The Plattsmouth Journal, June 23, 1941
Death of Aged Resident at the Masonic Home.
William Harrington Davis Dies This Morning at Age of Eighty-nine Years.
William Harrington Davis, youngest son of Asa B. and Caroline R. Davis, was born March 19, 1852 in Jackson City, Jackson county, Michigan. He passed to his reward June 19, at the age of 89 years. He spent his young manhood near the place of his birth.
On February 11, 1873 he was united in marriage to the woman who passed away January 3, 1922. To this union were born ten children. Asa B. Davis, Willits, California; Mrs. W. J. Petitt, Dallas, Oregon; Mrs. George Bombar, Martinsburg, Nebraska; Charles M. Davis, Elk Point, South Dakota; Mrs. R. F. Snyder (deceased); Mrs. W. Pryor, Worland, Wyoming; Byron W. Davis, Worland, Wyoming; Mrs. J. W. Beith, Idaho Falls, Idaho; Earl Davis; Worland, Wyoming; and Mrs. C. S. Martinson, Haskell, Nebraska.
They lived in Michigan until 1882 when they moved to Ponca, Nebraska, where they remained except for one and a half years spent in Wisconsin until the autumn of 1919, when they moved to Worland, Wyoming where the eldest daughter was living at that time.
After the death of his wife, Mr. Davis returned to Nebraska to live. On August 16, 1924 he was married to Mrs. Nora Ella Hatch of Reed City, Michigan and returned to Michigan to live until December 1932, when his wife passed away.
For two years he then made his home with Mrs. W. J. Pettit of Crawfordsville, Oregon and Mrs. J. W. Beith of Idaho Falls, Idaho. In February 1937 he returned to Nebraska and entered the Masonic Home July 10, 1937 from Ponca lodge No. 181, A. F. & A. M. He has been a faithful member of the Masonic fraternity for more than fifty years.
He was a member of the Baptist church at Ponca, Nebraska and then at Worland, Wyoming for many years. After entering the Home he united with the Christian church in this city. The body is at the Horton funeral home awaiting funeral arrangements.
* [Interesting Research below regarding the W. H. Davis second marriage]
The Sioux City Journal, Sunday, August 17, 1924 - Page 14.
Childhood Sweethearts Are Married After Waiting 54 Years; Bride is 69, Groom is 72.
Ponca, Neb., Widower and Michigan Widow Take Marital Vows.
Childhood sweethearts were united Saturday afternoon when William H. Davis, 72 years old, of Ponca, Neb., was united in marriage to Mrs. Elizabeth Hatch, 69 years old, of Reed City, Michigan.
Fifty-four years ago, when Davis was 18 years old and Mrs. Davis was 15, the couple met at a wedding of Mrs. Davis’ brother, at Paris, Mich. Davis at that time was driving a grocery wagon.
According to Davis, he promptly fell in love with Mrs. Davis and expected to marry her, when one night she informed him that they would have to give up their plans. He asked her the reason, but could get very little information from her, he says.
Davis felt so bad, he states, that, although he neither drinks nor uses tobacco, he went out and promptly got drunk. His mother, he says, stood by him at this time and told him to brace up, that there were just as good fish in the river as ever were caught. Finally, he took her advice and straightened up.
Later, Mr. Davis married and became the father of 10 children. All good republicans, he states. Mrs. Davis married a man by the name of Hatch, who, Mr. Davis says, was the cause of their breaking up. Both families lived side by side on farms in Michigan for several years.
In 1881, recalled Mr. Davis as the year of the high water, he moved with his family to Sioux City, Iowa. Three years later he moved to a farm near Ponca, Neb. A few years ago his wife died and Mr. Davis sold his farm at Ponca.
Since that time he has shifted around among his 10 children, who are scattered all over the west. Last April he went back to Reed City, Michigan to see his nephew. When he reached there, he learned that Mrs. Davis had lost her husband since the last time he saw her. He paid her a visit and the childhood romance was renewed. At that time they planned to be married this August, although, Mr. Davis says, he did not say anything to his folks about the proposed wedding.
Mrs. Davis made a trip to New Jersey and came from there to Sioux City Saturday morning. Mr. Davis arrived in the city Friday afternoon and was at the station to meet his bride-to-be upon her arrival. They were married that afternoon.
The couple intends to visit some relatives in Wisconsin on their honeymoon and will arrive in Reed City about September 1, where they will make their home on Mrs. Davis’ farm.
Mrs. Davis’ comment on the wedding was that they should have been married years ago.
