The Death of William Henry Davis

 William Henry Davis, son of William Davis and Mary Davis was born 20 March 1806 in Marion County, South Carolina.  He was the fourth of six children borne to William and Mary. He had 2 brothers and 3 sisters.

As stated in the obituary herein, his parents migrated  from Marion County, SC to Baldwin County, Alabama in 1825. William Henry then moved to Choctaw County, Alabama in 1835.

He married Mellissa C. Finch on 22 November 1832 in Clarke County, Alabama.

* Newspaper clipping Southern Christian Advocate, Charleston , S.C., 7 June , 1860.

Wm. H. Davis, Sr., died at his residence in Clarke Co., Ala., of pneumonia after an illness of four days, in his 54th year. He was born in Marion Dist., S. C., March 20, 1806; removed with his parents to Baldwin Co., Ala., in '25: professed religion and joined the M. E. Church at a camp-meeting near French's Chapel, below Suggsville, in '31; married in '32; removed to Choctaw County in '35, and to the place where he died on Bashi, about '40. As a Christian, he was spiritual, consistent man. He had been soundly converted to God, and his life was such as to adorn the gospel. He was slow to form, and prudent in the expression of, his opinions; but when he took his position, he was firm and immovable. What he conscientiously believed to be his duty, he did, regardless of consequences. One of the most prominent features in his character was his devotion to his family and friends, being always ready to help the sick and needy.  And many a way-worn minister remembers with pleasant emotions the hospitalities of his house. He was perhaps too anxious for his children to rise to honor and distinction, preferring their being useful men and women to their being mere drones upon society. But he never forgot to teach them, both by precept and example, to be humble and holy. He was one of the kindest of Husbands; and as a master, he was not only kind but particularly careful to provide for the religious welfare of his servants. He was taken sick on Saturday, after his son, Nimrod, died on Friday. I visited him on Monday and heard him say there was not a shadow of a doubt of his future felicity. I saw  him again Wednesday, but he could not speak, for he was dying. Having for over a century justly enjoyed a wide-spread reputation for whatsoever things were pure, and lovely, and of good report, about 7 o’clock on Wednesday evening, April 4th, his spirit departed from his body, and was carried by angels into Abraham’s bosom. May my last end be like his. C.  

William Henry Davis died 4 April 1860 of Typhoid pneumonia after visiting his son Nimrod who also died from Typhoid pneumonia. William Henry was age 54; his son Nimrod, age 19.

Surviving are his wife, Melissa, and six children. One daughter, Mary Melissa, died at 19 months of age.  

William Henry Davis and his son, Nimrod Davis are distant cousins. 

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[1] Obit: https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/61266/images/41904_539980-00037?treeid=&personid=&hintid=&usePUB=true&usePUBJs=true&_ga=2.268276042.535245496.1645735962-94624829.1638752977&_gac=1.114782453.1644693586.Cj0KCQiA0p2QBhDvARIsAACSOOOVNXuCydCw1gywwG7KHDFDupNccsIqB0LIKyqCOhVEG7_Hs80Ru0kaAlEbEALw_wcB&pId=41925

[2] Alan Baker  originally shared this obituary on 24 Dec 2018

It’s Family Time~The Abraham Dry Family

 Abraham Dry was borne 19 Oct 1802 , a son of Phillip Wiley Dry and Catherine Köppel of Cabarrus County. He was the 5th of seven children born to this union.

He married Mary Catherine “Polly” Harkey, daughter of Jacob Harkey on 9 December 1830 according to 1 April 1830 edition of “The North Carolina Star”.

MARRIED: Also on the 9th [Feb. 1830], Mr. Abraham Dry  to Miss Polly Harkey, daughter of Jacob Harkey, Esq. 
[The North Carolina Star, 1 April 1830, page 3, Col. 5.]

However the North Carolina Marriage Index, 1741-1868 on Ancestry show the marriage taking place on 28 February 1830.

