Obituaries (May 29)

Mary King

Northern Christian Advocate, June 22, 1871

Mary King died in Bangor, Franklin Co., N.Y., March 31st, 1871, aged 75 years.  She was born in St. Albans, Vt., and moved to Bangor, N.Y., at the age of fifteen years, where she formed the acquaintance of, and was subsequently married to Richard H. King, with whom she lived forty-four years.  The last ten years of her life she lived a widow.  Brother King sustained the relation of class leader in the Church of his choice, many years previous to his decease. Their house was always the welcome resting place of the weary itinerant minister, while on his journey to preach Christ and the resurrection. She was purely Methodistic in her belief of the Scriptures, but was far from being a religious bigot. She delighted in relating the eccentricities of certain ministers, in circumstantial memory the minutia of detail connected therewith, which showed conclusively the deep interest she felt in the cause of Christianity which they were laboring to promote. She was a clear headed, warm hearted Christian lady. While for several months before her decease she was a great sufferer from physical infirmity, she manifested unusual self possession and resignation to her condition.  Jesus was with her to the last, and there is no doubt but she is now enjoying the society again of that beloved companion and those ministerial brethren in the presence of Jesus and redemption's throng.  She left behind her one son and three daughters, one of whom is a noble hearted and generous Christian lady at whose residence her aged mother had a pleasant home for some years before her death.  May each of the remaining three be enabled to make choice of same Savior.  Morristown, May 23, 1871.

Rev. John A. Davis

South New Berlin Bee, March 23, 1934

The Rev. John A. Davis, nationally known evangelist and founder of the Practical Bible Training school of Bible School park died Saturday night, March 17, as the result of an apoplectic stroke suffered about four weeks ago.  He was 62 years of age.  Mr. Davis had conducted evangelistic services in this village and was well-known here.  Funeral services were held, Wednesday afternoon, at 1 o'clock, at the school of which he was president. The Rev. Ernest G. Crabill officiated at the services.

Norwich Sun, March 19, 1934

The many friends of Rev. John A. Davis will learn with regret of his death Saturday night.  He was a nationally known evangelist and founder of the Practical Bible training School of Bible School Park, Johnson City, proving ground of Biblical students for 31 years.

Dr. Davis, who was 62 years old, died at 7:55 p.m. from the results of an apoplectic seizure suffered more than a month ago.  Dr. Davis was born in Afton [Chenango Co., NY], on August 7, 1871.  He was the son of Charles A. and Hulda Wheeler Davis.  He was educated in the little Melody Hill school near Afton, and when a young man went to Binghamton, obtaining the position of clerk in the Boston store. There he won the friendship of George Fowler, who remained his advisor throughout his life.  Funeral services will be held Wednesday afternoon at the school of which he had been president until death at 1:30.  The sermon will be preached by Rev. Ernest G. Crabill, noted evangelist, with whom Dr. Davis had been associated in campaigns.

In his evangelistic career Dr. Davis had been associated with the majority of the internationally known revivalists of the last century.  Among the men with whom he teamed at various times were Rev. William A. "Billy" Sunday, Dwight L. Moody, Ira B. Sankey, Dr. J. Wilbur Chapman, Dr. W.E. Blederwolf, Peter B. Bilhorn, Dr. G. Campbell Morgan and Rev. F. B. Myer of London, Dr. R.A. Torrey, Rev. Sum Jones.  Dr. Davis, himself, conducted campaigns in many of the larger cities of the United States, special tabernacles being built for him in many instances.  Among other evangelistic rallies, he staged one of a year's duration in Brooklyn in 20 different sections of the city; three campaigns in Altoona, Pa., one in St. Louis, Mo., and numerous others.  Twenty years ago the famous Davis and Mills evangelistic campaign was conducted in this city in a huge tabernacle built on Birdsall street.  At that time Dr. Davis teamed up with Fred A. Mills.  Frequently thereafter Dr. Davis returned to Norwich.  While working in Binghamton, Dr. Davis came under religious convictions at one of the Christian Endeavor Societies of the city and felt called to the Christian ministry. Enrolling in Moody Bible Institute, Chicago, he took the short course.  His first pastorate was at the Baptist church in Hallstead, Pa., during which time he built a new brick edifice of worship and increased a struggling membership, small in size, to an enthusiastic organization of several hundred members.  From the ministry he went into the larger work of evangelism, continuing to conduct campaigns after the founding of his school.  The work of the Practical Bible Training School has been brought to the attention of an entire nation by the frequent tours of an organization founded by Dr. Davis, known as the "League of Many Nations."  This group consists of representatives of more than 30 nations, who testify to their belief in the league programs. They travel in a special bus.  Each summer for many years the educator had conducted conferences at his school, which have attracted most of the leading evangelists and Christian leaders throughout the world.

Dr. Davis is survived by his wife, Etta Davis; by one son, Rev. Gordon C. Davis; one grandson, Jack C. Davis, and a brother, A. F. Davis of Preston, Mich.  His death will be greatly mourned by those who have watched him overcome financial and other handicaps in building his testimony to the cause of Christianity.

Death Notices

Chenango Union, September 18, 1894

ROBINSON:  In Oxford [Chenango Co., NY], Sept. 23, 1894, Mrs. Harriet Robinson, aged 45 years.

LEE:  In West Smyrna [Chenango Co., NY], Sept. 24, 1894, Mrs. James Lee, wife of Comrade Lee of the 114th Reg.

KING:  In Preston [Chenango Co., NY], Sept. 23, 1894, Mrs. Diana King, aged 71.

WHITE:  In Plymouth [Chenango Co., NY], Sept. 23, 1894, Clifford [White], son of Robert and Mary White, age 10 months.

FISHER:  In Afton [Chenango Co., NY], Sept. 14, 1894, Mrs. Olive Fisher, aged 59 years.

ROBINSON:  In Binghamton [Broome Co., NY], Sept. 22, 1894, Mrs. Julia Robinson, widow of L.B. Robinson, formerly of Greene [Chenango Co., NY, age 65 years.

MATHEWSON:  At Steamboat Rock, Iowa, Sept. 18, 19=894, Mrs. Freelove Mathewson, widow of Waterman Mathewson, formerly of New Berlin [Chenango Co., NY], aged 88 years.

CAULKINS:  In South Edmeston [Otsego Co., NY], Sept. 10, 1894, Mrs. William H. Caulkins, aged 50 years.