Lucinda Fenner Davis was born in the town of Alfred, N. Y., July 16, 1838, and died in Milton Junction, Wisconsin, March 3, 1906, in the 68th year of her age. Her father, Mr. Isaac Fenner, was a Rhode Islander by birth and belonged to a large family of that name. They were also a family noted for their strength of character, business sagacity, intellectual ability and executive power. At least five men of this family were at different times, honored by their fellow citizens with election to the chief executive office of the Commonwealth. Mrs. Fenner, the mother of the subject of this notice, was Amelia Potter, also of Rhode Island. The Potters also possessed strong qualities of mind and heart which brought them into important places both in church and state, as well as in the social life of their time. They were probably the most numerous family in the early history of Rhode Island. A census taken sometime in the 18th century, showed that one in every nine in the population was a Potter. From the early colonial days they were found in important public places. One of them was a member of the Commission of the English Commons which condemned Charles I, in 1648.
Mr. and Mrs. Fenner began their married life in the little village of Newport, in Herkimer County, New York, where he was engaged in some manufacturing business. But they soon moved on into the Allegany country where they became identified with the primitive settlements among those wooded hills. The industry, prudence and thrift of both families together with unusual vigor and high moral character combined to give them a worthy place in all that went to make up the material, social, financial, educational and religious character which has come, in the passing of the years, to the people and institutions of Alfred. Mr. and Mrs. Fenner had nine children, of whom Mrs. Davis was the youngest. The oldest sister died some years ago, the remaining sister, Mrs. A. M. F. Isham, is now a resident of Milton, too ill to go out of her house. Three brothers are still living in New York State.
Mrs. Davis was reared in Alfred, where at the early age of twelve or thirteen years she professed faith in Christ and was united, by baptism, with the Seventh-day Baptist Church of that place. She was educated at Alfred University, graduating from that institution with the class of 1861, with the degree of Laureate of Philosophy. At Alfred she was married to Mr. D. K. Davis whose acquaintance she had made during their school life. God gave them four children, two sons and two daughters. The sons are well known and honored citizens of Milton, the eldest, Mr. C. Allen Davis, a thrifty farmer living near Clear Lake, and the younger, Mr. Will K. Davis, the proprietor and publisher of the Milton Journal. The elder daughter died after a few brief weeks and the younger, when about ten years of age.
Soon after their marriage Mr. Davis was ordained to the work of the gospel ministry, and held pastorates at Hartsville and at Scott, N. Y., at Long Branch, Neb., and at Pleasant Grove, South Dakota. They also lived for a few years at Nortonville, Kans., and finally came to Milton in the spring of 1895, which has since been their home, though they moved to Milton Junction four and a half years ago to care for Elder Richard C. Bond during his declining years. On all these different fields and in all the varieties of service which they have required, Mrs. Davis has entered into the labors of her husband in the true spirit of wifely devotion. Since Elder Davis's enforced retirement from student habits and employments, on account of the failure of his eyesight, she has done all in her power to make up to him the loss he has thus sustained. She has not only been eyes for him in reading, writing and keeping of accounts, but by her own native prudence and business foresight, she has been a most helpful advisor. It would be difficult to speak in too high praise of her wifely devotion to her husband and of her motherly interest and pride in her children and grandchildren. But that which will bring largest measure of comfort to those who mourn her departure will be the recollection of her unbounded faith in God our common Father and in Jesus Christ the Saviour of us all whom she sincerely loved and devotedly served. The memory of such is truly blessed. L. A. P.
