The Davis Families of Linn County, Iowa

A. K. DAVIS.

This gentleman, who is now spending the closing years of a long and useful life free from business cares at his pleasant home in Marion, was for over thirty years prominently identified with railroad contracting, and was also engaged in mercantile ])pursuits in Marion for a time, but is now living retired. He was born in York county, Maine, on the 30th of July, 1829, and is a son of Thomas and Mary (Durgin) Davis, both natives of Newfield, that state. Throughout life the father followed the occupation of farming and continued tkj nialce his home in the old Pine Tree state until called to his final rest in August, 1852, at the age of fifty-two years and five months. He was widely and favorably known and was a worthy representative of an old [Maine family. His father, Daniel Davis, served as a private in the Revolutionary war for several years. The mother of our suljject died at thie home of her son Thomas M. in Missouri, in 1 87 1, at the age of sixty-five years. Of the ten children of the family our subject is second in order of birth. The others who are still living are Thomas M., of Missouri; and Osborn. of the state of Washington.

During his early life A. K. Davis pur-,sued his studies in the district schools of Maine, and aided in the work of the farm until after reaching manhood. Coming west in 1856, he located on a farm m Clinton county, Iowa, which he operated for several years. At the same time he also engaged in railroad construction in Illinois, and later rented his farm and gave his entire time and attention to the latter business. He helped build the Chicago & Northwestern road; the Sioux City road in 1867; and in 1870 built the first thirty miles of the Sabula. Ackley & Dakota Railroad, now a part of the St. Paul system. Later in 1870 he built the first ten miles of the Iowa Midland, from Clinton to Lyons; and a part of the road from Ottowa to Hedrick in 1882, employing many operatives. In 1887 he built a part of the I ranch of the B. & M. road in Cheyenne and Rawlins counties, Kansas, but since then has largely lived retired. In 1875 he removed to Marion and has since made this place his home. He first engaged in the hardware business, in which he continued for four years, when he sold mit, and has practically since lived retired.

Mr. Davis was married, in 1857, the lady of his choice being Miss Octavia Challies, also a native of York county, Maine, and a daughter of Sumner and Susan Challies, life-long residents of that state. The father, who was a farmer and miller by occupation, died in 1871, aged sixty-four years, and the mother passed away in 1895. aged ninety-seven. They had seven children, of whom only two nnw survive, these being Mrs. Davis, and Albion, a resident of Maine. yh. and Mrs. Davis have two children: Arathusa S., at home; and Tuillar J., a sketch of whom appears on another page of this volume. He married Xellie Elliott, of [Mariona, and they have four children, Laverna, Esther, Priscilla and T. J. Elliott.

Mr. Davis is a prominent Mason, having taken the thirty-second degree, and his wife holds membership in the Congregational church. His active business life shows him to have been a man of enterprise and public spirit, and as a pioneer railroad builder he materially aided in opening up a large amount of territory for civilization. After a well-spent and useful life he can well afford to lay aside all business cares and enjoy the fruits of former toil, surrounded by a loving family and a large circle of friends and acquaintances who appreciate his sterling worth.

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

GEORGE W. DAVIS.

egal, Ireland, December 23, 1843, son of George and Susannah (Fisher) Davis, natives of the same county, where they continued to make their home until their emigration to America in October, 1854. The family took passage at Londonderry, Ireland, on the sailing vessel Creole, and were upon the water for twelve weeks, during which time they encountered some terrific storms and it was supposed that the vessel would go down. In fact the vessel was reported lost. They lost two passengers, but the others landed safely in Philadelphia. The Davis family settled in that city, where the father of our subject died in April, 1856. In the fall of the same year the mother and children came to Iowa and took up their residence in Jones county, where she made her home for many 3-ears, dying there in 1895, aged eighty-six years. Her remains were interred in the Linn Grove cemetery. She was a devout member of the Presbyterian church, to which her husband also belonged.

