OBITUARY

Waseca Radical
Wednesday, April 24, 1895

Mr. [James] R. Davison, father of Mrs.
Wyman, and an old respected resident
of the county, was injured fatally by
a train on the M & St. L. road Friday
last, receiving internal injuries from
which he died Saturday morning. Mr.
Davison was quite aged and partially
deaf and blind, which probably ac-
counts for his not getting out of the
way of the engine in time, as the
engineer reports him as turning about
and appearing to be fully aware of the
approach. The end of the beam to
which the pilot is attached struck him
in the shoulder, and did not perceptibly
do much injury. He was returning
from the funeral service of Mr. Mc-
Elroy, which makes the occurrence
doubly sad. Mr. Davison was an early
resident of Blooming Grove, and has
been an influential, respected citizen.
He was a very upright, honorable man,
and his life is crowned with industry,
integrity and worth, The funeral
services were held Sunday and the remains laid to rest in the Woodville
Cemetery beside his wife, who died
some ten years ago.

WASECA COUNTY HERALD
FRIDAY, APRIL 26, 1895

- Last week was one of sadness for
many of our people. First came the
death of Mr. Peter McElroy, well known
and highly respected, and next Mr. Wm.
Taylor, a long time settler whose friends
were numerous, and, finally Mr. J.R.
Davison, one of the early and prominent
settlers of the state and county. Mr.
Davison had started on foot to attend Mr.
Taylor's funeral, Friday afternoon, when,
in crossing the railroad track, near Mr.
Wyman's place, he was struck by an
engine. This was about 2 o'clock p.m.,
and, although the injuries appeared to
be slight, he never recovered, dying
about 6 o'clock the same evening, at the
residence of Mr. S. F. Wyman. his son-in-
law, of this city. Mr. Davison was an
intelligent, useful citizen, and highly
esteemed for his many good qualities.
He was born in Nova Scotia in 1810, and
was married to Miss Eunice Jenks in
1833. In 1848 he left the land of his
nativity and moved to Maine, but having
started westward he went on to the then
new state of Indiana in 1850. That
locality not proving a healthful one, he
emigrated to Minnesota, leaving a new-
ly-made grave in each of these temporary
homes. He settled near Morristown in
1856; but eight years later crossed the
county line and built the "Traveler's
Home" in Blooming Grove, and was well
known to the traveling public till the
infirmities of age came on. He came
with his wife in 1884 to Waseca to spend
the remaining days in the home of their
daughter, Mrs. Wyman. Since the death
of his wife, in 1885, he has spent his time
alternately with his children. One son
and four daughters are still living to
treasure his memory. His funeral was
very largely attended, the Baptist church,
of which he was a member, being too
small by half to seat those who came to
pay their last respects to their departed
friend and fellow citizen.