Robert Davis
The Wealthiest Farmer in the State of Illinois - Robert Davis / Demise of Mr. Robert Davis / The Davis Obsequies
From the El Paso Journal , Printed in the Henry Republican
June 20, 1878
The Wealthiest Farmer in the State of Illinois - Robert Davis
It is the peculiar province fo the Journal to occasionally present, for the benefit of the rising generation, pen portraits of successful self-made men. Robert Davis of Henry, Ill., was born in Wales, and landed in Lacon with $70 and the trade of a cooper. He worked as a journeyman five years, during which time he learned to speak and write English. He commenced business by starting a saloon, and soon after bought land where Sparland now stands, which greatly advanced in price, and seems to have been a stepping-stone to his future prosperity. He owns about 5000 acres of cultivated land, divided by the Illinois river, and within the past year he has purchased 16 quarter sections in the vicinity of Rutland, for which he paid the cash. In addition to this, he owns a large amount of western land, and the bank of Henry, which is looked after by his son-in-law and nephew. His share of rest corn, last year, was 64,000 bushels. He is 61 years old, and worth a million dollars, which is quite a snug sum for one to accumulate, when we consider the humble beginning - ignorance of our language and customs, and other disadvantages under which this son of toil must have labored. He is without doubt worth more money than any one man or firm in the counties of Peoria, Putnam, marshall, Woodford or LaSalle, (barring Judge Caton, who, we think, now resides in Chicago, having removed there soon after his return from the trip to Norway.)
Mr. Davis has three children, one son and two daughters. The son does not have the reputation of being as prudent as the father, and has to content himself with the use of an 80 acre farm. Some say he has to shift for himself. Three years ago one of the daughters took to marriage a respectable young man of poor but honest parents. The daughter went to Chicago after bonnets and dresses, with a check, blank in every respect, except that the letters "Robert Davis" were written upon it. Here was a chance to fill a Saratoga trunk and go to Europe, but so carefully had the young lady been educated, that she used only $1800.
When Dwight and Charlie Webber were landlords of the Webber House, in Minonk, Mr. Davis applied to Dwight for lodging, and was told that he would have to put up 50 cents, or seek other place. While Mr. Davis (who somewhat resembles a renter) was begging for a bed, enjoying the joke, Charlie rushed in, and, grabbing him by the hand, exclaimed, "Why Bob, how are you?" I am glad to see you looking so well," etc. He was trusted for a night's lodging, and the Hon. Dwight was worse sold than when he tackled the lung tester.
Mr. Davis looks after all the details of his business, carefully examining every load of grain as it comes to market. Financially he is the soundest farmer in Illinois at the present time.
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November 13, 1879
Taken From the Henry Republican
Demise of Mr. Robert Davis
Mr. Robert Davis died Tuesday afternoon at San Antonio, Texas, where he had gone accompanied by his daughter Maria, for climate benefit to an enfeebled and much wasted body. His death was not a surprise to the friends here, who were aware of his condition and feared that death might come at any time, though hoped against hope that he might obtain relief. On Monday, his nephew, Charles R. Jones, cashier of the First National back of this city, was summoned by telegraph to go to him, with the intelligence that Mr. Davis was in an alarming condition, and he left Monday afternoon for his four days journey to the Lone Star state. On Tuesday afternoon at three o'clock, a message came to his son-in-law, Mr. W. T. Law, president of the First National bank, that Mr. Davis was sinking, and at half past five another was received announcing that "mortality had put on immortality."
The deceased was born in Wales, October 31, 1815. When he was but seven years old his father died, leaving four children, Robert being the eldest, for the mother to rear. They had the advantages of education such as that offered by the parish school. At a suitable age himself and brother Thomas were apprenticed to the cooper trade, both becoming proficient mechanics. Seeking to improve their condition they turned their eyes towards America, and both brothers emigrated together, locating at Waverly, Ohio. The two brothers also married at this place. Mr. Robert Davis as his wife a Miss Goodwin, by whom a son was born, William, who still survives his father. Mr. Davis remained in Ohio about nine years, but inducements offered by a third brother who located at Henry, led him to come to this state in 1847, and for a time to reside in Lacon, where he for several years worked at cooperage. Here he buried his first wife; afterwards, at a later period marrying Miss Sarah Ann Fetter, the daughter of Dr. Fetter of Lacon, who he leaves a widow, by whom four children were born, two of them, Mrs. W. T. Law and Miss Maria, only surviving the father.
