General Abel Davis, 62, Jewish civic, financial and World War military leader, died at his home here last night of anemia complicated by pneumonia. He was one of the highest ranking Jewish army officers in the United States.
General Davis aided in organizing the Young Men’s Jewish Charities of Chicago in 1906. In 1912 he became a director of the Chicago Jewish Charities. He served as general chairman of the Joint Distribution Committee’s war relief drive and in 1926 and 1927 was chairman of the Chicago conferences of the United Jewish Campaign.
At the age of 28 he was elected to the State Legislature. Later be became Cook County recorder, holding this office and practicing law until 1912 when he became vice-president of the Chicago Title and Trust Company. Since 1931 he had been chairman of the board.
Mr. Davis’ military record began in the Spanish-American War when he served as a private. He served as major in the Mexican War and went to France in 1918 as colonel of the 132nd infantry. After the war he became a brigadier general. He resigned his command in 1930 and retired in 1935 after 38 years of service.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