Of the eleven children born to this worthy couple nine are still living, namely: James, a retired farmer and veteran of the Civil war, wedded Mary Ann Clark and resides in Mt. Vernon, Iowa; Thomas F. married Jane Kepler, and is also a retired farmer of Mt. Vernon; William married Ruth Fisher and is living retired in Cedar Rapids; Martha was the wife of John McPherson, of Jones county, Iowa, who is now deceased; Ruth is the wife of John W. Fink, of Lisbon; George W., our subject, is next in order of birth; Belle is the wife of Daniel Connor, who lives near Mechanicsville, Cedar county, Iowa; Jane is the wife of John F. Oldham, of Pierre, Oklahoma; and John wedded Jude Chapman, who was born in the old court house at Marion, and resides in Dorchester, Nebraska.

Mr. Davis of this review attended the national schools of Ireland until the family came to the United States, and for one year pursued his studies in the schools of Philadelphia. He then worked in a cotton and woolen factory for the same length of time. When the family came to Iowa in 1856, he found employment with Samuel Pfoutz, two and one-half miles north of Lisbon, where he worked for his board and clothes until the following spring, and then went to Linn Grove, where he worked for Abner Lacock for forty dollars per year and his clothes, remaining with him two years. The following year he was in the employ of Ed Clark, and then returned to his former employer, for whom he worked until the Civil war broke out.

In July, 1 86 1, at the age of seventeen years, Mr. Davis offered his services to the government, joining the boys in blue of Company I, Second Iowa Veteran Volunteer Cavalry, under command of Captain D. E. Coon, of Mason City, Iowa. Owing to the age of our subject he was obliged to tell a patriotic fib in order to be mustered in. After being mustered into the United States service at Davenport, the regiment was sent to Benton Barrack, St. Louis, in December,

1 86 1, where they remained until February,

1862. While here they were on scout duty and sixty of the members tlie from measles. They were then ordered to Island No. 10, under command of General John Pope, which they assisted in capturing and they were the first troops on the Kentucky side of the river. There were captured six thousand prisoners, one million five hundred thousand dollars worth of stores, and the Second Iowa captured a rebel flag on which was the inscription "Mississippi Devils, presented by the ladies." After dye defeat at Shiloli they were sent up the Tennessee river to Pittsburg Landing, where they were placed under the command of General Hallick, who was advancing on Corinth, anil they made the charge on the rebel army at that place under General Hatch, Z\Iay 9, 1862. The opposing force was so great that they were driven back, but saved Paine's division. They were the first troops to enter Corinth after the evacuation of the city. May 29..\t twelve o'clock one night that summer they made the first cavalry raid of the war, under Colonel Washington L. Elli(Jtt, who was a graduate of West Point and had served seventeen years in the regular army. They also took part in the battle of Booneville, where Sheridan with the Second Iowa and Second Michigan Cavalry defeated eight thousand rebels, and was there made brigadier-general. After this engagement the Second Iowa Cavalry moved back to Rienzi, and our subject was detailed as orderly for General Sheridan, having previously been messenger boy for General Elliott and General Granger, being chosen out of twenty-seven hundred men in his command, which was quite an honor. Three months later he rejoined his command, and on the 5th of September they broke camp a* Rienza and returned to Corinth, where General Rosecrans was then in command. They next went to Payton's Mills in pursuit of General Faulkner, where they participated in the battle at that place, and then moved back to Iuka. to support the Fifth Iowa Infantry. There they stood to horse all night in a drenching rain. About midnight General Rosecrans called a council of brigade commanders, and gave the command to move at daybreak, the infantry with bayonets fi.xed and the cavalry with drawn sabers, not a shot to be fired. It was expected that

