Yuma County, Colorado
Photographs |
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Yuma County Pioneer Photographs:
Emit Alpine and Della A. Davis, Happyville
EMIT'S FAMILY
In 1880 Smith County, Kansas, John L. Davis is 29, Nancy E. 30, with
Musedorah S. 5 and Elmond K. 1, and stepson William A. Dollin 9 born in Missouri.
In 1900 Webster County Kansas, Emit born April 1881 is with J.L 48 and Nancy
50. Elmond K. is 21, Martie 16, Sarah 14, Josie O. 12, John L.
September 1889 Kansas, and
Earnest T. 5.
In 1910 Yuma County, John L. Davis, 68 born in Illinois married 35 years to
Nancy E. 60 Tennessee (second marriage for Nancy). She's had ten children,
eight living. John L. 20 Kansas, and Earnest L. 15 Missouri are with them.
July 1912 Yuma "J.L. Davis and family, who left here last April for Nebraska,
are returning this week to Yuma, John Davis having arrived yesterday with their
car."
John , a retail dealer in merchandise, and Nancy are living on Weed Avenue in
Yuma in 1920.
John 1851-1924 # 52879560 and Nancy E. 1849-1932 # 52879562 are
both buried in Eckley.
PEARL
Albert G. Scrivner 22 and Seapearl 18 are in Smith County Kansas in 1895, with Vernon
ten months.
Albert 38 and Pearl 33 Scrivner are in Yuma County in 1910, with Verne 16,
Vincil 14, Oren 12, Albert 9, Edna 7, Mattie 5, Clifford 2, and Hazel six
months.
Albert proved up two quarters in 8 and 9, 1S 46W in 1916.
In 1926 Boulder, Albert is a teamster, with Pearl F. at 1719 12th.
Clifford, Edna -a hairdresser, Hazel - a student, and Vernon (Lucile V) an auto mechanic at
Withers Garage, also live there. Vincil E. (Alta M.) is a salesman at
Withers Garage, and they live at 1528 Grove.
EMIT
Emmitt Davis, 29, is next to Albert and Pearl in the 1910 census.
December 1911
Emit proved up two quarters in 5 and 8, 1S 46W in 1916.
December 1911 " Mr. Emmitt Davis and Miss Delia Armstrong slipped off to Wray the other day
and when Mr. Davis returned he brought Mrs. Davis with him. Now Emmitt just bring us the
cigars and we will try and keep the boys from disturbing your rest.
The groom is a prosperous young farmer and the bride is a well respected young lady of
this neighborhood. May their pathway be strewn with flowers is the wishes of the scribe ."
February 1912 "Mr. and Mrs. Armstrong and Mr. and Mrs. Stallings were visitors at the
Emmett Davis home Sunday."
March 1912 "Al Scrivner and Emmett Davis went to Eckley last week with a four horse team
to get coal and there was none there. We were about to have a coal famine but Saturday the
company sent out a load of their coal for us and everybody is hauling now.
Mr. and Mrs. Stallings visited with Mr. Armstrong's Sunday.
Emmett Davis and wife visited the latter's father, Mr. Armstrong."
Albert G. Scrivner proved up two quarters in sections 8 and 9, 1S 46W in 1918, next to Emit A. Davis' two quarters in sections 5 and 8 in 1916.
In 1920 Yuma County, Emit is 37, Della A. 26, both born in Kansas, with Clare
B. 7, Nancy E. 6, and Lulu M. 4, all three born in Colorado.
October 1934 
June 1935 " Clare Davis, who is home on leave from the navy, spent Wednesday night at the
home of his sister, Mrs. Harry Fonte."
"Mr. and Mrs. Harry Fonte entertained Mr. and Mrs. Ed Armstrong,
Mr. and Mrs. Emmett Davis and Donald, Albert Sheldon, John Maurice and Carlton Fonte
and Clare Davis at dinner last Thursday. "
August 1941 Eckley " The following people enjoyed a bountiful
fried chicken supper at the Emit Davis home Friday evening in
honor of Virgil Wittlake who is home from the navy on a
furlough: Mr. and Mrs. Henry Wittlake and family,
Mrs. Nancy Sheldon and son, Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Dollins,
Donald Davis, Ivan Hornkohl and Bud Davis of Denver."
