Fred James Davey, the great-uncle of my husband, and older brother of his grandmother, Matilda Pearl Davey Gorrell, was born 27 November 1878 in Louisville, Kentucky to Frederick Henry Davey and Matilda “Tillie” Wollenweber.[1] He was the oldest of four and was just eight years old when his mother died in 1885.
Not much is known about Fred’s early life until his marriage. He married Laura Hollowell in Joplin, Missouri on 16 March 1898 with his father giving his assent to the marriage.[2]
Machinist
Two years later, he is found living at 904 Main Street, Joplin, living with his
mother-in-law, Medley Hollowell. He worked as a machinist, Fred likely
following in his father’s footsteps.[3] Laura had died on 29 Jan
1899.[4]
A 1906 directory in Springfield, Missouri, showed he was a machinist with Frisco Systems shops.[5] The same year, he married Alice Christine Pfotenhauer on 19 June in Joplin at the First Christian Church.[6]
He continued working as machinist in Springfield at least through 1920.[7] He worked for the railroad in the new shops. The next available directory was 1924 and he was listed in that issue as a musician.[8] From that point on until his death in 1947, Fred was a musician.[9]
Musician
But when did he become a musician? Newspapers came to the rescue. The earliest
article found was Fred playing trombone for Hoover’s orchestra in the opening
of the park in 1911. He had a solo “Silver Threads Among the Gold” and part of
a sextette.[10]
The following year, he was part of another band, lead by Prof. Jesse E. Smith.[11] In 1913, he was performing with the Springfield Philharmonious Symphony orchestra.[12] In 1914, he was playing again with Hoover’s Band and there was a nice write-up about his playing.[13]
Fred was also a member of the Springfield Association of Musicians.[14]
In 1920, Fred was a member of Hoover’s Band and in May, they played a concert at Doling Park in Springfield. This twenty-piece band was organized in 1919.[15] In 1922, the band played a concert at Grant Beach and Doling Parks, with Fred playing trombone duet with cornet player Paul Braig. They played “Miserere” from Verdi’s “Trovatore.”[16]
In the Springfield Leader & Press, he advertised as being a teacher of band instruments. His studio was at his residence.[17]
He was also the director of the orchestra at the Benton Avenue Methodist Episcopal Church at Pacific and Benton Street. His daughter, Dorothy, was the organist.[18]
Here is an article about a
Halloween party at Fred’s studio for the Amateur Music Club.[19]
Another article revealed which instrument he played: a trombone.[20] He also was the director of the I.O.O.F. band, that was organized in 1926, and they played at various meetings through the state.[21]
In the early 1930s, Fred directed an orchestra of his students and performed for a variety of organizations.[22]
He spent the rest of his life as music teacher. Perhaps he studied music during his free time while working as a machinist, and when he could make music his career, he left the Frisco Systems.
It would be interesting to see if there are Frisco Systems employment records somewhere. The railroad merged with the Burlington Northern in 1978 which is now known as Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) Railroad. According to the Springfield-Greene Library, they have records from the defunct Frisco Museum. The employee information cards have been digitized from 1940 forward, so I would have to contact the library for non-digitized ones.[23] The Frisco Employee Magazine from 1908 to 1935 is available online.[24] He was no found in any issue. The magazine covered the entire railroad, not just the Springfield area.
This is my fourth
year working on this year-long prompt, hosted by Amy Johnson Crow. I will write
each week in one of my two blogs, either Mam-ma’s Southern Family or at My
Trails Into the Past. I have enjoyed writing about my children’s ancestors in
new and exciting ways.
[1]
Davey Family Bible, photocopy of family page, Gorrell Family Collection, privately
held by Lisa Suzanne Hork Gorrell, [address for private use].
[2] Jasper
County Missouri, Marriage License, v. T, p. 267, FJ Davey to Laura Hollowell,
1898.
[3] 1900
U.S. census, Jasper Co, Missouri, Joplin, enumeration district (ED) 40, sheet
13a, p. 272, dwelling 237, family 266, Medley Hollowell, digital image, Ancestry
(http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 18 Nov 2011); citing National Archives and
Records Administration, T623, roll 623.
[4]
Letter from Fred Davey to bothers Ed & Leon, dated 30 Jan 1899, Gorrell
Family Collection, privately held by Lisa Suzanne Hork Gorrell, [address for
private use].
[5] Springfield,
Missouri Directory, Citizen Directory Co, 1906, p
146, Fred J. Davey.
[6] "Missouri,
County Marriage, Naturalization, & Court Records, 1800-1991," digital
images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org), Jasper County >
Marriage records 1904-1906 vol 27-28 > vol 28 > image 464, p. 234, Fred
J. Davey to Alice Pfotenhauer, 1906.
[7]
Springfield city directories in 1915 and 1920. Also, WWI Draft Registration for
Fred James Davey.
[8] Springfield,
Missouri Directory, Dunham Directory co, 1924, p. 124, Fred J (Alice C)
Daney, digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com). He was listed
under Daney but the address and wife’s name was consistent with previous
records.
[9] State
of Illinois, Department of Public Health, Division of Vital Statistics,
Certificate of Death, Chicago, Cook Co, no. 27453, Fred J. Davey, FHL 1991637.
[10] “Park
Will Open This Afternoon,” Springfield Daily Leader, 28 May 1911, p. 6.
[11] “Smith’s Band at Pythian Home Ceremonies,” The Springfield Missouri Republican, 10 May 1912, p. 7.
[12] “Symphony
Orchestra Plays Thursday Night,” The Springfield Missouri Republican, 25 May 1913, p.
5.
[13] “Hoover’s
Band Plays Benefit for the Kiddies,” The Springfield Missouri Republican, 21 Nov 1914, p. 1.
[14] “Musicians
Name Officers to Serve During the Year,” Springfield Missouri Republican, 10 Dec 1919, p. 4.
[15] “Doling
Park Will Open with Concert by Hoover’s Band,” The Springfield Missouri
Republican, 23 May 1920, p. 4.
[16] “Hoover’s
Band to Play Sunday,” Missouri Republican, 15 Jul 1922, p. 4.
[17]
“Fred J. Davey,” Springfield Leader & Press, 23 Aug 1925, p. 10.
[18] “Benton Avenue Methodist Episcopal Church,” Springfield
News-Leader, 6 June 1926, p. 4.
[19]
“Music Club Party,” Springfield News-Leader, 1 Nov 1926, p. 7.
[20]
“Veteran Jewel Will Be Presented to Jacob P. Kinsey,” Springfield Leader and
Press, 24 April 1927, p. 1.
[21] “I.O.O.F. Band to Play at Liberty,” Springfield
Press, 1 Aug 1929, p. 3.
[22] “Church
Banquet,” Springfield Leader, 18 Feb 1930, p. 18.
[23] “Employee
Cards,” Springfield-Greene County Library (https://thelibrary.org/lochist/frisco/employee_cards/cards.cfm).
[24] “Employee
Magazines,” Springfield-Greene County Library (https://thelibrary.org/lochist/frisco/magazines/magazines.cfm).
Sounds like he had a full filling life. Does or did Norman play any instrument?
ReplyDeleteMy daughters played in the band, and Margaret still plays piano/keyboard.
DeleteHow interesting to make that sort of turn in a career. Do you suppose he was always musically inclined and talented but there was a certain practicality to becoming a machinist? Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteMy guess, his father was a machinist and perhaps that was why he started out in that occupation. Most likely, he was musically talented and the opportunity came along to pursue it full time.
Delete