Obituary of Shelton A. Davis

Shelton A. Davis, age 66, died early yesterday morning at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Robert Wilson, on South Sixth street in Marshall.

He leaves eleven children: Chester Davis, Leo Davis, Shelton Davis, James Davis, Mrs. Harry Sutton, and Miss Mary Davis, all of Hammond, Indiana, Glenn Davis, Mrs. Thomas Koutsoumpas, Mrs. Robert Wilson, Esther Davis and Loretta Davis, all of Marshall. His wife preceded him in death about six years ago, also three children.

Funeral services will be conducted at the Christian church tomorrow afternoon at 2:00 o'clock by Rev. L. Z. Smith and burial in the Marshall Cemetery.


Shelton Artemus Davis from History of Marshall Illinois and Eastern Clark County 1978. Clark County (IL) Democrat.

Born on a Clark County farm on Aug. 12, 1869, Shelton Artemus Davis was the son of Chesterfield and Catherine Behner Davis. He died Oct. 31, 1935.

In his youth, Davis received a practical common school education. He began his independent life as an employee of the Vandalia Railroad, with which he remained three years. He was for two years a turnkey at the Clark County Jaoil and for three years operatied a freight transfer in marshall. The livery firm of Davis & Coon was established in December, 1905, by Davis and his brother-in-law, Edward Coons.

Davis was a strong supporter of the Democratic party, although not a partisan in his political beliefs, and held several public offices. He was elected Marshall Township Collector in 1903 and was re-elected in 1905. In 1907, Shelton A. Davis was elected supervisor of Marshall Township.

Shelton Davis was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Order of the Eagles, Prairie Aerie #1315, and Red Men Lodge #23, of which he served as past sachem. The Davis family were members of the Christian Church.

On April 4, 1895, Shelton Davis married Ada Ellen Coons, who was born in Clark County on Dec. 16, 1873, as a daughter of John Martin and Amanda Catherine (Boyer) Coons. Their children were Ethel Irene, Nov. 22, 1897; Chesterfield Virgil, March 1, 1899, to July 1965; Leo Everette, Nov. 11, 1900, to Aug. 7, 1942; Glen, Feb. 12, 1902, to Jan. 15, 1972; Audrey Alcie, March 21, 1904; Shelton Warren, Aug. 1, 1905, to Oct. 27, 1972; Ava Rose, Dec. 28, 1907; John Martin, July 19, 1908, to June 18, 1916; Eugene Lewis, Jan 12, 1910 to Jan. 19, 1917; Hazel Louise, Sept. 4, 1912; Mary Katherine, June 20, 1913; James Allen, Nov. 2, 1916; Loretta, July 6, 1918; and Esther Modena, Dec. 3., 1919.

Audrey Alice Davis, daughter of Shelton A. and Ada Coons Davis, married Tom Koutsoumpas in 1922.

Compiled by Allen W. Davis of Manhattan, Kans. and submitted by Ruth Taylor