Capt. James P. Davis Biography


	This biography appears on pages 557-558 in "History of Dakota Territory" 
	by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. IV (1915) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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				CAPTAIN JAMES P. DAVIS. 

	Captain James P. Davis, whose life has been one of intense and 
well directed activity crowned by a period of well earned rest, has now 
passed the eighty-second milestone on life's journey, his birth having 
occurred in Center county, Pennsylvania, December 23, 1832. His boyhood 
and youth were spent in the east, but in 1855 he went to California, 
where he remained until 1859. In that year he removed to Freeport, 
Illinois, where he resided until after the close of the war, when he 
took up his abode in Shelbyville, that state. He was a student of the 
signs of the times prior to the outbreak of hostilities, had noted the 
threatening attitude of the south and had resolved to strike a blow in 
defense of the Union if the southern states attempted to secede. 
Accordingly in April, 1861, almost as soon as the first gun was fired 
at Fort Sumter, he offered his services to the government, enlisting in 
the Eleventh Illinois Infantry for three months. Within that time it 
was seen that the war was to be no mere holiday affair and on the 
expiration of his first term he reenlisted for three years, joining the 
Twenty-sixth Illinois Regiment. He served under the command of Generals 
Sherman and Rosecrans, and participated in the battles of Island No. 
10,  Corinth, Iuka and Missionary Ridge. At the last named he was 
wounded and was taken to the hospital, but after spending a time there 
he was granted a furlough and returned home. Later he rejoined his 
regiment and afterward reenlisted, serving until April 5, 1864. He 
participated in a number of hotly contested engagements and proved his 
loyalty and fidelity upon many a southern battlefield. 

	After the close of the war Captain Davis returned to Illinois and 
engaged in buying grain and stock in addition to conducting a milling 
business in Shelby county for about twenty years. In 1883 he removed to 
South Dakota, settling in Beadle county, and after looking about him 
for a favorable location, he filed on a quarter section of land in 
Milford township, northeast of Huron. He afterward bought more land 
until he owned a section. This property he improved and cultivated for 
twenty years, during which period prosperity attended his efforts. He 
engaged in raising cattle, horses and hogs for the market and this in 
addition to the cultivation of his crops brought him a measure of 
success which was gratifying. He became one of the substantial 
agriculturists of his community and then with a well earned competence 
he retired from active life and removed to Huron. For some years 
thereafter the rental from his farm continued to give him a good 
income, but about four years ago he sold the property. 

	On June 21, 1864, Mr. Davis was united in marriage to Miss 
Caroline Johnson, of Freeport Illinois, and they became the parents of 
five children: William Sherman, who is connected with a bank at Huron; 
Nellie, who died in 1886; James L., living in Chicago, who handles 
commercial paper; Fanny M., and Frank M., twins, the former a 
successful teacher of Huron, and the latter conducting an elevator at 
Huron. 

	During the period of his residence in South Dakota Captain Davis 
has been called upon to fill a number of public positions of honor and 
trust. For four years, or from 1887 until 1891, he was county treasurer 
of Beadle county, and he was also school treasurer in his district for 
some years. He has held many of the township offices and at all times 
has given his allegiance to every cause which he deems of worth to the 
community. He votes with the republican party and is well informed 
concerning the questions and issues of the day. His fraternal relations 
are with the Grand Army of the Republic and with the Benevolent and 
Protective Order of Elks. For six years he served on the board of 
charities and collections of the state, he was elected to the 
legislature and served two years, and he is interested in all that 
tends to bring about progress and to promote substantial development. 
He belongs to the Presbyterian church, in which he has been an elder 
many years, and his life has ever been actuated by high and honorable 
principles, so that he stands as a man among men, respected and honored 
wherever known and most of all where he is best known.