the husband, is sexton of the Marietta M. P. church.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday at the Marietta M. P. church with the Rev. J. C. Krieg, pastor, officiating. Burial will be made at the Miller cemetery.
Contributed by Phyllis Miller Fleming

The Shelbyville Republican
Thursday, May 2, 1939
Page 1
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Funeral services today for Mrs. William Davis
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         Funeral services for Mrs. Hattie Davis, 78, wife of William Davis, who died in Marietta Sunday evening, will be held at 2:00 p.m. today in the Marietta M. P. church, with the Rev. J. C. Krieg, pastor, officiating. Burial will be made in the Miller Cemetery.

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Ibid
Page 1
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Davis Infant's Funeral Held Monday in Rushville
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          Funeral services were held at 1:30 p.m. Monday for James Robert Davis, twenty-six-day-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Davis, Rushville. The infant died Sunday after a few days illness. Mr. Davis is a brother of Mrs. Austin Joyce, of this city, and both he and Mrs. Davis are well well[sic] known in this city.
          Survivors with the parents are a sister, Frances Lavon and the grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Wilbur Lee, of Rushville.
Contributed by Phyllis Miller Fleming

Unidentified Newspaper
March 7, 1931 [Date of Death]
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MORTUARY
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30-Year Resident
Of City Is Dead
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Miss Corintha Davis, 79, resident of St. Petersburg for the past 30 years, died Saturday morning at her home, 1509 Ninth street south. Miss Davis came to Florida from Indiana with her sister, Miss Ellen Davis, who died two years ago. They lived at Starke a short time before coming here. Burial will be made at Starke. The only survivors are nieces and nephews in the north.
Contributed by Genevieve Leavitt and D. Darlene Palmer

Unidentified Newspaper
1928
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ELLEN N. DAVIS
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Funeral services for Miss Ellen N. Davis, 80, who died Thursday morning at her home, 1309 Ninth street south, will be held this morning at 9:30 o'clock at the residence with Rev. G. H. Steed of the First Christian church officiating. The body will be taken to Starke, Fla., for interment.
Miss Davis has been a resident in St. Petersburg for the past 25 years. She is survived by two sisters, Miss Corinthia Davis, with whom she lieved, and another sister in Peoria, Ill. Miss Davis and her sister formerly owned Sycamore Lodge on Second avenue north. Arrangements are in charge of the Endicott Funeral company.
Contributed by Genevieve Leavitt and D. Darlene Palmer

The Bradford Telegraph
18 May 1928
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Miss Ellen Davis
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          The body of Miss Ellen Davis was brought here Friday afternoon from St. Petersburg and interred in the family plot at Crosby cemetery. Rev. H. A. Tucker conducting the committal service and D. C. Jones mortician in charge.
          The remains were accompanied by Miss Kinnie Davis, sister of the deceased, and Mr. O. O. Frazier a warm friend of the family. The pallbearers were: J. M. Truby, J. M. Mitchell, T. S. Williams, F. A. Scott, N. D. Wainright and H.H. Young.
          Miss Davis was born April 5th, 1848 in Shelby County, Indiana, and was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John C. Davis. She was eighty years of age, as her death occurred May 10th, 1928, at her home 1309 Ninth Street South, St. Petersburg, Florida. In 1882 the Davis family moved from Indiana to Florida and located at Starke, Florida where they lived for seventeen years, and in 1899 they moved to St. Petersburg where they bought property which later became very valuable. Miss Davis was a woman of fine character and great usefulness - she taught school in Indiana and after coming to this county taught in the Rising Hampton and Starke schools. There are numbers of people here who were her students who remember her instruction with pleasure. She was a member of the Christian church and taught in Sunday school for many years, was also an active member of the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union, and did not cease to work for the cause she loved until forced to by the increasing feebleness of age. She was a good neighbor ever ready to lend a helping hand and her love for her home and devotion to her sister were marked characteristics. Her parents lived to an advanced age and the sisters were untiring in their constant care of the aged couple.
          Her grave was covered with many choice flowers sent by friends from St. Petersburg and Starke.
                "Beautiful twilight, a set of sun.
                 Beautiful goal with race well run.
Beautiful rest with work well done."
Transcribed by Genevieve Leavitt from the online archives of the University of Florida

The Indianapolis Daily Star
February 20, 1923
Page 3
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          Morristown---Funeral services for Elwood Davis, 82 years old, were held at his home near Arlington. Death was due to heart trouble.
Contributed by Janet McColley Franklin

