DAVIS, Charles, b.1848: 1905, Bio, Pitkin County, Colorado http://files.usgwarchives.net/co/pitkin/bios/davisc.txt --------------------------------------- Donated August, 2001 Transcribed by Judy Crook from the book: Progressive Men of Western Colorado Published 1905, A.W. Bowen & Co., Chicago, Ill. --------------------------------------- Charles Davis Born on April 10, 1848, in Howard county, then on the edge of civilization, and afterward living in the wilds of Kansas until he reached the age of fifteen, when he came overland to Colorado, Charles Davis, of Pitkin county, one of the progressive and successful ranch and stock men living in the neighborhood of Emma, has passed the whole of his life on the frontier, and is thoroughly inured to its privations, hardships, dangers and achievements, the graver part of which have passed away forever, but linger in his memory vividly as portions of his personal experience, when at almost every step there lurked a peril for the adventurous pioneer, and his own resources were nearly his whole reliance for safety and the means of living. His parents, Sylvester and Louisa (Pulliam) Davis, were natives, respectively, of Kentucky and Missouri. The father moved to the latter state in his early life and remained there until 1854, when he took up his residence in Kansas, where the family lived until 1863. In that year they came to Colorado and began farming near Colorado Springs, being fairly successful in their work. The mother was a Baptist and died in the communion of the church on April 24, 1895. The father was an active Democrat in politics during his life, and took an earnest interest in the welfare of his party. He died on April 25, 1899. Of their twelve children five are living, Frankie, the wife of Robert Gaddis, of Delta, Colorado; Charles, the immediate subject of this sketch; Wade, living at Trinidad, this state; Laruah, the wife of John Gibbons, of Canon City; and Annie, living at Canon City. Charles received a slender common school education, and at the age of fifteen accompanied the rest of the family to Colorado, making the trip overland from Kansas to Denver. Seven weeks were consumed in the journey, and it was fraught with hardships and dangers. Hostile Indians disputed the advance of the train and engaged the party in frequent skirmishes; wild beasts harassed and threatened them; wood was limited in quantity and variety; and the way was rugged at best and many times for weary miles was unbroken. But they kept their courage up and persevered, landing at last in the rude village of uncanny log cabins which was destined to become the metropolis of the state. After his arrival here, boy though he was, Mr. Davis engaged in driving a freight team, and received a compensation of sixty dollars a month and his board for his work. He made seven trips across the plains with this team, two trips a year being the average accomplishment, and in the intervals between the journeys he did other work. From 1868 to 1875 he was employed in teaming and driving cattle, with headquarters in the Black Hills of South Dakota. The next three years were passed in freighting on his own account, and in them he had many more Indian troubles and other perils. In 1878 he moved to Leadville, this state, and some little time afterward to Denver. Here he was again occupied in driving cattle and later in railroad work as foreman for I.W. Chatfield. In the autumn of 1879 he returned to Leadville, and there he opened a feed store and carried on a freighting business. In both he had excellent success, but in the midst of it he was stricken down with rheumatism which disabled him for active work for a period of two years. When he recovered his health he once more drove cattle, remaining in this business until 1884, when he moved to Aspen, where he passed the rest of that year and the winter of 1885. Beginning in the spring of 1885, he spent three years driving cattle for Mr. Chatfield in Bent county. In the fall of 1888 he bought a ranch of one hundred and forty-one acres in the vicinity of Emma, Pitkin county, and at once began to improve and develop it and make it productive. He has now one hundred acres of it under cultivation, and raises good crops of hay, grain, vegetables and fruit, and also numbers of cattle and horses. He belongs to the Democratic party in political affiliation, and gives to the support of its principles and candidates his best efforts. On March 14, 1888, he was married to Miss Gladdis I. Nutting, a native of Linn county, Iowa, the daughter of Eugene and Sarah (Burtis) Nutting, natives, respectively, of New York and New Jersey. They settled in Iowa in early life and the father passed the remainder of his days there in peaceful and prosperous farming. Both he and his wife were members of the Baptist church, and in political faith he was a Republican. He died on March 6, 1898, leaving his widow and five of their eight children as his survivors. The living children are: Burtis, who lives at Delta, Colorado; Charles, who lives in Pitkin county; Harry E., who lives at Littleton; Drusilla B., who lives at Leadville; and Rupert E., who lives at Littleton. Their mother lives at Canon City. The father was a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen. Mr. and Mrs. Davis have five children living, Lona, Irena, Sylvester, Thelma and Merrick. A daughter named Madge died some years ago. =================================================== Contributed for use by the USGenWeb Archive Project (http://www.usgenweb.org) and by the COGenWeb Archive Project USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. 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