General Grant would support them. The rebels retreated during the night, and the Union troops followed them twenty miles and made a stand at two o'clock next day. After this engagement Generals Price and Wan Dorn united their armies and moved north. The result was the two days' battle at Corinth on October 1 and 2, 1862, and the rebels were defeated. Here Mr. Davis was wounded in the ankle and sent to the Keokuk, Iowa, hospital, where he remained thirty days. Deserting the hospital, he went down the Mississippi river on a steamer to Wicksburg, and rejoined his regiment, which formed Grant's advance guard cm Wicksburg at Grant Junction. They were next in an engagement with Colonel Faulkner at Holly Springs, November 29, and captured thirty horses and sixty men. On the 2d of December they crossed the Tallahatchee river and moved on Springdale, Mississippi, and from there went to 'ater Valley, where they lost three men and six horses. They next proceeded to Oxford, Mississippi. After landing at Ponnetock they went back to Holly Springs, and retreated northward December 22, as Colonel Van Dorn had burned the supplies. The brigade to which our subject belonged returned to Coffeeville, participating in the battle there, after which the)- commenced destroying the Mississippi Central Railroad, being the rear guard of General Grant's army. They retreated as far as the Tallahatchee river and then went into winter quarters at La Grange, Tennessee, where they built log houses. In the spring of 1863 they went to Waterford, Mississippi, where they were surrounded by the Texas Legion, but were rescued by citizens who notified the brigade and they escaped back to La Grange. In March our subject's regiment marched three hundred and sixty miles, and were placed under the command of General B. H. Grierson, who started to cut the railroad communication of the rebels. On the 2 1 St of April they went to Palalto, and from there to Columbus. Mv. Davis" regiment returned to La Grange, where they remained all summer. On the 5th of June they went on a raid down the Mississippi river, and nine days later marched into Panola, mississippi, where they burned fifteen million dollars worth of property. On the ist of July they were ordered to Jackson, and after taking part in the battle at that place returned to La Grange. Later they captured six locomotives and twenty-five cars at Granada, which town the rebels surrendered August 2/, 1863. Two months were then spent in camp at Memphis, Tennessee, and in November went to Colliersville, taking part in an engagement at that place, defeating the rebels under General Gorge. They went to Oxford, Mississippi, December 4, and subsequently took part in the battle at Moscow, where their commander. General Hatch, was shot through the right lung. Here the rebels numbered five thousand, and the Union forces only thirteen hundred. Marching back to La Grange, a distance of about thirty-five miles, they broke camp January 1, 1864, and two days later reached Memphis, where they slept that night on the frozen ground. The_\' remained there till February 5, when they joined General \V. S. Smith at Germantown. Tenne. see, and started to join General Sherman's command at Aleridian. it being their intention to form a large cavalry force to march through the Confederacy, but they were met and defeated by the rebels. They were soon in a part of the Confederacy which was still rich with provisions. At West Point, Mississippi, February 21, General Smith ordered a retreat to Okolona, and the fighting became severe, the rebels having eight thousand soldiers and the Union troops numbering only four thousand. As Mr. Davis' time had expired he re-enlisted in the same regiment at Germantown, being determined to see the end of the war. He then returned to Davenport by-ay of St. Louis and was given a thirty-day furlough. He rejoined his command May 15 at Davenport, Iowa, and returned to St. Louis, where they received a new equipment. whence they went to Memphis. They were then armed with the Spencer seven-shot carbines. They took part in the Iwttle of Tupalo under General A. J. Smith and Brigadier-General B. H. Grierson and several skirmishes, and then returned to Memphis, where they remained until the 2d of August, and from there went to Clrand Junction and Waterford to rebuild the railroad to Oxford, Mississippi. After their return to Memphis they were ordered to join General Sherman on his march to the sea. At Clifton, however, the order was countermanded, and they were ordered to report to General Thomas, who was sent to repeal General Hood, and joined his forces near Columbia. Tennessee. General Hood advanced on Nashville with forty-five thousand infantry, fifteen thousand cavalry and ninety pieces of artillery, while the Union forces had nul_\- four thousand cavalry in his front, and a small army of infantry and artillery. Our subject's regiment on its retreat to Nashxille too part in the engagements at Campbellville. Linnvillle, Mt. Carmel, Duck River, Shelby ville. Pike, and Franklin, on the 29th of November, when the rebels lost five general and six thousand troops. The cavalry forces retreated across the Cumberland river to Edgefield, where the mercury was ten degrees below zero, with no wood. On December 2 they recrossed to Nashville, and for three days camped in two feet of mud. On the morning of December 15 the battle of Xashville was opened and our subject's regiment captured a fort which Hood had left fifteen minutes previous with the instructions to hold the fort at all hazards, and later captured another fort. On the 25th of December General Spaulding, of the Twelfth Tennessee, called for two hundred volunteers to follow Hood and harass the rear of his army, and Mr. Davis was among the number to respond and go with Major Horton, of the Second Iowa Cavalry. On the ist of January 1865, the regiment was ordered to Huntsville, and later to Eastport, yilississippi. It was very cold fording the rivers and the troops suffered severely. They went into winter quarters at Gravelly Springs, Alabama. On the nth of April they received news of General Lee's surrender, and five days later came the sad news of President Lincoln's assassination. Mr. Davis was finally mustered out September 17, 1865, at Selma, Alabama, and returned to Davenport, where he was honorably discharged October 9, 1865. During the entire time he was in the service he was never reprimanded by an officer, and was offered a commission in a colored regiment at Mem[)his. Tennessee, but declined, as he did Udt want to leave his comrades.