September 1941 "Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Dollins and their son-in-law and daughter,
Mr. and Mrs. Jess Wray, of Riverside, California, arrived at the home of Mr. Dollin's
half-brother E. A. Davis recently for a visit. Mr. and Mrs. Wray went on to Iowa to visit
relatives but Mr. and Mrs. Dollins remained tor a longer visit."
April 1942 "Mr. and Mrs. Don Davis of Denver are visiting at the homes of Mrs. Davis's parents,
Mr. and Mrs. T. C. Dennis, and Mr. Davis's parents, Mr. and Mrs. E. A. Davis.
Don has joined the navy snd leaves soon for training."
June 1944 "Mr. and Mrs. Emmet Davis went to Upton, Wyo.,
last week Friday for a ten day visit with their daughter
Mrs. Albert Sheldon and family."
August 1946 "Mrs. Elbert Sheldon, the former Nancy Davis, who with her son Charles came Sunday to visit her parents, the E. A. Davis’ of Eckley and her sister, Mrs. Harry Fonte, was called on Monday by her husband from Upton, Wyoming, to be told that their home had been destroyed by fire. Mr. Sheldon said he was in the hayfield when he saw the house burning. He arrived at the house in time to save only one chair that was located near the door. Everything else burned. It is not known bow the fire started."
Emmit Davis received the sad news Wednesday that his half-brother, Wm. Dollins had passed
away at his home in Riverside, California Tuesday with burial at that point on September 28th, 1947. "
October 1952 "Mr. and Mrs. Emit Davis and Nancy Sheldon
spent Tuesday with Mr. and Mrs. Harry Fonte and Nancy Dell.
Mrs. Nancy Sheldon spent Wednesday and Thursday at the
Harry Fonte home.
Mrs. Ernest Price spent Wednesday afternoon with Mr.
and Mrs. Harry Fonte and Nancy Sheldon.
Mr. and Mrs. Harry Fonte and girls were Sunday dinner
guests of Mr. and Mrs. Emit Davis.
Mr. and Mrs. Emit Davis and Mrs. Nancy Sheldon were Monday
supper guests of Mr. and Mrs. Harry' Fonte and girls."
July 1954 "Mr. and Mrs. Emit Davis and Mr. and Mrs. Leo Delaney and daughters of Los Angeles spent
Sunday evening with Mr. and Mrs. Harry Fonte and girls. "
Emit 1881-1956 is buried in Eckley # 52879557. Dell Albina 1892-1957 is
also there # 52879554.
April 19, 1956 "The Eckley community was shocked by the
unexpected death Monday of Emit A. Davis, a longtime resident of
southwest of Eckley. Mr. Davis died during a visit in town.
It was believed he suffered a heart attack. He had been i11
recently and and had been hospitalized, but was apparently
recovering and his passing was unexpected.
The funeral services will be held at the Morris Mortuary
in Yuma on Friday of this week and burial will be in the Eckley cemetery. Mr. Davis is survived by his wife; two daughters, Mrs. Harry (Lula) Fonte of Wray and Mrs. Nancy Sheldon of Baker, Ore., and two sons, Clair Davis who ip in the U. S. Navy, and Don Davis of Eckley."
"Emit Alpine Davis was born in Smith County, Kansas, on April
10, 1881, and departed this life on April 16, 1956, at the age
of 75 years and six days. In October of 1908 he homesteaded
eleven and one-half miles southwest at Eckley and resided there
at the time of his death. On December 20, 1911, he was united in marriage to
Dell Armstrong. To this union five children were born.
They are Clare Byron Davis, Norfolk, Virginia, U.S.N.;
Nancy Elizabeth Sheldon, Vancouver, Washington;
Lulu May Fonte, Wray; Donald Clive Davis, Eckley, and
Emit Russell Davis, who died in infancy.
Other survivors include one brother, E. L. Davis, Brush; one sister,
Lucy Delaney, Los Angeles, Calif., and seven grandchildren.
