DAVIS BIOGRAPHIES, Henry County, Missouri ==================================================================== DAVIS, Absolom - b: 1870 Clark Co, OH source: 1919 History of Henry Co MO, Uel W. Lamkin, Historical Publishing Co - page: 717 residence: Big Creek Twp A. Davis, a prominent farmer and stockman of Big Creek township, belongs to a pioneer family of Henry County. He was born in Clark County, Ohio, in 1870, and when one year of age came to Henry County, Missouri, with his parents, Daniel and Margaret (Hill) Davis, both natives of Ohio. Daniel Davis was born in Green County, Ohio, in 1838, and his wife, Margaret (Hill) Davis, was born in Ohio in 1847. She died April 30, 1915, and her remains were interred in Carpenter Cemetery. Daniel Davis has been an invalid for a few years past and resides with his son, A. Davis, the subject of this sketch. To Daniel and Margaret (Hill) Davis were born the following children: James M., deceased; Mrs. I. G. Farnsworth, Holden, Missouri; Mrs. J. L. Hunt, Big Creek township, Henry County; Elmer, deceased; Absolom, the subject of this sketch; William, deceased; Mrs. R. L. Jackson, Holden. Missouri; Mrs. R. L. Wall, Blairstown, Missouri, and J. C., Big Creek township. Absolom Davis received his education in the district schools of Henry County. He has made farming his life's occupation and has spent over forty- eight years of his life on the old home place where his father settled upon coming to this county in 1871. The place is located in Big Creek township about one and one-half miles from Blairstown. This land was originally entered from the Government by William Fox and when Daniel Davis settled here he purchased the land for twenty dollars per acre. The farm consists of 455 acres and is one of the valuable farms of Henry County. Mr. Davis is extensively engaged in stock raising and is one of the successful stock feeders of the county, as was his father while actively engaged in business. On March 8, 1911, Absolom Davis was united in marriage with Miss Linnie Thornburg at Oklahoma City. She is a daughter of J. W. Thornburg of Bridgeport, West Virginia. Mrs. Davis' mother is deceased and her father resides at Bridgeport. They were the parents of the following children: Carl, William, Jesse, Frank and Linnie, the wife of A. Davis. Mr. and Mrs. Davis have one daughter, Virginia Ruth, who was born January 30, 1918. Mr. Davis is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and is one of the well known and substantial citizens of Big Creek township. ==================================================================== DAVIS, Daniel - b: 1831 Greene Co, OH source: 1883 History of Henry Missouri , National Historical Co. - page: 700 residence: Big Creek Twp Daniel Davis, farmer and stock feeder, section 31, was born in Greene County, Ohio, March 28, 1831, and was the son of Absalom Davis, a native of Kentucky, who went to Ohio when a young man and located in Greene County, being among the early pioneers there. He married Miss Elmira Searls, of Virginian birth but who was raised in Ohio. Daniel Davis grew to manhood in his native county on a farm, receiving a common school education. He was married in Madison County, Ohio, December 6, 1860, to Miss Margaret Hill, a daughter of C. C. Hill, and originally from Clarke County, Ohio. They have seven children: Edna (wife of Isaac Farnsworth), Minnie D., Elmer H., Absalom, John, Bertha and Lida. They have lost two children: James M., died at the age of eighteen, and Willie, aged four years. After his marriage Mr. Davis resided in Madison County, occupied in farming and stock raising for ten years. In February, 1870, he came to Henry County, Missouri, and purchased the farm where he now resides, consisting of 240 acres, of which 200 are under fence and about 100 acres in pasture and meadow. There are fair buildings and improvements and a good orchard on the place. He feeds on an average two car loads of steers and about 200 head of hogs annually. Mr. Davis and wife are members of the United Brethren Church. ==================================================================== DAVIS, John C. - b: 1875 Big Creek Twp, Henry Co, MO source: 1919 History of Henry Co MO, Uel W. Lamkin, Historical Publishing Co - page: 731 residence: Big Creek Twp John C. Davis, a prominent citizen of Big Creek township and a leading farmer and stockman, was born on the place where he now resides in October, 1875. He is the son of Daniel and Margaret (Hill) Davis, pioneer settlers of Big Creek township. The mother died in 1915 and the father now resides on the place where he settled in Big Creek township upon coming here after the close of the Civil War. They were the parents of the following children: Monroe, deceased; Mrs. Edna Farnsworth, Holden, Missouri; Mrs. Minnie Hunt, Big Creek township; Hill, deceased; Apps, on the home place; William, deceased; Mrs. Bertha Jackson, Holden, Missouri; John C., the subject of this sketch, and Mrs. Lydia Wall, Blairstown, Missouri. John C. Davis was reared on the home place and received his education in the district schools of Big Creek township. He remained at home with his parents and was engaged in farming on the home place until he was twenty-nine years of age, when he purchased his present place from Tobias Doak. His farm consists of one hundred acres of well improved land, eighty acres