Ionia County MI Archives Obituaries.....Davenport, Wallace 1913
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Ionia Weekly Standard, 1 Aug 1913

Well Known and Honored Pioneer Resident Passes Over.

Wallace Davenport was born in the township of Dryden, near the village of
Varney, Lompkins Co., New York, December 11, 1834.  He came with his parents to
Michigan when he was five years of age.  His father’s family was one of the
earliest pioneer in Western Michigan, and the interesting stories he told of
their journey from New York through Canada to their home in Ionia Co., and of
their life in the time of the early settlement of Fallassburg were enjoyed by
many eager listeners.  He had the inestimable advantage of a Christian training
and was converted in his early boyhood.  He was the eldest of a family of eight
children, three boys and five girls.  Of the brothers, one died in his boyhood,
and another gave his life with patriotic devotion to his country in the sad days
of the Civil War.  A well beloved sister was taken from him in her early womanhood.

He was always interested in public affairs, in politics and current events,
fearless in his advocacy of moral reform and quick to espouse any cause for the
benefit of humanity.  He was always glad to relate that he was an abolitionist
and a republican before his father came to see that justice demanded an
anti-slavery attitude on the part of the citizens of the north.  He was one of
the earliest advocates of woman’s enfranchisement and of temperance, being a
total obstainer from both liquor and tobacco.

He was married to Elizabeth Flavilla Fassett June 2, 1864, and upon the
establishment of their home, the family altar was erected, and no pressure of
work was ever allowed to interfere with the time of family prayers.  Five
children were born of this union two of whom died in infancy.

After a companionship of almost thirty-nine years, during which they shared many
joys and sorrows together, his wife entered into that rest which remains for the
people of God.  Of the children who are Luella Davenport, Wolfe of Milford, Pa.,
Chas. Nathaniel and Emerson Davenport of Keene, Ionia Co., Mich., helped care
for him during his last illness.

He was an interesting conversationalist and could always draw from his large
fund of anecdotes a story for every occasion.  In politics he was a Bryan
Democrat and was often a delegate to the county conventions of his party.

On July 13, 1911, he was married to Helen Amelia Avery, and her companionship
and loving devotion cheered and brightened the last two years of his life. 
After an illness of five months, during which he never lost his sense of humor
or his interest in public affairs, asking to have the daily paper read to him,
and especially the proceedings of Congress, to the last day that he lived, he
closed his eyes to this world, which he said had been a good world to him, and
entered upon the life beyond July 24, 1913.  He died at his home on the farm in
Keene township where he had lived for almost 50 years.

Funeral services were conducted at the Methodist Church in Keene, Rev. D.C.
Reild preaching “A good Gospel Sermon” as requested by the deceased, Sunday
afternoon, July 27th.

[Transcriber’s note:  There is a notation on the obituary card that he was
buried in Marble Cemetery.]


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