Born to this couple were 7 seven children before their Mother was unexpectedly taken away at the age of 34 on 17 April 1846.

Abraham Dry and Mary Catherine Harkey had the following children:

i. Mary Ann Dry was born on 6 Jul 1831 in Cabarrus County, North Carolina.

ii. Margaret Purlina Dry, born 6 Jul 1833, Cabarrus County, North Carolina; married Caleb Franklin Allman, 27 Jul 1873; died 12 Feb 1892, Cabarrus County, North Carolina.

iii. Rebecca Moriah Dry, born 27 Aug 1834, Cabarrus County, North Carolina; married Daniel Noah Corl, 8 Feb 1867, Cabarrus County, North Carolina; died 12 Oct 1906, Cabarrus County, North Carolina..

iv. Elizabeth Matilda Dry, born 12 Feb 1838, Cabarrus County, North Carolina; married Michael Caleb Rinehardt, 9 Aug 1866; died 23 Nov 1914, Cabarrus County, North Carolina.

v. Jacob M. Dry, born 16 May 1840, Cabarrus County, North Carolina; married Martha E. Rendleman, 25 May 1864; died 9 Feb 1910, Makanda, Jackson, Illinois.

vi. Eleanor Adeline "Nellie" Dry, born 20 Nov 1842, Cabarrus County, North Carolina; married Alfred Monroe Coleman, 2 Jun 1866, Cabarrus County, North Carolina; died 10 Apr 1926, Anna, Union, Illinois.

vii. Polly Mellisa Dry was born about 1845 in Cabarrus County, North Carolina.

Here we find the Father and his 7 children in the 1850 Census for Cabarrus County, North Carolina. They are also with him in the 1860 census for Cabarrus County.

His six daughters remained in the home, with their father, until his death. Abraham Dry never remarried and at the age of 60, he passed away on 3 April 1865.

Both Abraham and his wife, Polly Harkey,  are buried in the Henkelite Cemetery; Mount Pleasant, Cabarrus County, North Carolina.

Abraham Dry is my 1st Cousin 5X Removed.

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1. Find A Grave, Inc., Find A Grave, database and digital images, (http://www.findagrave.com : accessed 3 April 2020); Memorial page for Abraham Dry; (19 October 1804–3 April 1865); Find a Grave memorial # 29718932, Citing Henkelite Cemetery; Mount Pleasant, Cabarrus County, North Carolina.

2. 1850 U. S. Census, Cabarrus County, North Carolina, population schedule, Cabarrus, North Carolina, Page: 483A; Line 32, Dwelling 1245, Family 1245, Household of Abraham DRY; online database, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 3 March 2020); citing National Archives Microfilm Publication M432, Roll 622.

3. 1860 U. S. Census, Cabarrus County, North Carolina, population schedule, Subdivision East of NC Rr, Cabarrus, North Carolina, Page: 110/55 (Stamped); Line 29, Dwelling 372, Family 372, Household of Adam [Abraham] DRY; online database, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 3 April 2020); citing National Archives Microfilm Publication M653, Roll 890.

4. "North Carolina Marriage Index, 1741-1868," database, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 3 April 2020), Marriage: Abraham Dry & Polly Harkey; North Carolina Division of Archives and History, 1977; 27 Feb 1830.

5. "Marriage: Mr. Abraham Dry to Miss Polly Harkey, daughter of Jacob Harkey, Esq.," The North Carolina Star, Raleigh, North Carolina, 1 April 1830, page 3, Col. 5. MARRIED: 9th [Feb. 1830].

6. Find A Grave, Inc., Find A Grave, database and digital images, (http://www.findagrave.com : accessed 3 April 2020); Memorial page for Mary Catherine “Polly” Harkey Dry; (26 Oct 1811- 17 Apr 1846 (aged 34)); Find a Grave memorial # 17905899, Citing Henkelite Cemetery; Mount Pleasant, Cabarrus County, North Carolina, USA.