of which is situated in Big Creek township and twenty in Bogard township. The residence, however, is in Big Creek township, one and one-half miles southeast of Blairstown. The residence and other farm buildings are modern and the place in general presents a neat and well kept appearance. Mr. Davis is engaged in general farming and stock raising and has met with a well merited degree of success. January 11, 1905, John C. Davis was united in marriage with Miss Maud E. Albin, a daughter of D. L. and Hattie M. (Hough) Albin. Both natives of Ohio and now residents of Chilhowee, Missouri. D. L. and Hattie M. Albin are the parents of the following children: Alice, married Oscar Ward; Charles, resides at Greenfield, Oklahoma; Maud, the wife of John C. Davis, the subject of this sketch; Ethel, married Walter Doak, Greenfield, Oklahoma; Gertrude, married Howard Waugh; Roy Albin, Big Creek township; Myrtle, died at the age of eighteen, and Edith and Edna, twins; Edith resides at home and Edna is now the wife of Fred Shiel, Greenfield, Oklahoma, and Nadine resides at home. To John C. Davis and wife have been born three children: Frances Alberta, Dorothy May and Elmer Lee. Mr. Davis is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America No.2888, Blairstown, Missouri, and Mrs. Davis belongs to the Royal Neighbors. The Davis family are well known and are numbered among the leading citizens of Henry County. ==================================================================== DAVIS, Solomon - b: 1825 Richland Co, OH source: 1883 History of Henry Missouri , National Historical Co. - page: 785 residence: Bethlehem Twp Solomon Davis, farmer, section 29, a native of Richland County, Ohio, was born April 27, 1825. His father, David Davis was born in Pennsylvania, and came to Ohio when quite a young man. His mother, formerly Sarah Zimmerman, was also originally from Pennsylvania. They reared ten children of whom Solomon was the fifth. In about 1836, the family removed to Indiana, remaining in that state till the fall of 1837, when they came to Henry County, Missouri, the parents dying shortly after their arrival here. When fourteen years of age, young Davis being left an orphan, he worked as a farm laborer till 1847. Then he enlisted in. the Mexican War as teamster, and made the trip across the plains. After the war closed he returned to Henry County, Missouri, and in 1850, emigrated to California, when for fourteen months he was occupied in mining. After this time he retraced his steps to this county, and entered the land where he now lives. In 1857 he settled upon it and now has a fine farm of 360 acres. Mr. Davis was married December 3, 1854, to Miss Mary Lee, a daughter of James Lee, an old pioneer of Henry County. They have eight children: Richard H., Neoma, James I., John W., Mary J., Henderson, Orlena, and Sarah L. They are members of the Bethlehem Baptist Church. ==================================================================== DAVIS, W. H. - b: 1841 MD source: 1883 History of Henry Missouri , National Historical Co. - page: 567 residence: Windsor Twp W. H. Davis was born in Maryland, November 23, 1841, and was the son of John Davis, Esq. The maiden name of his mother was Alice Robinette. The former came with his parents to Lexington, Missouri, in 1852, and was there reared to manhood, being educated at the Masonic College in Lexington. He learned the printing business and after the close of the war established a paper at Warrensburg known as the Warrensburg Journal, (now the Journal-Democrat). In 1869 he came to Clinton and purchased the Henry County Democrat, which he conducted until 1876, then selling out and once more returned to Warrensburg. Here he continued his journalistic enterprise, going thence to Saline County, where he published the Saline County Democrat until he moved to his farm near Windsor. Since that time he has been engaged in farming and stock raising. Mr. Davis was married in 1878 to Miss A. Garton, a native of Pettis County, Missouri. They have two children Walter G. and an infant. ==================================================================== DAVIS, Walter G. - b: 1878 Clinton, Henry Co, MO source: 1919 History of Henry Co MO, Uel W. Lamkin, Historical Publishing Co - page: 522 residence: Windsor, Windsor Twp Walter G. Davis, city attorney of Windsor, Missouri, was born in Clinton, Henry County, December 30, 1878, and has become one of the leading members of the bar of Henry County during the sixteen years in the practice of his profession in the thriving city of Windsor. He is the son of William H. and Alice G. (Garton) Davis, a sketch of whom appears in this volume. Walter G. Davis was educated in the public schools of Windsor and the Missouri University at Columbia, graduating from the latter institution with the degree of Bachelor of Laws in 1902. Being admitted to the practice of law, he at once began his profession at Windsor and has been very successful, occupying a leading place among the lawyers of Henry County and western Missouri. November 17, 1903, Walter G. Davis and Miss Effie Burcham of Benton County, Missouri, were united in marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Davis have two children: Marjorie, aged nine years; Josephine, aged six years. The Democratic party has always had the support of Mr. Davis and he has served for the