At an early age Mr. Davis manifested a remarkable business ability, and property began to accumulate. His investments were always remunerative, and he seldom or never made one that did not turn out as he predicted and calculated it would. He had foresight, judgment, wisdom and sagacity, and they served him in every transaction. It is said that for the past decade or more, his accumulations have averaged $23,000 annually. His landed estate embraces some 12,000 acres in the counties of Marshall, Putnam, Livingston, LaSalle, Iroquois and Henry. In this county alone he had 1400 acres. He has a tract of land in Iowa and city property at Council Buffs. He leaves a will.
In 1865, he was one of the incorporators of the First National bank of Henry and heaviest stockholder, since which time he has been one of its directors. He held 170 shares, the stock, a little over one-third being worth $17,000. The aggregated value of the estate is somewhere between $500,000 and $600,000.
For the past two years Mr. Davis has been an invalid, and consumption seems to have fastened upon him for another victim. He was admonished by friends to try a change of climate, and last Thanksgiving started in company with his daughter Maria, for California, where he journeyed about until March returning home without receiving the desired benefit. This summer he employed a physician at Springfield, and was there some time, but obtained no relief. A month ago he was induced, though greatly enfeebled, to attempt the journey to Texas, and among strangers and in a strange land at San Antonio, he has been gathered to his fathers. The only survivor of his father's family, is Mrs. Jones, a sister, a highly esteemed resident of our sister city Lacon.
The obsequies will take place at Henry, provided it may be deemed prudent to transport the body. The family friends await communication with C. R. Jones, who will report what is best as soon as he reaches San Antonio.
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November 20, 1879
Taken From the Henry Republican
The Davis Obsequies
The funeral of the late Robert Davis, was held at the family residence in this city, on Tuesday last, at 10 a.m. The remains left San Antonio, Texas, at five o'clock on Friday a.m., accompanied by Mr. Charles R. Jones, who arrived there from Henry late the night previous to receive the body, and also to accompany to a desolate home the bereft daughter, who alone was present with the deceased to cheer and console in the last extremity. The remains were laid out and encased in an elegant coffin by stranger hands, who in sympathy and kindly offices performed every needed service for the dead, while laying the living under special obligations for their disinterestedness and generosity. ..... The remains were conveyed to Lacon, where they will rest beside the ashes of his former wife, a son Fred, and a brother Richard. .......
Mr. Dorsey is a citizen of Bennington township, and is by occupation a farmer. He was born in West Virginia, in 1831 and came to Marshall county, Illinois in 1869. He married Joanna Holliday in 1861, and six children have been born to them, William C., Samuel, James Fillmore, Mary Bell, Ortie and Charlie. During the war he entered the Union army and served in Co. G, 17th W. Va. Inf. At tis close he came to Rutland, and for some time followed merchandising, after which he bought the farm he now occupies. He owns 240 acres of land, in a high state of cultivation, with a fine residence and outbuildings. He has been township supervisor, has filled other official positions, and is a leading and influential citizen.
From "The Record of Olden
Times or Fifty Year on the Prairie"
embracing sketches of the discovery, exploration and settlement of the
country.
by Spencer Elsworth, Lacon, IL Home Journal Steam Printing
Establishment
Copyright Date MDCCCLXXX (1880), Bennington Township, Page
740
Taken From the Henry Republican, Henry, IL
November 28, 1872
Another Old Settler Gone
The Index announces the death of another old settler, Father Enoch Dent of Wenona, who died on Monday of last week, aged 76. He was first taken sick about the time of the Wenona fair, supposed at that time to be lung fever, but from which he has not recovered, a complication of diseases setting in, finally resulting in his death.
