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Davis, Jonathan E.
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Died at the residence of his son in
Ray, Dec. 24th 1881 , Rev. J. E . Davis, aged 94 years, 10 months, and 24
days. The subject of this memoir was
born in the town ofHubbardston,
Worcester county, Mass. Feb. 1st,
1788. He was one of a family often
children, and survived all the rest.
His parents being devoted Christians,
he was early instructed in the cardinal
principals of the Christian religion,
and before ten years of age could repeat the books of the Bible in regular
order, and as years increased, the
early instructions of the truths of the
Bible were fastened upon his mind.
At the age of six years his father moved to the State of Vermont, where he
lived five or six years, and then to
Genesee county, State of New York,
where his father soon died. At the
age of twenty three he was married to
Hannah Curtis, to whom were born
eight children. In the year 1828 his
wife died. Having a large family of
small children, he found it necessary to
again marry, which he soon did, this
time to Mrs. Sarah Heath Davis.
He continued to live in western New
York until 1842, when he moved to
Michigan and settled on a farm in the
then new township of Ray, where he
continued to reside until his death.
He experienced religion in 1810. His
first license to preach the Gospel bears
date May, 1815 . He was ordained
Deacon by Bishop Enoch George~ in
the year 1820, and afterwards was ordained Elder in 1824, by the same
Bishop. He devoted the most of his
time to the calling ofthe ministry,
until he removed to this State, since
which time he has only labored as a
local preacher. His second wife having died, he was married the third time
in 1864 to Mrs. Sophia Bentley, with
whom he lived until two years ago,
when she died. His long life of usefulness has been without spot or blemish,
and has always borne an unsullied
Christian character. He has always
been a zealous and ardent worker in
the church until within the last few
years, when deafness prevented him
from active service. He died in great
peace often expressing a desire for the
time to come when he could pass over
the River to his eternal home.
OBITUARY
Died, - At the residence of her son, J.J. Bentley, Davis, Mich., on Monday, July 19, 1880, Mrs.
Sophia Bentley Davis, wife of Rev. I.E. Davis,
aged 86 years, 3 months,and 2 days.
The deceased was born in Saratoga Co. , State of
New York, April 17, 1794. She was twice married; the first time to Preston D. Bentley, and
lived in the State ofNew York until the year
1841 when they moved to this State,and settled
in Macomb township on the farm now owned and
occupied by P . M. Bentley.The country being
quite new at that time, they lived a happy pioneer life together for ten years when in 1851, her
husband (Mr. Bentley) died. She soon after broke
up keeping house and lived a widow until January, 1864, when she again married, her now beraved husband, Rev. J. E. Davis, She was the
mother of eight children, five of whom survive
her death. The oldest, Allen P. Bentley, esq.
(formerly well known in this county) is now living in California, and the youngest, M . V. Bentley, ofthe firm ofPerrine and Bentley, Detroit.
The rest all reside in this county. She was converted when quite young and joined theM. E .
church before moving to this State, and has ever
been a worthy member of the church of her
choice, and a consistent and exemplary Christian,
until death has severed her connection with the
church militant, to join the church triumphant.
Her disease was cancer, and although a great sufferer for many months, yet she bore her severe
afflictiions with meekful resignation, never having
been heard to utter a murmer; but often manifesting a desire to cross the River. The beraved
family have the sympathies of all who knew her.
Funeral from the church to-day, Rev. L. Warren
officiating.
Davis, Mich., July 21 , 1880
B . R . D.
Micro film of Utica Sentinal, Davis Correspondence
Davis, Mich., July 20, 1880
Copied at Sterling Heights Library.
Written by Davis Correspondence
July 27, 1880
A large audience attended the funeral
last Wednesday ofMrs. Sophia
Davis. A very impressive sermon was
preached by the Rev. L. Warren of
Macomb. Her remains were taken to
Mt. Clemens for interment.
Davis, Jonathan E.