The Davis Families of Buchanan County, Missouri

RANDOLPH T. DAVIS, one of the foremost men of the community in his day, was born December 26, 1837, in Buchanan County, the son of Ishmaeland Nancy (McDaniel) Davis, who were among the first settlers of Buchanan County. Our subject attended such schools as there were in those primitive days, and at the age of sixteen entered the Western High School to prepare for college, but his father having lost heavily by the default of an official upon whose bond he was, the young man was disappointed. Having aided his father in recovering the homestead, our subject

Davis Mill Company was built and Mr. Davis was at the head of this business until his death. He was a great stickler for high grades, and the triumphs of his faithful work are in the "No. 10," and "No. 1" brands, famous the country over. Politically Mr. Davis was a staunch Democrat.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

ISHMAEL DAVIS, treasurer of Buchanan county, was born in Rock House Prairie, Buchanan county, February 19, 1842. His parents were Ishmael and Nancy (.McDaniel) Davis. Mr. Davis attended the district schools and also a commercial school in St. Louis. He was raised a farmer and also has been engaged in the mill,

1876, to Miss Bettie G. Coates, a native Shelbyville, Ky., and she has borne him a daughter, Jessie Pearl.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

RANDOLPH M. DAVIS, president of the R. T. Davis Mill & Manufacturing Company, was born in St. Joseph in 1868, his father being the late R. T. Davis. He graduated from the St. Joseph high school and at once engaged in the milling business with his father. He was ope of the organizers and the first president of the Commercial club. He is president of the Southwestern Millers' Association and at the head of the largest mill in the west. He was married in St. Joseph to Miss Mary Fairleigh, daughter of W. G. Fairleigh.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

FRANK CLAUDE DAVIS, with the E. T. Davis Mill Company, was born in Platte county, Missouri, February 22, 1858. His father was John C. C. Davis, and he is a nephew of the late R. T. Davis. After attending school in Platte county Mr. Davis came to St. Joseph in 1870 and entered the mill, where he has since remained. Mr. Davis was married in St. Joseph November 27, 1888, to Miss Fannie D. Popple, a native of Jacksonville, Ill., and two bright little girls bless their union.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

ABRAHAM DAVIS, ex-member of the Missouri legislature, was born in Buchanan County, July 3, 1844, the son of Joseph and Sarah (Sheckell) Davis, on a farm that is now part of St. Joseph Extension Addition, in the northwestern part of ihe city. In his early days he worked on a steamboat that ran to New Orleans, and was for many years in the ice business. He was elected as Democrat to the legislature in 1880 and again in 1890. September 16, 1879, he was married to Miss Jennie Robbins, born in New York state; both are members of the Baptist Church. Mr. Davis is now in the real estate business.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

J. H. DAVIS, farmer, section 6, postoffice DeKalb, was born in Montgomery County, Kentucky, August 13, 182 1. His school advantages were ordinary. August 13, 1850, he married Lucinda White. She was born in Montgomery County, Kentucky, June 4, 1823. They have had four children, Mary Ann, born August 25, 1853; Samuel G., born December 4, 1856; he died October 5, 1858; James W., born January 5, 1860, died May 5, 1862, and one child who died in infancy. He emigrated to Missouri November, 185 1, locating in Crawford Township in March, 1852. By his own industry and economy he has secured 233 acres ot land, all of which is under fence, and in a good state of cultivation. He has a good house and barn and three acres of orchard in fine, thrifty condition. He was captain of Company K, Twenty-fifth Enrolled Missouri Militia, then reorganized and served in the Eighty-first Pawpaw Militia, receiving full pay for himself and all his men. Captain Davis recruited more men than any other man in the county for the Federal service and State Militia. Serving the government about four years, from first to last, his was the first company sworn in and about the last discharged. He is a Master Mason and member of Wellington Lodge, No. 22. He is also a member of the Christian Church, and has donated toward building churches and school houses. His meritorious wife is a member of the Masonic organization known as Eastern Star, and also the Christian Church. Their surroundings denote peace, plenty, and true happiness.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

REV. I. D. DAVIS, farmer and fruit grower, section 14, postoffice. Rushville, was born im Lewis County, Kentucky, February 22, 1826,. and when two years of age his parents moved to Missouri, and located in Clay County, where they remained one year. Then went to Clinton County, and after two years located in Buchanan County, where he was raised and educated When he was about twenty-three years of age he went to Davis and DeKalb Counties, remaining in each about twa years, when he again located in Buchanan County, where he has since resided. He has followed farming from boyhood. His farm contains 40 acres, which he uses principally for fruit, having about twenty acres of the finest varieties of both large and small fruits. Was married, June 13, 1862, to Miss Mary Dykes. She was born in Bourbon County, Kentucky, December 25, 1844. They have had six children, five of whom are living: George F., Hattie A., Charley V., and infant twins, both boys. Mr. D. has been a minister of the M. E. Church South since 1860. Mrs. D. is also a member of that denomination.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

WILLIAM W. DAVIS, editor of the Catholic Tribune, was born in Detroit, Michigan, in 1839, and moved with his parents to Chillicothe, Ohio. He studied at the Jesuit College of St. Joseph, at Bardstown, seven years, and St. Xavier's, at Cincinnati, Ohio. In 1858, he went to Europe and traveled for five years in that country. While at school he received the first medal for Christian doctrine and penmanship. He entered the service of the Unrted States and remained for three years; was mustered out after a hard campaign in Arkansas, being badly used up. He participated in five engagements during the war; was at Wilson's Creek with General Lyon, and was by his side when he spoke his last words to his men before the battle. Mr. D. went from St. Louis to Kansas City, Missouri, in 1878, and with William A. Maynard started the Catholic Tribune. After two years' publication, he moved the establishment to St. Joseph, where he has built up a good paper. Mr. Davis' connection and success with the Tribune shows what energy is necessary and how much it has taken in bringing the enterprise to where it now stands. He is a good writer and is entitled to success.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.