John Davis Biography


	This biography is from "Memorial and biographical record; an illustrated
 	compendium of biography, containing a compendium of local biography,
	including biographical sketches of prominent old settlers and 
	representative citizens of South Dakota..." Published by G. A. Ogle & 
	Co., Chicago, 1899. Pages 363-364

	Scan, OCR and editing by Maurice Krueger,mkrueger@iw.net, 1998. 

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HON. JOHN DAVIS, an extensive ranchman of Aurora county, whose home is 
located on section 1 2, Pleasant Valley township, and who is the 
possessor of one thousand acres of land, most of which is in his home 
township, is a man of rare ability, whose executive powers have placed 
him in an independent station of life. He not only owns this large 
tract of land, but has it well stocked, and controls a range of about 
three thousand acres. 

In Rutland county, Vermont, in the Green Mountain district, our subject 
was born September 1, 1834. When nine years of age he moved with his 
parents to Illinois, and settled in Du Page county, where his father 
purchased land within forty miles of Chicago for a dollar and a quarter 
per acre. The trip to the west was made by team, and fifty-two days 
were consumed before landing in Du Page county. September 6, 1862, our 
subject enlisted in Company K, One Hundredth Illinois Volunteer 
Infantry, and was in many hotly contested battles, including Perryville 
and Stone River. August 8, 1863, by special order No. 324, from 
President Lincoln direct, Mr. Davis was discharged from the service to 
return to his home in Illinois. His parents had died suddenly, leaving 
him the only support of his four sisters. He returned to his farm life, 
and afterward established a home for himself in Ford county. In 1883 
because of the ill health of himself and children, he went to Dakota 
with his son, and filed a soldier's declaratory on the land which is 
his present home. His health as well as that of his son, grew better 
rapidly, and he disposed of his interests in Illinois and invested in 
cattle. In 1892 he began to develop the sheep industry, and has met 
with splendid success. He deals in the best of stock, and his sheep 
number twelve hundred head, cattle thirty, and horses thirty-five head. 
The farm is peculiarly well adapted to the raising of stock, and is 
situated at the foot of the Wessington Hills. The ranch presents the 
appearance of a village, and activity is everywhere noticeable. In the 
fall of 1898 he disposed of most of the sheep, and turned the 
management of the farm to his son. 

June 5, 1867, our subject was married to Miss Alvina Overturf. To this 
union three children were born: Homer, a graduate of the South Dakota 
Agricultural College at Brookings, also of the State Agricultural 
College of Ames, Iowa, and is at present a student in a medical college 
at Omaha, Nebraska. Samuel is a graduate of Brookings, and holds the 
degree of LL. D. He is at present farming in Aurora county. Laura A. is 
a graduate of Madison Normal and follows teaching. Mr. Davis was 
married April 7, 1875, to Miss Lucy Bliss. They are the parents of 
three children: Horace, deceased; Edith L., a graduate of the Madison 
Normal and a teacher at Armour; Horatio, deceased. Mr. Davis is a 
prominent citizen, and has represented his locality in many public 
offices. He has been township treasurer, and was county commissioner 
for two terms, and served in the special legislature of 1890-91, where 
he was identified with the prohibition movements, serving on the 
committee. He favors Republican and prohibition principles. His labors 
for the prosperity of his community have made him an honored citizen, 
and he is well known throughout the state.