Davis.--The subject of this sketch, the Rev. R. B. Davis, son of J. B. and P. D. Davis, was born May 12, 1841, in Johnson county, Mo. When about eight years old he came with his parents by domestic removal, to Williamson county, Texas. He made a profession of religion at Marshall Springs Camp-ground, near Round Rock, in the summer of 1857, and joined the Methodist Church, in which he lived only about one year. He joined the Cumberland Presbyterian Church and was received under the care of Little River Presbytery, at Concord, in McLennan county, December 11, 1858; was licensed to preach at Burnett, in Burnett county, October 3, 1859; and he was ordained at Hopewell, in Williamson county, July 25, 1868, after preaching a trial sermon from Rom. ii. 22. Brother J. Dial preached the ordination sermon from 2 Tim. ii. 2, and the Rev. J. W. Smith presided and gave the charge. Brother Davis was married, July 6, 1863, to Miss Ermentie Anderson, of Lampasas, who made him a faithful wife, standing by him in trials, encouraging him when discouraged and cast down, and ministering to him in sickness and death. As a preacher Brother Davis was distinguished for clearness, simplicity, and earnestness. He was a tower of strength to the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in central Texas. Loving the Church, loving her doctrines, and loving her history, he was ever ready to defend her fair name and to preach her doctrines. While all of our preachers, a few years ago, had "to contend earnestly for the faith," some seemed to have a singular talent for that work, and therefore a special call to it. Such was R. B. Davis. While generous and tender-hearted almost to a fault, yet those who opposed or attacked his Church received no mercy at his hand. His onslaughts were indeed terrible. When he "turned the rough side of his tongue up, as he would sometimes say, and opened his scriptural battery, the enemy must either retreat or capitulate. But he appeared to be best advantage when preaching on God's love for a sin-cursed world. On this and kindred themes he grew eloquent, moving the congregation at will. Brother Davis' work as a preacher was abundantly successful. In a memorial service held at Round Rock, at our last presbytery, a number of the best members of our Church said, "He led me to Christ." There are scores now living in this presbytery, and perhaps hundreds that have already joined the Church above, that will rise up in judgment and call him blessed. Brother Davis was sick for more than four months. He died of pulmonary troubles, brought on, no doubt, by excessive labors in the pulpit and altar. He quietly passed from labor to reward, near Leander, on the old homestead, June 3, 1887, at 3 P.M. His body now sleeps in the family graveyard, a few hundred yards from the place where he died. Truly a mighty prince has fallen. A brave, good man, an eloquent preacher, and a wise counselor has heard the call of the Master saying, "Come up higher," and has crossed over into the saints' everlasting rest, leaving behind his aged father and mother, and wife and six children, and a host of friends that mourn to-day because he is not. God took him. S.C.L.
     Bertram, Texas.
[Source: The Cumberland Presbyterian, September 29, 1887, page 8]