Notes
Note N521
Index
Farmer, living with brother Albert R. Davis family.
Notes
Note N522
Index
Married, living on Twp 76, Range 34, Section 22, NW NW, Dwelling #71, Family #72, page 395.
Notes
Note N523
Index
Iva Davis Bears, Elton Davis and Ethel Davis Gardner relate the following story concerning their parents, Daisy and Arthur Davis.
"I was born in Mitchell County, Iowa. My father and grandfather came from New York state to DeKalb County, Illinois. My father, Abija Peck Davis, went from Illinois to Mitchell County, Iowa before the Civil War." Arthur remembered how his family crossed the Mississippi River on a horsetread ferry boat dodging huge chunks of ice. The family came on to Iowa. Arthur also remembered pallbearers carrying his mother's coffin from their home directly to the cemetery and standing by her grave on a cold blustery day when he was nine years old. When asked what first attracted Arthur to his wife, Daisy, he replied. "Daisy DeHaven and her mother came to visit the Spicers. (Daisy's sister, Sarah, married Nathan Spicer.) I was living with my brother, Albert, right across the road from the Spicers. That was in Vidora Township (Cass County, Iowa) about a mile and a half east and two miles south of where Massena is now. Daisy was bright and jolly, easy to get acquainted with. We went together the fall and winter of 1880. She went to school at Victory Center and played with my sister, Alice and the other Davis kids. We went to an occasional party, singing school and on sleigh rides. One day as we were walking home from church at the school house, I asked Daisy to marry me. She replied, "Don't know. You will have to ask Mother". which is what I knew Daisy would say, since she was so young. I asked Grandma, as we all called Daisy's mother. She said no, that Daisy was too young but I didn't have to argue very long before she said yes. We lovered around the rest of that winter and spring. We were married August 24, 1881. But that wasn't the end of the love story. It lasted many years." (56, in fact ) Arthur and Daisy moved to Ottawa, Ks in 1900 and to Michigan Valley, Ks in 1902. They moved to California in 1911. They located on a range near the Empire School in the Kerman area. They were members of the First Christian Church in Fresno. Arthur and Daisy had nine children whom they raised in an atmosphere of love and togetherness. All the children were encouraged to continue their education beyond high school, especially the girls. Daisy died December 11, 1936 at Kerman, Cal and is buried in Belmont Memorial Park, Fresno, Cal. Arthur died February 14, 1951 at the home of his youngest son, Vernon, with whom he had been residing for the four previous years. He is buried in Belmont Memorial Cemetery.
Listed in 1870 IA census as being "at school". Age given as 83 in 1940 Census.
Notes
Note N524
Index
In 1900, he moved with his family to Kansas. In 1911 he moved on to Kerman, California with his brother Elton, in a railroad emigrant car with furniture, machinery and livestock. In 1913, Bernard decided to be a minister. After working his way through Eugene, Oregon Bible College, he was awarded a DD degree in 1921. Bernard served pastorates at San Francisco, Sacramento and was Defense Area Chaplain and Pastor Coordinator of Ministers Council of Churches in the Armed Forces during WW II in 1943. Bernard retired from the ministry in 1948 and was a successful vineyardist until he died.
From the Fresno Bee (1963): Rev. Davis Will Observe 50th Anniversary in Pulpit "The Rev. Bernard S. Davis, who retired in 1949 and has been preaching ever since, tomorrow will observe the 50th anniversary of his first sermon.
His day will start much as it did in 1913 when, as a college student, he stepped into a pulpit for the first time. The Rev. Davis will speak at the 10:50 AM service in the First Christian Church, where he is serving as the interim pastor, on My Ministry From The Lord Jesus.
The Rev. Davis' first sermon was delivered in the United Brethren Church on Madeira Avenue, five miles north of Kerman. During an interview, he recalled the minister of the church, which since has been rebuilt, had to attend a meeting and asked him to speak in his place. That request was the first of many which the Rev. Davis has not treed down.
Since his retirement in 1949, he has spoken in the absence of several ministers, and at special meetings. He has served as interim pastor for the First Christian Church on two occasions, three times for the Belmont Christian Church in Fresno and the First Christian Church in Han ford, Kings County, and twice for the Shields Avenue Christian Church in Fresno.
Before retiring, he held pastorates in Sanger, Sacramento, Marysville, San Francisco, Vallejo, Geyserville, Sonoma County and in Tempe and Mesa, Ariz.
'When I retired, I retired with this in my mind: I would preach if I was asked, but I wouldn't ask to preach', he said. "When I do retire next month, I'll still continue this way. I'll be available when I"m needed.'
A native of Cass County, Iowa, the Rev. Davis was reared in Kansas where he became an elementary school teacher at the age of 18. In 1911, he moved to the Kerman area where he worked with a brother on a ranch. In 1912, at the age of 23, he entered the Eugene Bible University (now the Northwest Christian College) in Eugene, Ore. He was graduated in 1918 and began his ministry in Sanger,where he served two terms.
During the summer following his first year in school, he delivered his first sermon and six months later he married the former Lottie Lewis of Fresno, whom he had met while attending the First Christian Church. They will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary December 24th.
The Rev. Davis said his "first concept of religion" came early in life. "I was in a Sunday school class and I saw a sign which said 'God is love'. That was my first concept of religion and its still my concept. Everything else fits into the pattern'.
The Rev, Davis said he plans to visit relatives and friends when he begins his retirement. He also plans to relax and do a little work on his ranch 10 miles southwest of Fresno--at o least until the telephone rings and there is 'work to be done' in a church."
Very similar words were printed in obit in "The (Fresno, CA) Republican, 29 Apr 1970
Alternate date of death is 27 Apr 1970, per California Death Index