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Death
Will J. Davis died at 7:30 in the evening on Friday, May 16, 1919. Several months before,
he'd contracted a cold and influenza, leaving him weakened. He and
William Pinkerton
made their last trip to Hot Springs, Arkansas but he left after two weeks, feeling no
better. When he worsened, he was admitted to the Presbyterian Hospital in Chicago,
cared for by Dr. Bertram W. Sippy who diagnosed hardening of the arteries and
stomach trouble. He was taken to his home at 4740 Grand Blvd and spent has last
week semi-conscious.
At death he was surrounded by his wife
Nellie,
son
Willie, Willie's wife and daughters, and several old friends, no doubt including
William Pinkerton.
The Sunday May 18, 1919 funeral was held at the Grand Blvd residence he had
occupied for decades. In the top photo can be seen his wife, Nellie O'Hagan
Davis. The service was conducted by John T. Ryan of St. Bernard's church.
The pallbearers listed in obituaties included George J. Charlton, Will J. Davis jr.,
Joseph Dimery, Edward Milier, Edward Meyer and Harry Powers. That's only six
and since I count eight men in the photo, I wonder if the African American pictured
was "Old John," a longtime employee at Davis' theaters.
There was also a memorial service held at the Rialto theater in Chicago, organized
by Lou Houseman (Chicago journalist and boxing manager- promoter).
Will was remembered in the annual memorial service held by the Grand Army of the
Republic that year, June 1, 1919.
Burial
His body was taken by a special funeral train from the Englewood Station of the
Lake Shore railroad at 10:00 am to Elkhart, Indiana. He was buried in Grace
cemetery along side his parents, soon joined by lifelong friend Orville Chamberlain and
others who played a role in his life such as Cyrus Roys and Philo Morehouse. His first wife
had been buried in Chicago and his current wife lived in Crown Point, Indiana.
Wife Nellie would have taken the little terrier home to Willowdale farm in Crown
Point, Indiana. It is likely from the lineage of "Captain Terry," the
same lineage as the terrier shown in a 1888 photo — the same lineage as the
terrier he gave to Shakespearean actress
Ellen Terry and
poet
Eugene
Field.
Condolences
Fifty-five floral arrangements were received and letters poured in from around the
country. Telegrams came from the members of the theater syndicate.
Will's collection of paintings and photos
As per Will's wishes, a collection of hundreds of his photos and paintings of stage
people was turned over to the Press Club. It included pictures of Booth,
Jefferson, Barrett, Forest, and Adelina Patti.
Two years later, however,
William Pinkerton wrote to Will's widow Nellie to say that the Press Club was in
precarious financial condition. If closure becomes eminent the material will
be turned over to Pinkerton, with Lou Houseman as a backup, but it would be good to
contact the Chicago History Association.
Pinkerton's
letter.
I believe the pictures were transferred to what is now known as the History Museum
in Chicago.
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