Obit: Davis, David (1836 - 1917)

Contact: Dolores Mohr Kenyon

Email: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Davis, Richard, Garvin, Cysylog, Evans, Cronk

----Source: John E. Davis Scrapbook

Davis, David J. (1836 - 6 DEC 1917)

David J. Davies/Davis was born in Llanbadarn Fawr, Cardiganshire, Wales in March 1836; the seventh of eight children born to John Davies and Margaret Richard. David immigrated to Ottawa, Waukesha County, Wisconsin with his parents in 1845. He is listed in the 1850 and 1860 United States Federal Census as living with his parents and farming. On 30 November, 1866, he married Ellen Morris in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She was the daughter of John and Ellen Morris.  Shortly after, David and Ellen moved to Cambria, Wisconsin where there oldest daughter, Lillian E. Davis was born 25 October, 1868. In the 1870 Census, the family had moved to Rudolph in Columbia County, Wisconsin where they have a new son, Walter Davis, and a younger brother, William R. Davis, is living with them. The family continued to grow and in the 1880 Census, they are now living in Eldorado, Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin. By this time, John D. (1873), Ellen J. (1875), and Lowell (1880), had been added to the family. The 1900 Census indicates another son, William (1884) and daughter, Bell Effie (1882) complete the family. The History of the Oshkosh Welsh Settlement, 1847-1947 by the Reverend Howell D. Davies, lists Welshman who settled the area from 1860-1869. David Davies, "Canwr" (singer). He is married to the daughter of John Morris, "Cysylog" and lives in the town of Eldorado. He is quite skilled in music. Their children are: Lillie, married and living in Waukesha, Wisconsin, John, Ella, the wife of Oar Cronk, Lowell, and William. (pg 66) The following was made in reference to the Congregational Church in Neenah: David Davies, "Canwr" (singer), also deserves recognition for his labor with this. He held a series of meetings, or singing schools with much ability and fidelity. It would be well for him to take hold of this rather important work a second time. John Morris, "Cysylog" was the father of Ellen Morris Davis as listed: He came to this country about the year 1866, but he returned before long to Wales. (pg. 69) In addition, this reference to Ellen’s sister, Jane, is listed: The Reverend Thomas H. Jones, he came to Oshkosh in 1866 and was married to Jane, daughter of John Morris, "Cysylog". He left for Ixonia, Wisconsin before being ordained. He is now in Kansas City, Missouri. He is an energetic man and an excellent preacher.  (pg. 68) In April, 1906, the Greenwood Gleaner newspaper reported that Mr. and Mrs. David Davis are visiting their old home near Fond du Lac. They will also visit their son in Chicago. The 1910 Census shows that David and Ellen were living with their daughter, Effie Garvin and her husband, Archie L. Garvin in York, Clark County, Wisconsin. The Waukesha Freeman reported on December 6, 1917 that, David J. Davis, aged 83 years, died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. A. L. Garvin, Nov. 28, in the town of Vernon. He is survived by his wife, three sons and three daughters, John of Granton, Wis.; Lowell of St. Paul; William of Chicago; Mrs. Lillie Evans, South Milwaukee; Mrs. O. J. Cronk, Eldorado, Wis., and Mrs. Garvin. Following a brief service at the home, the remains were taken to Eldorado for burial. Last Friday, he passed his fifty-first wedding anniversary. In the 1920 U.S. Census, Ellen is living with her son, John D. Davis in York, Clark County, Wisconsin. She passed away while living with her daughter, Lillie Evans in West Allis, Wisconsin. The obituary from the Waukesha Freeman for November 1924, reads as follows: Reverend William Matthew was summoned to West Allis on November 18, 1924 to officiate at the funeral of the late Mrs. David Davies, which was held at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Lillie Evans. Mrs. Davies was at one time a resident of Waterville and had many friends in this community. Her deceased husband, David Davies, was a brother of R.E. Davies and Evan Davies of Wales. Burial is to take place in Pickett’s Cemetery near Oshkosh.  David is actually buried in Zoar Cemetery near Oshkosh near his son. It is assumed Ellen was buried next to him, but there are no cemetery records indicating such, only a newspaper article from the Waukesha Review.

Research from N.E.W. Research Services, Kris Beisser Matthies, C.G. , Milwaukee Area Genealogical Services, Carl Baehr, C.G. and numerous articles from The Waukesha Freeman and Oshkosh newspapers.