, July 5, 1881, remaining in
this last position until his death.

Amiable, tender, and sensitive to a very extraordinary degree, he was
constantly sacrificing himself for others. He would rather at any time
suffer himself than run any risk of disappointing or inconveniencing
another. This course unfortunately prepared for him burdens and
complications that ultimately troubled and worried him a good deal.

Every instinct of his nature was upright. He was absolutely incapable of
a mercenary thought or purpose.

In many ways he was certainly unsuited for a business life. He had no
love for it. It was a competition and struggle for preferment, place, or
gain--a selfish strife--utterly distasteful to him. He had a fondness
for literature, read understandingly, possessed an uncommon memory, and
had the faculty of expressing himself in writing with unusual felicity,
indicating perhaps the path wherein he might have been eminently
successful. His own preferences were, however, never permitted by him to
weigh against the plans or wishes of his father.

It seemed to be impossible for him to turn away unaided an applicant for
assistance, especially if a soldier, or belonging to a soldier's
family. The presence of his two brothers in the army; their active work
and death, naturally attracted and interested him in all the events and
participants of the war. His interest in everything that pertained to
the Rebellion was never in the least abated, and he was distinguished
for his intimate and exact knowledge of the formation, positions, and
movements of the army.

Never conspicuous for his physical vigor, he finally fell into a
decline, resulting, after a weary and wearing illness of nearly two
years, in his death, which took place at his home in Canton, July 26,
1886.[12]

It was my fortune to be associated with him for a period of more than
forty years in relations that naturally ripened into an intimacy of the
most cordial confidence; and it is now a gratification to me to cherish
the recollection of his many excellent qualities, and to do what I may
by an honest loyalty to guard and preserve his memory.

FOOTNOTE:

[12] Two of Mr. Revere's sons are actively engaged with the Company--Mr.
William Bacon Revere, in charge at Canton, and Mr. Edward Hutchinson
Robbins Revere, in the Boston office.

IX.

Frederick William Davis, brother of the foregoing James Davis, Jr., was
the third son and youngest child of James