John Davis Biography - Mecosta County, MI.

Copyright © 2002 by Jan Cortez. This copy contributed for use in 
the USGenWeb Archives.  

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1883 Mecosta County Portrait and Bio Album, Chapman Brothers

John Davis, farmer, sec. 27, Mecosta Tp., was born 
May 8, 1826, at Belfast, Ireland. His parents, 
William and Mary (Laverty) Davis, were born in 
Ireland; the father died in 1852, the mother in 
1851. When he was ten years old, Mr. Davis ran 
away to sea, shipping as a cabin boy on a sailing 
vessel. His career as a sailor continued 22 years, 
and during the time he passed several promotions; 
and at last, in 1844, became first mate, which post 
he held until 1848, when he abandoned a seafaring 
life. The recital of his adventures sounds like a 
romance. He traversed the Atlantic Ocean under 
all circumstances, and in every possible direction, 
and visited all the seaboard towns of Europe, and 
the countries lying on the Mediterranean, as well 
as the ports open to commerce on the Asiatic 
shores and Africa, and the islands of the East 
Indies. He was at Alexandria during the Turkish 
War, at Canton, China, while the Chinese war with 
England was in progress, and at Calcutta, India. 
While the Kaffir war of 1842 was going on in 
Southern Africa, his vessel was at Cape Town. One 
of his reminiscences is a visit to what was the 
home of Napoleon while an exile at St. Helena.
In 1850, Mr. Davis came to America, and passed a 
season on the lakes. In 1851 he came to Michigan 
and purchased 160 acres of land in what is now 
Mecosta Tp., locating on sec. 27, where he has 
since resided. He was one of the two white men 
who first came to this county and settled 
permanently. He built the first barn -- a frame 
building -- in the county in 1856, and afterward 
erected a residence, at the time the largest in the 
county. He has bought considerable land since he 
made his original purchase, his estate now 
aggregating 385 acres, 225 of which are in 
cultivation. The reminiscences of Mr. Davis contain 
a complete history of the growth of Mecosta 
County. About the time of his settlement, JOhn 
Parish located a mile below the point where the 
"Lower Bridge" at Big Rapids spans the river, and 
until the following year they had no other 
"neighbors>" Mr. Parish left his first location, and 
to Mr. Davis belongs the credit not only of being 
the first settler in this county, but also of still 
holding his original tenure of land.
He was married at Rockford, Kent Co., Mich., Nov. 
8, 1867, to Sarah Jane, daughter of John and 
Rosanna (Blancha) Probasco, born April 2, 1842, in 
Huron Co., O. The parents were natives of New 
Jersey, and are both deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Davis 
have three children: Ada M. J., born Oct. 2, 1868; 
John William, March 6, 1870; and Frank E.B., June 
20, 1872. In politics Mr. Davis is a Democrat.