The Davis Families of Lee County, Iowa

BYRON C. DAVIS.

The life of one who, beginning his business activities at an early age, passing through many changes of scene and fortune, achieving success, and always maintaining for himself an honored and respected stand-

3i8 ing in the community, can not fail to furnish an interesting study to the readers of this volume. Mr. Davis was born at Frankfort. Kentucky, July 30, 1846, and when nine years old accompanied his parents to Fort madison. At the age of eleven years he began clerking in a dry goods store. After three years of faithful service he became second clerk of the mississippi river steamer "Pomeroy," this step having been taken in 1860. During the following four years he was employed on the "Pomeroy," "Kate Cassel." "New Boston," and "Keithsburg," and in January, 1864, he went to Chicago and entered school, having a high regard for education, and wishing to perfect himself in certain branches of learning. Here, however, his patriotism and a knowledge that his country was in danger triumphed over his desire for self-advancement, and he enlisted as a soldier in the One Hundred and Forty-seventh Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantr>% under Capt. A. C. Bardwell and Col. H. F. Sickles. Assigned to the Army of the Cumberland, the young soldier was not destined to participate in any of the more important battles of the war, but passed through a year of hard and exhausting service, mostly.skirmish duty, and sustained hardships from which his health suffered much in after years.

Mustered out of the ranks at Savannah, Georgia, and receiving his arrears of pay at Springfield, Mr. Davis visited Xew York city for a short time and then returned to Chicago, where he accepted employment as a traveling salesman for Day, Tilden & Company, wholesale dealers in notions and fancy drv goods. Yov three years he continued in this work, the latter part of the period Ijeing spent with the firm of Dunlap Brothers, when he was seized with a violent attack of rheumatism, which rendered him unable to perform any work for seven years. during which he remained at home. This affliction, which also led to a heart affection of a serious nature, was a recurrence of the same disease contracted while doing military flutv in the South.

About the year 1879 f''- Ivis had so far recovered his health as to enable him to resume active life, and he entered the employ of McDonald Brothers, of La Crosse, Wisconsin. For seven years he was engaged in rating and owing logs and lumber from Stillwater to St. Louis. This work he abandoned in 1885 for the purpose of establishing himself in the retail shoe business in Fort Madison. After successfully conducting this enterprise for two years he disposed of it. selling to D. T. Brown, and was engaged in clerical employment until 1903, when he repurchased his former business.

On January 30, 1879, at Fort Madison, Mr. Davis married Miss Mary Elizabeth Brown, daughter of Daniel T. Brown, of this place. As Mr. Brown has been long identified with the business interests of the city it seems fitting that he should receive mention. He was born in Athens, Ohio, August 2j, 1822. and removed to Iowa in 1856. Until attaining his majority he acted as a clerk, but then established a general store, which he sold before coming to Lee county. In Denmark township, this county, he bought a farm, which he operated until 1870, when he became the proprietor of a store tor the sale of IxooUs. wall paper, sewing machines, etc. Here he Iniilt up a larg-e luisiness. but sold it in i88j. Later he opened a shoe store, which he has since sold to his son-in-law. His marriage to Aliss Maria Dean Foster, who was lion at Athens, Ohio, took place in October, 1845, and unto them have been born six children: — William E., of Fort Madison; Charles P., of Clark county, Missouri; Mrs. B. C. Davis, of Fort Madison; Augustus P., of Fort Madison, Iowa; Frank R.. who is in Mexico, and Herbert D.. who is in Washington, D. C. Mr. Brown is himself the only living member of a family of eight children, of whom he was the youngest. He has long been a member of the Presbyterian church, and in politics has always affiliated with the Republican party. He owns a commodious residence at 629 Fourth street. Mr. Davis, our subject, is the son of William H. Davis, a physician, who served during the Civil W'ar as assistant surgeon of the Twenty-first Missouri Volunteer Infantry. His death occurred at Corinth. Mississippi. July ly. 1862. At one time he was engaged in professional practice in Fort Madison, and at another period of his life was a contractor, having built the levee along the river front. At the time of his enlistment in the Union forces he was conducting the McFarland Hotel on Front street. The wife and mother was Margaret (Davis) Davis. She died October 12. 1888. Four of their sons and daughters survive them, Byron C. Davis being the eldest. They are: 'william H.. who was murdered at Pine Bluff, Arkansas. Februarv 22, 1879; Mrs. Margaret J. McDermith, of Fort Madison, a widow: Charles J. Daxis. of Jefferson City. Missouri: and Ibilmes Lee Davis, actor and musician.

Of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Byron C. Davis have been born four children, as follows: Daniel Churchill, born Octoljer 17, 1882; Bessie, lion December 11. 1883; Frank Bnwn. born December 1 1. 1885. and William Lvnn, born September 19. 1887.