He was a loving husband and father, a friend to all who knew him.
He was laid to rest in the Eckley cemetery on April 20, 1965. He was one of the few
homesteaders left in the valley south of Eckley."
November 1957 "Mrs. E. A. Davis, resident of the Eckley community for many years, died early Wednesday morning. Arrangements are in charge of the Morris Mortuary in Yuma and had not yet been completed as the Gazette went to press. Mrs. Davis is survived by her four children, Mrs. Harry Fonte, Mrs. Nancy Sheldon, Donald Davis, all of Wray, and Clair Davis of the navy. There are also several grandchildren.."
"Funeral services were held at the Morris Funeral Home in Yuma November 23 for
Mrs. Dell Davis of Eckley, and burial followed in the Eckley cemetery.
Dell Albina Davis was born September 19, 1892, at Smith Center, Kan., and died November 20, 1957,
at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Harry Fonte, at the age of 65 years and two months.
She was the eldest child of Edward and Emma Armstrong. She grew to womanhood and received her
education in Smith County, Kan. In 1910 she moved with her family to a homestead southwest of
Eckley. On December 20, 1911, she was united in marriage to Emit Alpine Davis and five
children were born to them. The surviving children are
Clare Bryan Davis, of the U. S. Navy, Norfolk, Va.;
Nancy Elizabeth Sheldon of Eckley; Lulu May Fonte of Wray, and Donald Clive Davis of Eckley.
Her husband and one baby son, Russell Emit, preceded her in death.
After the death of her husband, Mrs. Davis continued to live in the family home.
A week before her death she went to her daughter's home where she died in her sleep.
She will be greatly missed by her children and a host of friends.
Other survivors include three grandsons; four granddaughters:
one brother, Ralph Armstrong of Otis; two sisters, Veva Wittlake of Eckley and
Juanita Pearson of Los Angeles, Calif., and less near relatives."
Clare B. Davis 1912-1977 is also buried in Eckley # 52879553.
Harry Fonte's father, Joseph J. Fonte, failing in health for twenty-nine years,
passed away in Tecumseh at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Henry Mandery, Sunday morning,
April 13, 1941,, at 8:25 o clock. The family home is southwest of Tecumseh but owing to Mr. Fonte's final illness he had been brought to Tecumseh for his daughter's loving care, being, assisted by her sisters, Mrs. Charles Weakland and Mrs. Carl Mahoney, and daughter, Mrs. Paul Kerner.
Mr. Fonte was a native of Italy his birth being at Premia on July 25, 1860, a son of Mr. and Mrs. Philip Fonti. He grew to manhood there, being united in marriage at St Michael's Catholic Church in Premia to Mrs. Julia Catherine Albergeretta, daughter of Mr, and Mrs. Anton Albergeretta. on December 17 1883, having been married fifty-nine years last December. A year and a half after his marriage Mr. Fonte, in company with a brother-in-law, sailed for the United States, leaving his wife and a son, Major A., in Italy. The Atlantic crossing took twenty-one days, landing in New York May 18, 1885. The two men went on to St Louis, riding a freight train. Unable to find work there they started walking west and reached Julian, this state, tired and footsore, Mr. Fonte being highly inconvenienced by his lack of knowledge of the English language, although his brother-in-law could speak English. At Julian they stopped at a harvest field of Jule Bernard, who invited them into their home for something to eat and gave them a job. The three were able to get along nicely by speaking French. Mr. Fonte saved his small earnings and in 1887 sent for his wife and child, living on Mr. Bernard's farm in a one-room log cabin.
