This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: McDava, Lonie, Reynolds, Smart, Ramsey, Crosby, Mihlbauer, Classification: Obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/wEC.2ACE/1386 Message Board Post: Wm. McDava Dies Aged 105 Wm. McDava, one of the oldest men in the world, died last Saturday evening after lingering helplessly for the past two years from the effects of a paralytic stroke. He was born on a boat on the Hudson river near Middle?eld, N.Y., May 9, 1805. He was twice married but leaves only an adopted daughter, Miss Jennie Lonie of this city, who has faithfully cared for him for many years. His parents died when he was about three years of age and he was adopted by a man ?amed Reynolds. When nine years of age he ran away from the Reynold's home after receiving a scolding. After that he managed to care for himself. He came to New Lisbon in September 1845, and built a hotel at corner of Main & Liberty streets, where the Enoch Smart dwelling now stands. Later on he sold the hotel to John Ramsey, father of Alderman J. F. Ramsey who afterwards sold it to Samuel Crosby and it was christened the Crosby House. After selling his hotel Mr. McDava built the Georgia House at corner of Bridge & Monroe streets where the Mihlbauer saloon building and dwelling now stands. This he conducted until it was destroyed by fire. Since then he has principally been engaged in keeping a private boarding house. Thirty years ago there was no better known hotel man in the state and there are thousands now living who enjoyed hospitalities of his "tavern," as he was wont to call it. Up to two years ago, when he was still able to do the marketing for his little hou! sehold he walked and acted like a man of sixty-five and whenever he accosted an old friend of seventy to eighty years of age he usually called him "bub." Mr. McDava was possessed of many good qualities. He was a democrat of the most pornounced type. Funeral services were held from his late home last Monday afternoon Rev. Trussell of the Congregational church officiating. Burial was in the family lot in the New Lisbon cemetery. Source: New Lisbon Times and Juneau County Argus dated Wed. 31 Aug 1910