Sunday’s Obituary~Marcellus L. Davis Passed Away

 MARCELLUS DAVIS BELOVED VETERAN PASSES BEYOND

Died Quietly at 5 O'clock This Morning Following Brief Illness Had Spent Two Fortunes in Charity and Aiding Others.
Had Noble War Record as Cavalryman Funeral Will Take Place Friday Morning And Burial at Harrison Church in The County.
Mr. Marcellus L. Davis, one of the best known and most beloved of the Confederate veterans in Mecklenburg died this morning at 5 o'clock at his room at the home of Mr. J. W. Brown No. 410 East Fifth street, following an illness of  only a week's duration. Mr. Davis passed away quietly and rather unexpectedly, thus closing a long and useful life which was full of good deeds, care for the unfortunate and charity for those in need. With him when the end came were a niece and a special nurse who had been with Mr.Davis for several days during his last illness.
Mr. Davis was a brave Confederate soldier. He served as a member of the Ninth regiment Company C. 91st Cavalry throughout the entire war and always bore himself with bravery and distinction on the field of battle, and those who knew him in the great struggle declared that no man exhibited a nobler or truer devotion to the cause of the Southern Confederacy. Mr. Davis was 69 years of age at the time of his death. He was born in lower Providence Township, not far from the town of Pineville and spent the greater part of his life in that section, coming to Charlotte some 15 or 20 years ago with his wife and making this place his home in his later life.
Mr. Davis was married to Miss Julia Davis, a cousin, shortly after the war. and established for himself a home in Providence township where many happy years of his life were spent following the Civil war. One child was born to Mr. and Mrs. Davis, a son, who died about the age of 12 years, leaving the parents sorely bereft. Mrs. Davis died in this city several years ago.

Man of Liberality.
Mr. Davis was noted as a man who had given away two comfortable fortunes in his lifetime, largely through his inability to resist the demands for aid that came to him from friends and even from those who were in trouble, but whom he oft times had never seen before their appeal was placed before him.
Upon the death of his father, James Davis, one of the largest land owners in North or South Carolina in his day, Mr. Davis inherited a considerable fortune. His father was known in his neighborhood in Providence as "Big Jim" Davis, and was a man of the old school, big-hearted and liberal, and also a man of affairs, successful in all that he undertook. Mr. Davis also had a sister who married and went to Texas. There both she and her husband died some years later, leaving to Mr. M. L. Davis another fortune of considerable proportions. At his home in Providence Mr. Davis and his wife were known far and wide as the most liberal entertainers in the whole section, and the latch string of their hospitable home hung on the outside for both friends and strangers, and no stranger passing their way was permitted to go on his way without partaking of the hospitality of this home, so that the Davis home to be famous for its liberality and hospitality.
When the veterans secured their new hall in the city hall in the city hall building several years ago Mr. Davis was secured to manage this and spent most of the day at the veteran’s headquarters where he welcomed the old soldiers and was always ready to assist them in any way possible.
When Trinity Methodist church was built about 10 years ago Mr. Davis subscribed the sum of $1,000 towards the building fund. Finding later that it would be difficult for him to meet the obligation, he offered to dispose of his home in order to pay the subscription, and it being realized that he needed someone to take care of him in his declining' years the proffer was ostensibly accepted, but the proceeds since has been used since for the support of Mr. Davis, and he often spoke of this gift in his last years as one of the most fortunate that he had ever made, the church acting as manager as it were, for his estate which he had desired to turn ever to the trustees to pay his subscription to the building fund.
Mr. Davis was one of the first to join the cavalry company organized in this city and county at the opening of the war, the company being organized by Mr. J. M. Miller, a physician of Charlotte, who became a colonel I the service. Mr. Davis was made a corporal later in the war. He was always a faithful and daring soldier and never shirked the most onerous duty. A brother who entered the army about the time that Mr. Davis went to the front, lost his life in the fighting around Petersburg. He was likewise described as one of the most daring and one of the finest soldiers in his regiment at the time of his death.
Among members of Mecklenburg Camp, United Confederate Veterans today, the greatest sorrow prevailed over the sudden death of their comrade and friend, and groups of the old soldiers all day stood quietly and spoke of the life and record of their deceased comrade.
The funeral services will be held Friday morning at 9:30 o'clock. It was said this morning that arrangements might be made to hold the funeral in the Veterans' Hall, otherwise the funeral exercises will take place at Harry's undertaking establishment. Rev. T. F. Marr, pastor or the deceased, will conduct these services, after which the remains will be taken to Harrison church in lower Providence for interment, this being the scene of the early days of the life of the deceased large force to attend the funeral and to pay a final tribute to the memory of their beloved and honored comrade and fellow-soldier. Capt. S. B. Alexander, commander of Mecklenburg Camp, U. C. of which Mr. Davis was a member, today issued formal orders for the members of the camp to assemble at 9 o'clock Friday morning at their hall from which the veterans will proceed in a body to attend the funeral at 9:30 o'clock.

Marcellus L. Davis born 5 March 1843 was the son of Judge James Hilliard Davis and his wife, Jane Thompson. He married his cousin Julia J. Davis on 29 May 1865. Julia J. Davis was the daughter of Samuel Asbury Davis and Elizabeth A. Stitt.

Marcellus L and Julie J. had one child, a son, James Taylor Davis, borne 1868. He died, at age 12, of appendicitis. Julie J. Davis died 2 March 1913, about 9 1/2 months prior to the death of her husband. 

Both, Marcellus L. and Julia J. Davis are my 3rd Cousins 3X Removed.

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1. Find A Grave, Inc., Find A Grave, database and digital images, (http://www.findagrave.com : accessed  30 August 2023); Memorial page for Marcellus L. Davis; (5 March 1843–24 December 1913); Find a Grave memorial # 7602323, Citing Harrison United Methodist Church Cemetery; Pineville, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, USA.

2. 1900 U. S. Census, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, population schedule, Charlotte Ward 2, Mecklenburg, North Carolina, enumeration district (ED) #45, Page#140B (Stamped); Line#88, Dwelling#206/79, Family#80, Household of  M. L. DAVIS; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 2 September 2023); citing National Archives Microfilm T623.

3. Marcellus L. Davis, death certificate #3239 (24 December 1913), NC State Archives., North Carolina Deaths, 1906-1930, Raleigh, Wake, North Carolina.

4. "MARCELLUS DAVIS BELOVED VETERAN PASSES BEYOND," Obituary, The Charlotte News, Charlotte, North Carolina, 24 December 1913, Page 3, column 4 & 5; Digital On-Line Archives, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/ : viewed 30 August 2023).

5. Find A Grave, Inc., Find A Grave, database, "Record, Marcellus L. Davis (5 March 1843–24 December 1913), Memorial # 7602323.

6. "North Carolina, Marriages Record, 1741-2011," database, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 30 August 2023), Marriage: M. L. Davis & Julia J. Davis, Marriage Date 29 May 1865.