past fourteen years as city attorney with a few intervening spaces of time. He is a director of the Farmers Bank and is secretary of the board of directors of this institution and president of the board of directors of Windsor school district, also is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and the Modern Woodmen of America. ==================================================================== DAVIS, William - b: 1814 Bourbon Co, KY source: 1883 History of Henry Missouri , National Historical Co. - page: 733 residence: Davis Twp William Davis was born in Bourbon County, Kentucky, January 28, 1814, and was the son of Thomas and Sarah (Ruddell) Davis, natives of Virginia. William, the youngest of ten children, is the only one of the family now living. When he was eleven years old his parents removed to Pike County, Missouri, and settled near the village of Clarksville, being among the first settlers of that part of the state. At the age of twenty-two, December 24, 1835, Mr. Davis was married to Miss Elizabeth Price. He was subsequently engaged in farming in Pike County, until 1856, when he came to Henry County and settled in the tract of land upon which he still lives. He was the first man to settle away from the timber in that section, but he located on the prairie and entered nearly 3,000 acres of land. The first year he put 100 acres under fence and raised a crop of corn. He now has 400 acres in the farm, all improved, and about one-half in cultivation. He is growing tame grass quite successfully, having seventy-five acres. He has handled a large number of cattle, and now keeps about seventy-five head, twenty being high graded Short Horns from the noted herd of Kissinger. He also keeps sixty Cotswold sheep and 100 Berkshire hogs. The town of Ladue is situated on land granted by Mr. Davis to the railroad company. His father died in Pike County in 1837, at the age of sixty-eight years, and his mother lived until ten years ago, having reached the age of ninety-six years. Mrs. Davis died January 14, 1878, having borne a family of twelve children, six of whom survive: Margaret Ann, (now Mrs. Carl Shy) William B., Mollie, (wife of George Mayes) Ellen, (wife of Henry Settles) George and Jennie, (wife of Porter Settles). John, the eldest, died when twenty-three years old. Sarah Frances died at twenty, and Thomas having entered the militia of Pike County, was killed by the accidental discharge of a gun in the hands of a comrade. Lucinda and Henrietta were each about two years old, and Joseph had just became of age. On September 19, 1878, Mr. Davis was united in marriage to Mrs. Mary A. Rutledge. Her maiden name was Mary F. Waggener, and she was born in Mason County, Virginia, May 6, 1833, and was married in 1857 in Putnam County, Missouri, removing thence to Texas, where she lived for several years. She had five children: Annie, the eldest, (wife of John Harrison); William died at fifteen, and Joseph, Charles and Minnie, are at home. Mr. D. and wife are members of the Christian Church, and in politics he is a Republican. He is an energetic, thorough business man and a model farmer. ==================================================================== DAVIS, William Henry - b: 1841 Allegheny Co, MD source: 1919 History of Henry Co MO, Uel W. Lamkin, Historical Publishing Co - page: 548 residence: Windsor Twp Hon. William Henry Davis - The late William Henry Davis, journalist, farmer and legislator, was a useful and worthy citizen who did well his allotted work in behalf of his fellow citizens during the long period of his residence in Henry County. The community in which he made his home for many years was benefited; his county and State were the better for his existence. It is meet, therefore, that this memorial biography be presented in the annals of the great county which he assisted in developing. William Henry Davis was born in Allegheny County, Maryland, November 23, 1841. He was the son of John and Alice (Robinette) Davis, who with their family came from Maryland to Lexington, Missouri, in 1852. John Davis, Jr., father of William H. Davis, a prominent attorney, was a grandson of John Davis, a civil engineer, who planned and supervised the water systems at Philadelphia, built the Cumberland Pike and also planned the east wing of the Capitol building at Washington, D.C. W. H. Davis was reared to young manhood at Lexington, Missouri, and received his higher education at the Masonic College of that city. He learned the printer's trade at Lexington in the office of the "Lexington Union" and was editor of a newspaper at the age of eighteen years. After the Civil War he located in Warrensburg, Missouri, and established the "Journal," now the "Journal-Democrat." In 1869 he removed to Clinton, Henry County, and purchased the "Henry County Democrat" from the La Due Brothers, and conducted this paper until 1874, when he sold a half interest to William T. Thornton, afterwards appointed Governor of New Mexico by President Cleveland. In 1876 Mr. Davis sold this paper to Lingle and Mitchell. He then returned to Warrensburg and published the "Journal-Democrat" for a year or so, and then located in Marshall, Missouri, where he published the "Saline County Democrat" for two years. In 1878 he removed to his farm in Windsor township and became a successful farmer and stock raiser, following this