Biography of John M Davis, Greene Co, AR

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Submitted by: Michael Brown
        Date: 5 Sep 1998
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
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Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Northeast Arkansas

page 134

Dr. John M. Davis, druggist, of Paragould, and son of Dr. James S. and Nancy
E.(Farmer) Davis, was born in Limestone County, Ala., December 31, 1840. His parents
were both natives of Alabama, and removed to Marshall County, Miss., in 1844, going
in 1850 to Salem, that State, and thence to Iuka, where the father died. Dr. James S.
Davis was a graduate of Jefferson Medical College of Philadelphia, and was also a
graduate of the Louisville Medical College. He was a very prominent physician and
noted surgeon, and people came from a great distance for his treatment. He practiced
from 1844 to 1879, a period of about thirty-five years. He was one of the members of
the secession convention of Mississippi, and signed the declaration of independence
for that purpose. He was a surgeon in the late war and in command of a company a
portion of the time. His wife is still living, and is a resident of Iuka, Miss. They
were the parents of ten children, five now living, of whom Dr. John M. Davis is the
eldest. He was principally reared and educated in Mississippi, and at the age of
sixteen began the study of medicine with the intention of later following that
profession, but about this time the war broke out which prevented him from further
pursuing his studies. He shouldered [p.134] his musket, marched to the front and
enlisted in the Tenth Alabama Cavalry Regiment, serving over three years. He was
ensign of his regiment, with the rank of first lieutenant, and was in all the
principal engagements–Shiloh, Atlanta, Days Gap, etc. His whole service was in the
cavalry. At Pulaski, during Hood's advance on Franklin, Mr. Davis received a severe
gun-shot wound, the ball passing through his body at the side of the abdomen. He had
the honor of carrying home the captured Federal flag and also his own flag. At the
close of the war he returned to Mississippi, and engaged in merchandising, which he
conducted for four years. After this he went to the Lone Star State, resuming the
mercantile business at Tyler and Fort Worth, where he remained until 1880, then
returning to Mississippi. One year later, he came to Paragould where he embarked in
the drug business, which he still continues. He was one of the first business men of
Paragould, and is the oldest druggist in point of residence in Greene County. He
carries a general line of drugs, etc. He was married, April 3, 1861, to Miss Altie E.
Robbins, a native of Alabama, and the fruits of this union were nine children, seven
now living: Nannie A., wife of P. W. Mass, editor of the Thayer (Mo.) Tribune;
William S., Maggie, Russell J., Hattie A., Thomas B. and Sallie B. Dr. and Mrs. Davis
are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and he is superintendent of the
Sunday-school. He belongs to the Masonic fraternity, the I. O. O. F., and is also a
member of the K. of H., being treasurer of that organization. He is city treasurer,
and treasurer of the Building and Loan Association.