Darius King Davis, son of Elonia and Sophia Davis, was born July 21, 1832, near Salem, Harrison Co., West Virginia and died November 21, 1919, aged 87 years and 5 months. He was the second in a family of ten children. When he was a youth the family moved to Jackson Center, Ohio. Later on they emigrated to Kansas.
When Mr. Davis was twenty-one years of age he left Ohio and went to Alfred, N. Y., to secure an education in Alfred University. Before this time his school privileges had been limited to two winter terms of three months each. With only a few dollars in his pocket as his financial backing but with remarkable determination, he finished his college course, paying his way by working at his trade as carpenter and by teaching school. Together with A. C. Rogers, he hewed all the timbers for the Brick Hall on the campus.
On August 25, 1862, he was married to Lucinda Fenner of Alfred. For a few years following their marriage Mr. Davis taught in the public schools in Kansas. While thus engaged he received a call to the pastorate of the church at Hartsville, N. Y., the acceptance of which made it possible for him to continue his studies in the Theological Seminary at Alfred. In 1874 he was graduated in the first large class in the Seminary along with John L. Huffman, Benjamin F. Rogers, Horace Stillman, David H. Davis, George J. Crandall, Oliver D. Sherman and Theodore L. Gardiner. Of this group only Dr. Gardiner remains.
Elder Davis has served several churches of the Seventh Day Baptist denomination in the east and west, his last pastorate being at Smythe, So. Dak. 1891-95.
Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Davis: C. Allen of Milton, Wis.; William K., now of Chicago; and two daughters who died in youth. In 1895 the family moved to Milton Junction where Mrs. Davis died in 1906. Twelve years ago Mr. Davis was married to Mrs. Phoebe B. Babcock of Jackson Center, Ohio, where he has spent the remainder of his declining years, happy in his home and among his friends.
The last four weeks of his life were spent with his sons and their families. On November 14, he left Milton to return to his home, intending to visit his son William in Chicago on the way. While stopping at the home of Mr. Murray Maxson he was seized with a violent attack of indigestion. His wife was summoned from Jackson Center, and was with him when the final summons came on Friday night at six o'clock.
Funeral services were held at Milton, Wis., in the Seventh Day Baptist church November 23, 1919. Pastor Jordan was assisted in the services by Rev. George W. Burdick. Interment was in the cemetery at Milton.