A Shelby County Newspaper
[1913]
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Rezin Davis Passes To His Reward.
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          Rezin Davis, the oldest child of George W. and Delilah Snyder Davis was born Feb. 8, 1842, just east of Morristown, and has lived practically all his life in Shelby county, and departed this life Feb. 22, 1913, aged 71.
          He was educated in near by schools and in early manhood taught school for several years. His last work in that line was as Principal at Fountaintown.
          He was married in 1874 to Martha E. Buckley and she survives him.
          During all his life he has been a deep student of religious question and taken active part in every movement for the improvement of his community.
          In later years he was very much interested in horticulture and was a successful fruit grower.
          In all his relations with his fellow men, he was upright, honest and charitable. Always a friend to those in distress. And had a glad word and hearty hand clasp at all times.
          He joined the Christian Church in youth and was a charter member of Fountaintown Lodge No. 173 K of P and of Rathbone Sisters.
          Besides the widow, he leaves an only brother, C.P. Davis, two daughters, Mrs. Alvin Cherry and Mrs. Ora Nance, and three grandchildren.
          Funeral services were held from his late residence, Monday Feb. 24, at 2 o'clock. Conducted by Rev. Addison of Knightstown, after which the remains were laid to rest in Asbury Cemetery with the beautiful ritualstic ceremonies of the Knights of Pythias.
CARD OF THANKS
          We hereby extend our sincere thanks to our neighbors and friends for their kind assistance and sympathy during the sickness, death and burial of our dear husband and father.
Mrs. Rezin Davis.
Mr. and Mrs. Alvin Cherry.
Mr. and Mrs. Ora Nance.
Submitted by D. Darlene Palmer

The Shelbyville Republican
Friday, January 31, 1913
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DEATHS AND FUNERALS
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Mrs. Martha Davis
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The funeral services of the late Mrs. Martha Davis were held at Marietta this morning at 11 o'clock. Mrs. Davis passed away at her home in this city Wednesday night. Deceased was the wife of Lewis Davis, and was a good Christian woman and many friends are mourning her death. Through Manager Harry Heller, of the Halton Powell Stock Company, a beautiful boquet of flowers was added to the numerous floral offerings that found their way to the Davis home. Mrs. Davis was the mother of William Davis, who is stage carpenter at the local opera house.
Contributed by Phyllis Miller Fleming

The Shelby Democrat
Thursday, December 27, 1906
Page 6, column 4
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NONAGENARIAN DEAD
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Mrs. Mary A. Davis died at the residence of her grand-daughter, Mrs. C. W. Stewart, No 145 north Noble street, at 4:30 a.m. Friday, of senility. She was aged ninety-two years, nine months and five days. She will be buried in the Patterson cemetery Sunday. Services will be held at the Lewis Creek church at 10 a.m. The cortege will leave the house at 8:30 a.m. The services will be conducted by the Rev. S. D. Hawkins. Deceased leaves five children, four daughters and one son, David Talbert, of Lewis Creek. D. B. Wilson & Son are in charge of the funeral.
Submitted by Barb Huff for June Smith

The Shelby Democrat
Thursday, December 21, 1905
Page 9 column 3
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          Mrs. Selina Davis, mother-in-law of Mrs. Flora J. Davis, died at her home in Paris, Illinois. The lady was eighty-five years of age. She was well known in this city, having lived here with Mrs. Flora Davis for fourteen years. One year ago she returned to Illinois. The body will be interred in Forest Hill cemetery, the funeral being strictly private. The remains arrived here today and were taken to the residence of Mrs. Davis on west Broadway. The Rev. Mr. Price will officiate at the funeral services. The deceased was a woman of many good qualities, enjoying the respect and esteem of all with whom she came into contact.
Submitted by Barb Huff

The Message
Mexico, Missouri
November 3, 1904
Page 4
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THE GRIM REAPER
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Mr. J. W. Davis died very unexpectedly of heart trouble at his home in Bowling Green at 4 o'clock last Saturday morning. He had visited in Mexico but a week before and appeared in his usual good health. Mr. Davis was a native of Shelbyville, Indiana, born January 12, 1837. Came to Missouri when a young man, settling in Montgomery county. Later was married to Miss Matilda Hughes. To this union were born eight children, all, with the wife and mother, still living -- J. W. M. Davis, Montgomery City, S. T. Davis, St. Charles; Mrs. Goerge Mapes, and Mrs. W. W. Braden, Mexico; Fount Davis, Farber; Mrs. L. F. Austin, Bowling Green; Mrs. Herman Butts, Vandalia. Deceased was a good citizen and a thror Christian; served as elder at Two-Mile Christian church, in Montgomery county, 9 yeras. The burial was at Farber, funeral preached by his life-time friend and former pastor, Eld. J. H. Sallee. Mr. Davis for a number of yeras resided in this county. Scores of friends in Audrain extend sympathy to the bereaved.
Contributed by John Addison Ballard

