Zoro Melvin L. Davis^[1]

1872 - 1935  (63 years)

• Gender	Male
  Occupation	Fireman At A Cement Plant (1910), Stoker At Gas Plant (1915-1935)  [2]
  Cemetery	Mock Cemetery, Sect. 4, Row 4  [3]
  Death Notice	The Elkhart Truth, Saturday, August 10, 1935, p. 2 MELVIN L. DAVIS Melvin L. Davis, 63, who had been employed as a stoker at the local gas plant ever since coming to Elkhart 20 years ago, died in the Elkhart General hospital at 4 o’clock Friday. A week ago he underwent an operation for a kidney affection, and last Monday was returned to his home, 915 Madison street; but suffered a relapse and was taken back to the hospital on Wednesday. Mr. Davis was born in Benton township, May 19, 1872, the son of Austin and Susanna Davis. His early life was spent on a farm near North Webster and he lived at Syracuse 15 years before coming to Elkhart. His second marriage was to Flora C. Bell of Elkhart, Nov. 5, 1921. She survives, with the following children of his first marriage: Earl and Charles Davis of Kalamazoo, Claude Davis of Bourbon and Mrs. Viola McHenry of Syracuse. There are nine grandchildren, and the following sisters: Mrs. Chloe Stoner and Mrs. Iza Umphsbaugh of Elkhart, and Mrs. Emma Menzie and Mrs. Frances Hile of Pierceton. Ther funeral will be held Monday, with a service at 1 p.m. at the Charles Walley chapel, 126 South Second street, and another at 2:30 o’clock at Mock’s church, North Webster, and burial in the church cemetery.  [2]
  Residence(s)	1880: Benton, Elkhart Co., Indiana 1900: Tippecanoe twp., Kosciusko Co., Indiana 1910: Boston St., Syracuse, Turkey Creek twp., Kosciusko Co., Indiana 1930: 915 Madison, Concord twpl, Elkhart, Indiana  [4, 5]
  Birth	19 May 1872	Benton Twp., Elkhart Co., Indiana, USA   [1, 2, 3, 4]
  Death	9 August 1935	Elkhart, Elkhart Co., Indiana, USA   [2]
  Burial	North Webster, Kosciusko Co., Indiana, USA   [3]
  Headstones	Submit Headstone Photo
  Person ID	I9054	Angus Saline's Genealogy
  Last Modified	10 September 2012

  
  

  Father	Austin Davis           b. 2 August 1838             d. 7 August 1899 (Age 61 years)
  Mother	Susannah E. Juday           b. 19 May 1848, Indiana, USA           d. 13 March 1932 (Age 83 years)
  Marriage	26 December 1867	Elkhart Co., Indiana, USA   [6]
  Wedding Details	Married by E. G. Chamberlain
  Family ID	F6578	Family Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family/Spouse 1	Hattie Popenfoose           b. May 1879, Germany
  Marriage	15 February 1896	Kosciusko Co., Indiana   [7]
  Divorce	10 November 1916	Kosciusko Co., Indiana   [8]
  	Box 421, Case 13537
  Wedding Details	Married by J. Stillman, minister
  Children	1. Charles Davis           b. 18 October 1896, Syracuse, Kosciusko co., Indiana, USA           d. 7 July 1974, Otsego, Allegan Co., Michigan, USA (Age 77 years) + 2. Earl L. Davis           b. 10 September 1898, Koscuisko Co., Indiana           d. 14 February 1944, Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo Co., Michigan, USA (Age 45 years)   3. Claud Davis           b. 30 April 1901, Indiana, USA           d. December 1973, Marshall Co., Indiana (Age 72 years)   4. Edna Viola Davis           b. about 1905, Indiana, USA
  Family ID	F6302	Family Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family/Spouse 2	Flora Catherine Hough           b. 14 April 1874, Kansas, USA           d. 29 December 1953, Elkhart Co., Indiana, USA (Age 79 years)
  Marriage	5 November 1921  [2]
  Family ID	F6579	Family Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Notes

  Elkhart Truth, November 20, 1917, p. 2 Files Suit to Regain Custody of Children James V. Beghtel Takes Action Against Wife, Alleged to be Living With Another Man. James V. Bechtel has filed proceedings in the superior court against Jeptha Beghtel and Melvin Davis asking for a writ of habeas corpus to compel them to give him the custody of his two children, Emery Earl Beghtel, age 9, and Marion Beghtel, aged 4. The complaint, which was prepared by Attorneys Proctor & Cawley, sets out that the plaintiff is the father of the childrern but that the defendants, who are living at 200 1/2 South Main street have unlawfully secured and retain the custody of the children. It is alleged the defendants “seized the children and restrain them” at the Main street address. Mrs. Beghtel, it is averred, is the mother of the children but is now living with Davis, and is an unfit person to have the custody of the children. Mrs. Beghtel recently filed suit in the superior court asking for a divorce from James V. Beghtel. Beghtel was arrested Saturday, charged with failing to support his children, on complaint of Mrs. Beghte. He was released on bond. Elkhart Truth, November 27, 1917, p 2 Zephah Beghtel was divorced from James V. Beghtel on the ground of cruelty, given the custody of minor children and an allowance of $5 a week for their support beginning with December 1,. The habeas corpus proceedings filed by Beghtel against his wife and Melvin Davis for the custody of the children was dismissed at the cost of the plaintiff. Elkhart Truth, November 21, 1918, p 4 Superior Court Charging cruelty, Zepha L. Davis has filed suit in the superior court for divorce from Melvin Davis. The complaint, which was prepared by Attorneys Proctor & Cawley, shows the parties were married on December 26, 1917, and separated November 9, 1918. It avers that the defendant abused the plaintiff and her children by a former marriage. Elkhart Daily Review, November 21, 1918, p. 5 Cruelty is alleged--Alleging cruelty, Jepha Davis filed suit in the superior court this morning for divorce from Melvin Davis. Tthe parties were married December 26, 1917, and separated November 9, 1918. It is said in the complaint that the defendant refused to care for the two children of the plaintiff by another marriage. Accompanying the suit is a petition for allowance. The plaintiff asks $10 a week and sufficient money to prosecute her case. The plaintiff is represented by Proctor & Cawley.

  
  

• Sources

  [S2616] . [S2429] . [S1404] Find A Grave. [S2425] . [S2341] . [S2510] Indiana, Marriages, 1811-1959. [S2346] Kosciusko County Marriages. [S2351] Kosciusko County Divorces.