vocation for the remainder of his life. In 1878 Mr. Davis was married in Pettis County, Missouri, to Miss Alice Garton, who bore him the following children: Walter G., an attorney-at-law, Windsor; J. Piper, a civil engineer, assistant State highway engineer, Jefferson City; and W. Dalton, farming on the Davis home place. Mrs. Alice (Garton) Davis was born September 16, 1854, in Pettis County, the daughter of Edwin S. and Angline (Hill) Garton, natives of Virginia, who were pioneers in Pettis County, locating in that county in 1839 and entering a tract of Government land on which they created a homestead. Mr. Garton became a large land owner and was well-to- do. He died in 1893 at the age of seventy-four years. Mrs. Garton died in 1861, aged fifty-one years. Mrs. Davis is the youngest of five children born to her parents, the others being: Marcellus, Tulsa, Oklahoma; Monroe, deceased; Mortimer, Colorado; Mrs. Maryetta De Jarnett, Pettis County, near Sedalia. The Davis homestead in Windsor township consists of over 300 acres of fertile land well improved. This farm is now being cultivated by William Dalton Davis. William Henry Davis died December 18, 1912. Mr. Davis was a Democrat and took a prominent and active part in political affairs in Henry County for many years. He was twice elected to represent Henry County in the State Legislature and served as a member of the thirty-sixth and thirty-seventh General Assemblies with distinction and honor to himself and his constituents. He was a member of the Methodist Church, South, for over twenty-five years and served on the board of trustees of his church. In the death of Mr. Davis the community and Henry County lost one of its best and most loyal citizens, a man who stood high in the estimation of the people, of rugged honesty, strict integrity, of fine attainments; he was a man whom friends universally respected and admired. He was a devoted husband and father, kind and loving. Henry County was bettered by having William Henry Davis as a citizen. ==================================================================== DAVIS, William P. - b: 1847 Morgan Co, OH source: 1919 History of Henry Co MO, Uel W. Lamkin, Historical Publishing Co - page: 848 residence: Windsor, Windsor Twp William P. Davis, rural carrier of rural mail route number fourteen, Windsor, Missouri, is a native of Ohio. He was born in Morgan County, Ohio, November 30, 1847, and is the son of Simeon and Nancy (Craig) Davis. Simeon Davis was born near Williamsport, Maryland, January 19, 1810, and died January 17, 1884. He was a farmer and stockman during his entire life. Mr. Davis migrated to Ohio in 1830 and was married there in 1837. In 1865 he came west to Cooper County, Missouri, and purchased a farm near Pilot Grove, where he died. He was the son of James C. and Ann (Parrott) Davis, both of whom were natives of Maryland. Ann Parrott was a descendant of Gen. James C. Parrott, who was a soldier of the Mexican War. He afterwards settled at Keokuk, Iowa, where he was a well known merchant and served as postmaster of the city. Mrs. Nancy (Craig) Davis was born August 22, 1820, and departed this life in January, 1900. William P. Davis enlisted in the 9th Regiment Ohio Cavalry in 1863 and saw much active and dangerous war service in Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia and North Carolina during the Civil War. He accompanied General Sherman's victorious army on its famous march from Atlanta to the sea. His greatest battle was at Jonesboro. He received his honorable discharge from the service at Lexington, North Carolina, July 20, 1865, and then came to Cooper County, Missouri, in 1866. Five years later he made a trip to Morgan County, Ohio, but returned to Cooper County and engaged in farming. In 1890 Mr. Davis located in Pettis County and in 1898 he located on a farm about five miles east of Windsor. January 1, 1902, having received the appointment of Government mail carrier on rural route fourteen he moved to Windsor and for the past sixteen years has faithfully carried the mail on this route through sunshine and storm, through the heat of summer and the bitter cold of winter. He has become one of the familiar figures of this section of the county and is widely and favorably known. April 21, 1868, Mr. Davis was married to Rachel Phillips, who was born January 22, 1846, in Morgan County, Ohio, and who departed this life October 15, 1902. Nine children were born of this marriage: James, Jasper, Missouri; Howard, deceased; Mary, at home with her father; Frank, address unknown; Simeon J., Cherryvale, Kansas; Florence N., at home; Mrs. Lesta Julian, Clinton, Missouri; Mrs. Stella Phillips, Otterville, Missouri; Mrs. Rachel Clark, Chetopa, Kansas. The second marriage of Mr. Davis occurred August 7, 1914, with Mrs. Ollie (Cummings) Beasley, who was born in Madison County, Illinois, March 4, 1861, and was reared in Morgan County, Illinois. She was the daughter of Perry M. and Julia Ann (Fox) Cummings, the former a native of Louisville, Kentucky, and the latter of St. Joseph, Missouri. By her first marriage with James B. Beasley, Mrs. Davis is mother of six children. Mr. Davis is a Republican and is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. ==================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. 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