----Source: Colby Phonograph (Colby, Wis.) 02/18/1926

Davis, Sylvester J. (8 Augl 1841 - 13 Feb 1926)

Sylvester J. Davis answered the last roll call Feb. 13, 1926, and now another name is stricken from the ever lessening rolls of our Civil War veterans, old age being the cause of his departure from his earthly home to a domicile where pain and sorrow are unknown. Funeral services were held at the M. E. Church, Rev. Parker officiating, and interment made in the Colby Cemetery. Members of the Legion post of Colby acted as pallbearers, and, at the grave, the Legion firing squad fired the salute, after which taps were sounded.

The deceased was born at Clarion, Penn., on Aug. 8, 1841. He came to Wisconsin with his parents and sisters in 1850 at the age of nine years. They settled at Kingston, Green Lake Co., Wis. He enlisted from Green Lake Co., Aug. 14, 1862 and was mustered into the U. S. service at Oshkosh, Wis., Sept. 25th of the same years, as a private of Co. C., 32 Regiment, Wis. Volunteer Infantry., under Captain J. H. Carleton and Colonel H. Howe to serve three years. He participated in the following engagements: Tallchatchic, Miss., Moscau, Tenn., Lafayette, Tenn., Marion, Miss., Courtland, Ala., Siege of Atlanta, Georgia, Janesboro, Georgia, Loveooy, Georgia, and Sherman's famous march to the sea, also Little Ogechee River, Georgia, Harrison's Field, Georgia, Organgeburg, S. C., Savannah, Georgia, River's Bridge, S. C., Brimaker's Bridge, S. C., Cheraw, S. C., Fayetteville, N.C., Bentenville and Raleigh, N. C. He was honorably discharged June 24, 1865, at Milwaukee, Wis., by reason of the close of the war. On Sept. 1, 1875 he was united in marriage to Mary Alice Balcom of Kingston, Wis. They came to Colby, Wis. in the year 1884. This part of the country was practically a wilderness at that time, but this sturdy pioneer started to clear the land and pave the way for future generations. In 1911, they sold their farm and moved into the city of Colby to spend the remainder of their days in retirement after many years of strenuous labor. Mr. Davis was a member and commander of the local G. A. R. post, which at one time numbered 104 members. There are now only two members remaining, Mr. Holeton and Mr. Dillon.

The deceased will be remembered by members of his family, and by a large circle of friends, as a loving husband and kind father, who spent his time with his family.

The deceased is survived by his wife, Mary Alice Davis, four children, Steven A. Davis of Neenah, Wis., Mrs. Adella J. Marsh of Colby, Mr. Frank Davis of Los Angeles, Cal., Mrs. Winifred A. Behrens of Colby, and ten grandchildren.