File contributed for use on USGenWeb/MOGenWeb Lincoln County Heritage Page by Beth Rengers Talken, 12 October 1998. Link change or update: 12 Oct 1998
Obituary for Mrs. Lou (Ward) Davis (d1892)
No. 036 - Uncited clippings from the "Neva Murphy Hubbard Collection" of
Beth Rengers Talken, 1998.
At the residence of her husband in the city of Chillicothe, Mo, on Thursday, May 26th, 1892, Mrs. J. H. DAVIS, aged 57 years.
Mrs. DAVIS, who was formerly Miss Lou WARD, was born and raised in Lincoln county, Mo., near Troy, where she resided most of her time, until the year 1869, when she removed with her brother, Dr. J.A. WARD, and his family to Chillicothe, residing with him until May, 1870, when she was united in marriage to Mr. J.H. DAVIS of that city, and spent her married life there, a period of 22 years.
During her long residence in Chillicothe she drew around her a large circle of true and faithful friends who feel greatly grieved and shocked over her unexpected and sudden demise, many of whom gathered around her bed when the sad news of her rapidly approaching fate came to their knowldege, offering all the aid and comfort that true hearts and willing hands can bestow.
The immediate cause of her death was, perhaps, a surgical operation performed with the hope of relieving her of an ovarian tumor, that had given her more or less trouble for the past two years. Instead of relief, however, it was found when the surgeons had commenced the operation that no benefit could be expected, that the tumor was of a cancerous nature, and that the operation would only hasten the inevitable fatal result, though she could not have survived more than a few days had the operation not been performed. As above mentioned, Mrs. DAVIS had been for some two years conscious of a constant enlargement of her person, though did not feel much uneasiness in regard to the matter until within the past three months, when her health began to fail; though not until within the past month before her demise did she suspect her true conditions, when her physician informed her that she had an ovarian tumor, and that she could only be relieved by its removal, which is always considered a very dangerous operation, even when the growth is of a benign or mild character.
She entered into the matter, however, like a brave Christian woman, feeling confident that she could pass through the ordeal of the suregeon's knife and recover, thought having no fears should the operation prove fatal, feeling that she was prepared to meet her God, and that whatever the results might be, that all would be well with her. The tumor, however, proved to be of the most malignant nature, as well as extensive, having involved almost every organ in her system, and though she came out from under the anesthetic within half an hour after the operation was performed, which took just 15 minutes, and remained comfortable and cheerful for about 36 hours, she afterward gradually failed, and just 42 hours from the time the operation was performed breathed her last, whilst attended by her husband, her brother, (Dr. J.A. WARD).
Mrs. DAVIS was in her Christian faith a Presbyterian, and would have attached herself to that church in a short time had she been spared, so the writer of this notice was informed by several of her most intimate friends, who, when speaking in regard to her Christian profession, expressed themselves in the most assured terms, adding that a more patient, trusting and devout Christian than Mrs. DAVIS was not within their knowledge.
She had two children as the fruits of her marriage, her first born, a son, who did not survive his birth but a few minutes, and a daughter, Lula, who died about two years ago, perhaps in her 18th year, an accomplished and educated young lady. With the bodies of these her body now rests in the city cemetery, at Chillicothe, Mo., one of the most beautiful burial places in the state, whilst her spirit with theirs dwell in the presence of a gracious redeemer who gave His life for the redemption of the sould of men, in that home of which the inspired writer has said, "Eye hath not seen, ear hath not heard, neither hath it entered into the mind of man to conceive the things that God hath prepared for those who love and serve Him."
Beside her husband, who loved and honored her and who has the sympathy of all her relatives and friends in this, one of the darkest hours of his life, she leaves a step-daughter whom she raised and loved as an own child, four brothers known to be living, and a host of friends and relatives scattered through the country. --X.
Note regarding clippings from the "Neva Murphy Hubbard Collection": Neva Murphy Hubbard (1886-1971) lived all of her life in Lincoln County, MO. She collected a large file of clippings of Lincoln County residents. The majority of the clippings were without citation. Beth Rengers Talken, beneficiary of the collection, has transcribed them for inclusion in our Lincoln County Heritage Records.
File contributed for use on USGenWeb/MOGenWeb Lincoln County Heritage Page by Beth Rengers Talken, 12 October 1998. Link change or update: 12 Oct 1998
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