Father Dent was born In Monongalia county, W. Va., May 21, 1796. He married in April 1817, Miss Judith Gapen of Pennsylvania, who has been his companion upwards of 55 years. By this union 12 children were born to them, five only of whom survive the father. In 1820 he moved into the wilds of Indiana, and in October 1832, into Marshall county, during the Black Hawk war, in which he took active part. He has lived about 40 years near where he died.
Few persons were better known in this community. In person, he was commanding and dignified. His constitution was powerful. His manners were peculiarly kind and genial. His sense of honor was fine. He was a kind husband and an affectionate father. The funeral was large. His wife, three years his junior, will soon follow him.
Pioneer Business Man, Died Early Sunday Morning
As a Banker and Business Man Did Much for the Building Up of This Community
After more than eight weeks of confinement to his bed, Wm. Duke died at 4 o’clock Sunday morning from heart failure. Mr. Duke’s health had not been very well for the past three years and during that period had been confined to his home for a few weeks at different times. Last winter he suffered an unusually hard siege of it. His trouble had been high blood pressure and it was the indirect cause of his death. His physician had been called shortly before he passed away, but before he answered the final summons apologized for having gotten the doctor out so early in the morning.
Through his business and banking affiliations he was one of the best known men in central Illinois. Since the year 1880 when he and his brother Thomas founded the business of Duke Bros., Mr. Duke was most actively engaged in the business life of the city and community up to the year 1821 when he relinquished his interests in the hardware and implement business to his nephews Walter and Clarence Duke. Less than a week before his death he was re-elected president of the First National Bank, which office he has held for two and one-half years. He was a director of that institution for six years.
As a boy he worked in the shop of his father who was a boot and shoe maker here; he worked for the state while the lock and dam were being built; he tended the locks some years after the locks were completed. At one time he engaged in carriage painting and free-hand sign writing in which line nature had endowed him with unusual talent. Mr. Duke’s memory of things that happened in his early days was remarkable, it being possible for him to name dates and places in an almost miraculous way.
Wm. Duke was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Duke. He was born at Gambler, Ohio, December 26, 1852 and died Sunday, January 15, 1922 at the age of 69 years and 21 days. He came to Henry in 1857, this city being practically his home all his life. He was one of seven children - four boys and three girls - William, Mary, Thomas and Walter (deceased), Elizabeth (Mrs. Charles Greenlee), Kay (Mrs. George McGillick), and Joseph, deceased.
In 1880 the firm of Duke Bros., was organized, and they opened business opposite Central Park in carriages, implements, etc. A fire on the morning of June 9, 1888, entailed a loss of $15,000, after which they built a number of building for their extensive trade, purchasing the discarded M. E. church building which was moved and became a central building for their business.
On January 21, 1901, the Paskell hotel and the stores of the block were burned. The firm then planned to expand and move to Edward street. They purchased the four lots 80 by 160 feet - on which the Paskell house stood, from the heirs and erected a structure for their business, which with modern equipment, cost the firm about $24,000. They did business on Second street for 21 years. Their many lines developed a business covering a large territory and no doubt the structure they built was a larger building than of cities of quadruple the size of Henry. They made it successful and gained a reputation.
He was married to Miss Belle Steele of this city in 1909. Upon the sudden death of his brother Thomas in 1911, Mr. Duke took the business over and continued at the head up to the time of his retirement. Surviving him are his wife and three sisters, Mary Duke, Mrs. Charles Greenlee and Mrs. George McGillick all residing in Henry.
Many from out of town came to pay their respects to him, he who was so well loved and thought of where he was known and who did so much for the building up of Henry and the surrounding country. The funeral was held Tuesday afternoon from St. John’s Episcopal church, Rev. P. M. Cooper conducting the beautiful Episcopal services. Interment in the Henry cemetery.
Taken From The Henry News Republican
January 19, 1922