After working in the Julian community six years the family came to Johnson county, moving into a new house on the Hayward farm, four and one-half miles southwest of Tecumseh. In 1891 Mr. Fonte broke 160 acres of prairie land there with a mule team and walking plow and farmed for several years. In 1900 they moved onto the farm which had since been their home, having bought the place. Mr. and Mrs. Fonte endured many hardships during these early years, his health being poor at many times. During these periods of ill health his neighbors came to his aid, taking the children into their homes, being cared for by Mr. and Mrs. Philip Walters and Mr. and Mrs. Henry Schlater Sr. Others to help in the home were Mr. and Mrs. Jake Epler, Mr. and Mrs. Smith Head and Mr. and Mrs. D. L. Robb. Mr. Fonte was sorely afflicted with asthma and hay fever, and spent several summers in Colorado for relief. His final illness was of two weeks duration, during which time he was cared for in the home of Mrs. Mandery, as stated. Mr. and Mrs. Fonte were the parents of six children, all of whom survive their father. They are, according to their ages, Major A. Fonte of Auburn, Washington; James P. Fonte, at home, who had assumed the care of his aged parents during the years; Mary C., wife of Henry Mandery of Tecumseh; Daisy C., wife of Charles Weakland of this community; Ethan J. Fonte of Wray, Colorado, and Della M., wife of Carl Mahoney, also of this community. Besides his wife and children, others to mourn his passing are twenty-one grandchildren and two great grandchildren. He will be greatly missed by his relatives and friends, being highly esteemed by all his acquaintances. He was a consistent follower of the Catholic faith, attending the local St. Andrew's Catholic Church.
The funeral services were held Tuesday morning at 9:30 o'clock at the St. Andrew's church, with Rev. John Kean of Syracuse being in charge during the absence of the pastor, Father Thomas Burden. Internment was in the St. Andrew's cemetery. Relatives from away to be with Mr. Fonte during his final illness and at the time of the death and burial were his son, Ethan Fonte, wife and daughter of Wray, Colorado, another son. Major Fonte of Auburn, Washington; and grandchildren, Carl Fonte, and wife of Moab, Utah, and Harry Fonte and sister, Mrs. Willis Cramer, of Wray, Colorado..
September 1944 " Mr. and Mrs. Major Fonte of Auburn, Washington, came Thursday for a visit
with their daughter, Mrs. Willis Cramer and family, and their son Harry Fonte and family and
other relatives.
Mrs. Albert Colby, Mrs. Major Fonte and Mrs. Willis Cramer and Charlotte and Dickie Gene
spent Saturday with Mrs. Harry Fonte.
Mr. and Mrs. Major Fonte and Mr. and Mrs. Willis Cramer, Charlotte and Dickie Gene
were Sunday dinner guests of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Fonte.
Sunday afternoon they all visited Mr. and Mrs. Ethan Fonte.
Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Burge and family and Charles Courtney visited Sunday evening
with Mr. and Mrs. Major Fonte at the Harry Fonte home. "
Lulu May (Davis) Fonte 1915-1987 # 52879579 and Harry Major Fonte 1907-1992
are both buried in Eckley
"Miss Ethel Mae Dennis, youngest daughter of Mr. and Mra. T. C. Dennis,
became the bride of Donald C. Davis, youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. E. A. Davis, on Wednesday,
Dec. 24, 1941, at 1:00 P. M., at Benkelman. Nebr., with a Presbyterian minister officiating.
They were accompanied by Mr. and Mrs. Paul Eastin. The bride was dressed in light blue crepe with
navy accessories, and the gtoom wore a dark grey business suit.
The young couple plan to make their home in Denver where Mr. Davis has employment."
1945 Eckley "Ethel Mae Davis was a passenger to Denver Monday where she went to meet her husband. Gunner's Mate Don Davis, who arrived Tuesday noon from San Francisco after being honorably discharged from the Navy."
In 1959 when Mrs. T.C. Dennis died, one survivor was " Ethel Mae Davis of Eckley."
1962 "Mrs Bill Newland of Castle Rock spent the weekend with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Don Davis. Other guests for Sunday dinner were Mr. and Mrs. T. C. Dennis."
ERNEST
JOHN
John registered for WWI in Yuma County, a marine engineer, unemployed.
He had spent four years as an oiler in the Navy.
In 1940 Placerville, California, John L. is 50, born in Kansas, a laborer,
with a lodger Albert Simpson.
John registered for WWII in Camino, California born Sept 6,1889 at Lebanon,
Kansas, Mrs. Grace Davis his reference.
John Lewis Davis, born Sept 6, 1889 in Kansas, died August 31, 1981 in
Sacramento County, California, mother' s name Reave.
LUCINDA JANE
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