]\Mr. Davis is a member of the Presbyterian church, and fraternally has membership relations with the Masonic order, the Grand Army of the Republic, of the local post of which he is a charter member; the Knights of Pythias. Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Ancient Order United Workmen, the Druids and the Brotherhood of American Yeoman. At the present time he is acting as deputy state fish and game warden, and holds the honorable office of president of the board of education of the City of Fort Madison. The family home is at 409 Fourth street. Mr. Davis is well liked and popular, with a wide circle of friends, and well deserves mention in the history of the city in which a great part of his life has been passed.

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

FRANK W. DAVIS.

A modern bank serves the community in which it is located in many ways unknown to the banks of a half century ago. The Keokuk Savings IBank is one of the most progressive institutions of the city and its prosperity is due in part to the efficiency and loyalty of its cashier, Frank W. Davis, the subject of this sketch. He is a native of the city, having been born May 20, 1860, a son of C. F. Davis. The father was one of the founders of the bank of which the son is now cashier and was its first president. He was one of the leading men of Keokuk of his generation and always manifested a lively interest in everything pertaining to the welfare of his town and county.

Frank W. Davis was educated in the public schools of Keokuk, attending until he was eighteen years of age, and then entered the business world as a collector for the Keokuk Savings Bank. He inherits his father's talent for financial matters and his aggressiveness and ability won him promotion to the position of teller, then to that of assistant cashier and finally to that of cashier. He has also served as vice president of the institution. He is a constant student of banking in all its phases and sees to it that the business of the Keokuk Savings Bank is conducted in an efficient and systematic manner. He is largely responsible for the present standing of the bank as one of the reliable and prosperous moneyed institutions of the city.

Mr. Davis is quite prominent in local club circles, belonging to the Elks, being one of the original charter members of the Keokuk lodge. He is also a member of the Keokuk Country Club and an enthusiastic golfer. He realizes, as do so many of our representative business men, that out-of-door recreation is necessary if a man is to do his best work and he finds in golf not only much enjoyment, but the means of increasing his own efficiency. He is a member of the Episcopal church, in whose work he takes a laudable interest.

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

Frank Davis is a resident farmer of Montrose township, owning and cultivating eighty acres. He was born in Green Bay, Lee county, Iowa, November 24, 1863. His father, Armstead Davis, was a native of Ohio, born December 9, 18 18, and in that state he wedded Anna McGregor, who was born May 30, 1829. They came to Iowa at an early period in the development of Lee county, and secured a farm in Montrose township, remaining residents of this section of the state throughout their remaining days, the father passing away May i8, 1883, while his wife died April 6, 1896, their remains being interred in a cemetery at Sandusky. Both were consistent members of the Christian church. They are survived by two sons, Albert and Frank, both residents of Montrose township.

The latter was reared in the township where he still makes his home and attended the public schools of Ashland a part of each year until he reached the age of eighteen. He worked upon his father's farm from early boyhood and continued to assist in its cultivation until the time of his marriage. On the 19th of January, 1898, he wedded Miss Sadie Colvin, the marriage ceremony being performed by the Rev. Sanderson, of the Christian church of Keokuk. Mrs. Davis was Iporn at the old Colvin home in Montrose township on the 6th of November, 1865, and acquired her education in the public schools. Her parents were William and Catherine (Van Arsdell) Colvin. Her father, who was born in Kentucky, came to Iowa at an early day with his wife and three children, driving across the country to Lee county. He settled in Montrose township and finally purchased the farm upon which Mr. and Mrs. Davis now reside, remaining thereon to the time of his death, which occurred in August, 1909. He was a faithful member of the Christian church and he exercised his right of franchise in support of the republican party. His widow still makes her home with her daughter, Mrs. Davis, who is one of a family of seven children, namely: Malissa, the wife of Austin Wright of Keokuk; Amanda, who married John Boyd of Montrose; Mary, who became the wife of Zach Boyd and died in Missouri; Martha, who became the wife of William Grimes and died in Indiana; Mrs. Davis; Nannie, the wife of Robert Grimes of Montrose; and J. H. Colvin.

At the time of his marriage Mr. Davis located upon his farm of one hundred and twenty acres in Montrose township and continued to cultivate and improve that property until 19 10, when he sold out. He then purchased his present farm and erected a residence thereon. The interior finishing of the house is of walnut grown upon this place. The home is an attractive one and the excellent appearance of the place indicates the careful supervision and practical methods of the owner, who is justly accounted one of the progressive farmers of his part of the county.

To Mr. and Mrs. Davis has been born a daughter, Catherine, whose birth occurred in 1900 and who is now attending the public schools of Ashland. The parents are members of the Christian church at Summitville and do all in their power to further the moral development of the community. Mr. Davis is a republican in his political views and while he has not sought public office he has served on the school board for nineteen years. Fraternally he is connected with the Modern Woodmen of America. He has a wide acquaintance in this county, where his entire life has been passed, and that his record has ever been an honorable and commendable one is indicated in the fact that many of his stanchest friends are those who have known him from his boyhood to the present time.

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