Vermilion county Illinois, HENRY DAVIS ==================================================================== Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives Joy Fisher ==================================================================== p. 229-231 HENRY DAVIS. The man who ventured into Central Illinois during its pioneer days is worthy of more than a passing mention. Few who did not undergo the experience can have a full realization of the hard lot of the early settlers. The distant markets, the inadequate price for the crops which they raised under great difficulties, the inferior educational advantages, and the miasma from the frequently low, wet land, which confronted the pioneers with illness—a physician miles away— and the generally wild condition of their surroundings, no railroads or stage lines, and in some sections scarcely a well-defined wagon track, made life in the pioneer times a dire struggle frequently, for existence. The subject of this sketch has had a full experience of pioneer life in all its details, but at the same time he has been the privileged witness of changes almost miraculous. He was born in this county, May 5, 1841, his father, William Davis, being among the earliest pioneers. The latter was a native of Ohio, and descended from excellent Scotch- Irish stock. He was prospered in his labors as a tiller of the soil of Illinois, and in due time became the owner of 2,000 acres of land, a large portion of which he gave to his children. The father of our subject still has about 1,000 acres of land, all in this county, and is likewise interested in the hardware business at Fairmount, while he has considerable other property. The mother, Mrs. Elizabeth (Hayes) Davis, was a native of Ohio, and the parental household included ten children, six of whom are living, and of whom Henry is the fourth in order of birth. He, like his brothers and sisters, pursued his early studies in the old log schoolhouse, the system of instruction of that day being fully in keeping with the fashion and furnishings of the temple of learning, into which light was admitted through greased paper, and the seats and desks of which were made of slabs, the floor of puncheon, a wide fireplace extending nearly across one end, and the chimney built outside of dirt and sticks. Young Davis attended school mostly on stormy days, when he could not work at home. He had few companions and little recreation, as the county was very thinly settled, and for a distance of forty miles south there was not a single cultivated farm. Our subject remained at home working with his father until about twenty-two years old, and then determined to strike out for himself. The first interesting event which followed was his marriage with Miss Nancy Cox, on the 24th of December, 1863. This lady remained the companion of her husband less than nine years, her decease taking place Oct. 24, 1874, leaving no children. Their wedded life had been begun in a log house on the present farm of Mr.Davis, and that humble dwelling is still standing. Mr. Davis was married a second time, Sept. 7, 1875, to Miss Rebecca E. Baird. This union resulted in the birth of three children—Fred L., born May 24, 1876; Grace Elizabeth, July 30, 1877; and Sarah Mabel, Dec. 18, 1878. Mrs. Rebecca E. (Baird) Davis departed this life July 18, 1880. On the 5th of April, 1881, Mr. Davis was married a third time, to Miss M. Belle, daughter of Nathan B. and Mary F. (Wilson) Pemberton. Mr. Pemberton was a native of Ohio, and his wife of Kentucky. The father of Mrs. Davis left his native State, when twenty-one years old, going to Kentucky, where he engaged in farming and was married. Nineteen years ago they left the Blue Grass State for Indiana, where they lived on a farm for seven years, then came to this county, and settled two miles northwest of Fairmount. After living there two years they made another removal, and are now living one and one-half miles west of Catlin, in the enjoyment of good health, Mr. Pemberton being sixty-seven and his wife fifty-eight years old. To Mr. and Mrs. Pemberton there were born seven children, five of whom are living, and of whom Mrs. Davis was the third. She first opened her eyes to the light in Maysville, Ky., July 29, 1855. She received excellent educational advantages, and grew up an attractive and accomplished young woman, fitting herself for a teacher, and pursuing this calling in Indiana prior to her marriage. Mr. Pemberton some years ago was wounded by an ax in his own hands, which struck his knee, and which resulted in confining him to the house for three years thereafter. He has suffered from this almost continuously since that time. He has been a plain and upright man and a member of the Baptist Church, while Mrs. Pemberton belongs to the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Davis erected his present residence about 1874, and in connection with his farming operations gives considerable attention to live stock, raising about seventy-five head of swine annually, besides graded cattle and horses. His farm comprises 120 acres of land, including a timber strip of fifteen acres. One year he was engaged in the grocery trade at Fairmount. Politically he has always been a strong Democrat, and has held the office of Commissioner of Highways for the past nine years. He is a School Director in his district, and for five years past has been President of the Vermilion County Agricultural and Mechanical Association. He is also a member of the Board of Directors of the Fair Association, and is crop reporter for the Agricultural Department at Springfield. He has exercised no small influence upon party politics in this region, officiating as a member of the Central Committee, and as a delegate to the various county conventions. Both he and his excellent wife are members in good standing of the Baptist Church, in which Mr. Davis has labored faithfully in the Sunday-school, and officiated as Librarian. Without making any pretensions to elegance, the Davis homestead is without question the abode of peace and comfort, and while the head of the family has acquitted himself in a creditable manner, his very intelligent and amiable partner, a lady of great worth and refinement, has fulfilled her whole duty in making home the most attractive spot on earth for those dearest to her.