CRITTENDEN CO, AR - SAMUEL K. DAVIS - Bio
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SOURCE:  Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Eastern 
Arkansas. Chicago:Goodspeed Publishers, 1890.
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Samuel K. Davis has for some time been occupied as a planter and
merchant of Bartonville. A native of Maryland, he was born in Hartford
County in 1842, being the son of Philip and Louisa B. (King) Davis, 
both also of Maryland nativity. They moved to Vermilion County, Ill., 
in 1854, and remained till 1867, when they went to Missouri, locating 
in Barry County. Four years later Kingman, Kas., became their home, 
where the mother still lives. 

The father was born in 1811 and died in 1888; the mother was born in 
1821. She is a good Christian lady and takes an active part in church 
and Sunday-school matters; she is a member of the Baptist Church and 
is superintendent of a Sunday-school. Mr. Davis was a member of the I. 
O. O. F. for many years before his death; was a Democrat in polities, 
and manifested a great interest in school matters and anything that 
would promote the welfare of the public. 

Himself and wife were the parents of ten children, of whom two died 
before leaving Maryland; one from a fall and one by drowning. The 
others lived to be grown and six are still living. Samuel K. Davis, 
the second born, attained his majority in Illinois, and moved to 
Memphis in 1862, entering the service of the Adams Express Company and 
remaining with them four years. He then commenced farming in Phillips 
County, Ark. (now Lee County), and in company with his brother Reece 
he tilled about 1,000 acres till 1874, and in 1875 he commenced 
merchandising. 

He was married in February, 1874, to Miss Augusta Holt, a native of 
Tennessee. Mr. Davis was engaged in merchandising at Phillips Bayou for 
several years, when he moved to Hot Springs, Ark., the year of the 
big fire at that place, and bought out Mr. King's interest in the firm 
of Gordon & King. The trade was made on Thursday and on Monday the 
establishment was in ashes. The morning after the fire his possessions 
consisted of but $6.15 upon which to again commence. His wife owned a 
house and lot, however, so he worked and sold goods for about six 
years, when he came to Crittenden County and started a store at 
Needmore, where he remained in business till he moved to Bartonville. 
He is now running a store with good success and a farm of 400 acres. 
Upon moving to this county from Hot Springs he had $800 and now owns a 
fine farm well equipped. 

Mr. and Mrs. Davis are the parents of two daughters and three sons: 
Fannie K., Florence Lee, Samuel K., and Claudie W. and Clarence W. 
(twins); one child is deceased, Effie May. Mrs. Davis is an active 
member of the Baptist Church, and her husband is a member of the 
Masonic fraternity, of which he has held several offices. He is a 
Democrat in polities, but takes little part in any party movement, 
giving his whole attention to his store and farm. Mr. Davis has been 
very successful in business and is a man of enterprise and decided 
business ability.