Obituaries: B. J. Mahan, 1939, Winn Parish, LA
Submitter: Greggory E. Davies, 120 Ted Price Lane, Winnfield, LA 71483
Source: Winnfield News-American 
Date: June 16, 1939
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Death of Best Friend Is Saddening to A. H. Davis

A. H. Davis, local citizen, received a telegram Sunday evening announcing the
death of his lifelong friend, B. J. Mahan, at Newton, Miss.

Mr. Mahan taught Mr. Davis telegraphy and station agency work at Hermanville,
Miss., in 1884 when Mr. Mahan was agent-operator at that station, and ever
since they have been closely associated, socially and in business.

Mr. Mahan was Mr. Davis' best man when he married at Hermanville in 1888 and
Mr. Davis was his best man when he married Miss Luna Van Eaton at Lula, Miss.,
in 1896.

When the Louisville, New Orleans and Texas railroad purchased the Natchez,
Jackson and Columbus in 1889, Mr. Mahan was made chief train dispatcher on the
River Side Division, and while on a visit to Winnfield last August discussed
the old days in the heydey of rail roading with Mr. Davis when the two boys in
their early twenties were dispatching trains that were about as numerous as
the autos are now on the highways.

In commenting on the loss of his best friend, Mr. Davis said, "How very sad,
th thing that we will never exchange long letters, or look forward to
another reunion, for I loved him as a brother, and it is a great satisfaction
to know that during our fifty-five years of association that there never was
an angry word between us."

When Mr. Mahan was here last August he and Mr. Davis spoke of the future, both
seemed to feel it was their last meeting, when he said, "If I beat you up
Yonder I will meet you when you come and you do the same for me."