Eliza Davis’s obituary, Kalamo Township, Eaton County, Michigan

Copyright © 1999 by M J Baker. This copy contributed for use in the 
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Found in the History of Kalamo Twp. 

Eliza McDerby Davis was born in Schoharie Co., NY, August 13, 1809, and 
passed away in Kalamo twp., May 2, 1909. She was married to John B. Davis 
in Browne twp, May 14, 1831. On the 10th of the same month she and her 
husband started for Michigan to carve a home in the wilderness. They first 
located in Wayne Co., where they remained until 1839, when they came to 
Eaton Co, then a forest. Mr. Davis secured 80 acres of land from the 
government, which is the present Davis homestead. Mrs. Davis was the 
mother of seven children - Wm. H., of Kalamo twp; Louisa, who died at the 
age of 49, in Durand; Nelson, who died during the Civil War in Libby 
prison; James, who resides in Whitehall; Amanda (Mrs. Heath), of Kalamo 
twp; Peter, who resides in Bedford, and John, of Kalamo. Mrs. Davis lived 
here at a time when Kalamo and Carmel townships were one, and only five 
other families within its borders. They suffered the usual hardships of 
the pioneers, taking their wheat to Marshall to be converted into flour. 
When the family came from Wayne county, two other famileis came with them, 
and the men were obliged to chop a road through the woods for a distance 
of six miles, in order to draw the household goods through to their road. 
When the family reached this county the father had but a three-dollar 
"wild cat" bill, and before he could make use of this the bank issuing it 
failed, and for four years the family did not have one penny in cash. 
While their log shanty was being built the Davis family were entertained 
by the Bowen family, and it is a remarkable fact that Mrs. Davis passed 
away at the same place where she was being cared for by a grand-daughter, 
whose husband is employed by Geo. Bowen. She has been a housekeeper and a 
hard working woman all her life. She was left a widow in 1861 and has kept 
house for her son John on the old homestead for many years, and up to the 
time of her sickness last winter was attending to the usual duties of a 
housekeeper. Her mind was exceedingly clear for one so advanced in years. 
Mrs. Davis was grandmother to 39 children, 23 of whom are still living, 
and great grandmother to 86, of whom 73 are living, and great-great grand 
mother to 23, all living, making the number of her present living 
descendents 129. She was the oldest resident pioneer in Eaton County. 
Funeral services were conducted from the M.E. Church, Kalamo. Her 
grandsons acted as bearers..