The Daily Evening Democrat
Wednesday, October 3, 1883
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LOCAL NEWS
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Mrs. Mary M. Davis, widow of Eden H. Davis, died at her residence on East Broadway at half-past three o'clock this morning, of typhoid fever, in the fifty-fourth year of her age. The funeral services will be held at her late residence at half-past two o'clock to-morrow afternoon, Rev. S. Tincher officiating.
Contributed by Phyllis Miller Fleming

The Daily Evening Democrat
Wednesday, July 20, 1881
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OBITUARY.
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DAVIS -- Jennie, the wife of Allen P. Davis, was born at Waldron, Shelby county, August 22, 1857, and died July 13, 1881.
She was the daughter of Frank and Annie Mahew, deceased. December 26, 1877, she was united in marriage to Allen P. Davis, of this city. Theunion was blassed with one child, Clara, an innocent little babe of five months, too young to know her great loss. When 14 years of age she united with the M. E. Church at Waldron and soon became an active worker and teacher in the Sabbath-school. During after years she honored the profession she made when so young and wielded an influence over those with whom she came in contact to draw them to the Savior who had done so much for her. Amiable, unobtrusive, full of hope and sunshine, she became quite a favorite among her associates. Naturally, she desired to live. Yes, she wished to live for her husband and child, but was resigned to the will of God, and when faithfully told by her aged Grandma that the end was near, she placed a loving hand on her child, breathed a prayer to God committing that innocent little one to his care, and gently fell asleep in Jesus.
It is sad to see any one die, especially the young. The old have but little to hope for, but little to cling to. The have hopes, ambitions, aspirations -- all unrealized. And in Jennie, a bright, young life has gone out, but we trust to enter upon that life that knows no dying. May the loving Father gently lead the bereaved husband and sweet child into paths of His own choosing.
J.
Contributed by Phyllis Miller Fleming

The Daily Evening Democrat
Saturday, October 15, 1881
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Decatur Davis, one of Shelby county's oldest and best citizens, died last night at eleven o'clock. He was a preacher in the Christian Church. Rev. S. L. Tomlinson will conduct his funeral services Monday at 10 o'clock a.m., at his late residence, on the Franklin pike.
Contributed by Phyllis Miller Fleming

The Shelby Democrat
Thursday June 13, 1878
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Page 3 column 3
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DEATH OF EDEN H. DAVIS
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          In the death of Eden H. Davis the people of the community sustain a great loss and the legal fraternity an eminent counselor. For years he was regarded as an able, careful and safe legal advisor. His varied and extensive knowledge of human nature, his indomitable will and excellent memory rendered him formidable in a legal contest. He was pre-eminently a self-made man, and by his own industry and perseverance attained his high position at the bar.
          A few years of his later life were rendered a blank by that dreaded disease of all great brain workers, "softening of the brain." His death occurred May 31, at high meridian. His remains were followed to the tomb on the following Sabbath by a very large concourse of citizens, friends and relatives. The funeral services at the residence were conducted by Rev. B. F. Foster, of Indianapolis, after which the remains were taken in charge by the Masonic fraternity, numbering several hundred, conveyed to the tomb, and buried with their usual form and ceremony.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
City Cemetery Records
Eden H. Davis
June 19, 1810 - May 31, 1878
* Eden H. Davis has no stone [BH]
Contributed by Barb Huff for John Christensen

The Shelby Union Banner
September 8, 1864
Page 3
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          Died --- Of Typhoid Fever, yesterday morning at 8 o'clock, Rebecca J. Davis, wife of Eden H. Davis, Esq.
          The deceased was loved and admired by all who knew her. Her warm and generous nature made her a favorite of the circle in which she moved. She leaves a husband and a large circle of relations and friends to mourn her death.
Copied by Phyllis Miller Fleming

The National Volunteer
June 2, 1853
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          Accident - - - On last Saturday evening while some boys were playing with a hand car on the track of the Lawrenceburgh Railroad, which is now being laid through this place, John J. Davis, son of Eden H. Davis Esq. - - was run over by the car and so badly injured that he died in about two hours.
Copied by Sherry Ryan Badgley; abstracted by Maurice Holmes, in his book Shelby County, Indiana, Newspaper Excerpts 1853 - 1859

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