OBIT:  DAVIS, Isaac; Ebensburg, Cambria Cnty., PA; 1910

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Cambria Freeman
Ebensburg, Pa.
Friday, 4 Nov 1910
Volume 44, Number 43


Aged Ebensburg Man Takes His Own Life 
Fearing that He was Becoming Insane Well Known Citizen Hangs Himself

The fear that he was becoming insane and that he would eventually have to 
be sent to an asylum so preyed upon the mind of Isaac Davis of the East 
ward that last Saturday morning he went to the chicken coop on his Horner 
Street lot and hanged himself.  His daughter, Mrs. Charles Neeley, found 
the body while it was still warm.  The remains were buried Monday.

Mr. Davis was past 64 years of age.  Until some months ago he was a local 
saddler.  Since selling out he had been doing nothing.  Last week he 
seemed very gloomy.  In ill health for years his condition was always 
pitiful.  He realized that there was little hope of relief.  In addition, 
he believed he was going crazy.  Last Friday night he made his daughter, 
Mrs. Neeley, promise that she would never send him to an asylum unless he 
became very violent. Saturday morning a neighbor took to the Davis home a 
chicken that had escaped.  The old man took the fowl to the chicken coop.  
Mrs. Neeley went over to a relative's home and stayed for 10 minutes. When 
she returned home she missed her father and went to the coop to find him.  
As she opened the door she was confronted by his dead body, swinging at 
the end of a rope.

Mr. Davis was very well known in Ebensburg, having lived here practically 
all his life.  He was the son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Evan Davis, and was 
born in Cambria Township on what is now known as the John E. Jones farm, 
about two and a half miles south of town.  Early in life he learned the 
harness making trade at which he worked here for many years. He conducted 
a shop above John Lloyd & Sons' general store on High Street for a long 
time.

Many years ago Mr. Davis was united in marriage to Miss Clara Leighty, who 
has been dead upward of twenty years. He is survived by his daughter 
mentioned above and a son, Arthur Davis, who is located in Altoona.

Mr. Davis was a member of the Ebensburg Baptist Church of which the Rev. 
F. I. Sigmund is pastor. The funeral took place Monday afternoon at 2 
o'clock.  Interment was in Lloyd's Cemetery.