In October, of the same year, we again find Iiim a resident nf Linn county, where he worked by the month one year. In 1867 he bought the farm which he now occupies, it being at that time, however, an eighty-acre tract of luibriiken prairie land in Greenfield township] Jones county, which he at once proceeded to place under cultivation.

He has added to his landed possessions until he now lias three hundred and sixty-five acres of very valuable and productive land, on which he has erected two good houses and three immense Ijarns, together with other outbuildings. He raises Durham cattle and Poland China hogs, and also a high grade of horses. He not only feeds all of the grain raised on his own land ti) his stock, but one year was forced to buy ten thousand bushels for the same purpose.

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

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Davis were born six children, as follows: (i) Thomas U., born Se)tember 13, 1869, assists his father in the o])eration of the home farm. (2) Harry E., horn Xnvem])er 14, 1870, in Jones county, was educated in the district schools, and now conducts a part of the old homestead farm. He was married, at Climax. Michigan, December 19, 1900, to Hattie E. Card, whij was born at that place Decemlier 13, 1871, and is the oldest in a family- of four children, her parents being" Daniel '. and Rose (Eldred) Card, natives of New York. Harry E. and his wife attend the Reformed church of Lisbon. (3) Lottie Jane, born September 20, 1872, is the wife of Philip Mohn. a farmer of Greenfield township, Jones county, Iowa, and they have two children, Ora R. and Conrad D. (4) George, born December 20, 1874, married Mina Weston and lives in Greenfield township, Jones county. (5) Ira L., born November 3, 1876, is also a resident of that township on a part of our subject's farm. He married Ida Abel and they have one son, Harold. (6) Ora May, born August 29, 1883, is at home with her father. The mother of these children, who was a most estimable woman,' died September 4, 1898, and was laid to rest in the Lisbon cemetery.

Religiously Mr. Davis holds membership in the Reformed church, and socially is a member of John A. Buck Post, No. 140, G.

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

The subject of this biography is now successfully engaged in the practice of law in Central City, Iowa, and is one of the most prominent citizens of that place. He was born in Coshocton county, Ohio, June 9, 1856, of Scotch-Irish parentage. His father, James Davis, is a native of Ireland, born near Londonderry in 1817, and in that country married Miss Jane Fullerton, who was born there in 1827. Both are still living and continue to make their home in Coshocton county, Ohio. Throughout the greater part of his life the father has followed farming, and although he came to the new world a poor man he is now quite well-to-do. In politics he is a Republican, and is an active party worker, who has held a number of local offices in his township. In religious belief he is a Presbyterian and also takes an active part in church work.

Unto James and Jane (Fullerton) Davis were born fifteen children, nine sons and six daughters, of whom five died in early childhood, and one son at the age of eighteen years, and a daughter died in Colorado at the age of about twenty-six. Those living are Mrs. Martha Scott, a resident of Arizona; Mrs. Rebecca Infield, of Coshocton county, Ohio; John F., a farmer, living near Milford, Dickinson county, Iowa; Mrs.

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

To Robert Greene and Scfcr Woodward Greene, natives of Staffordshire, England, were born three sons, (george. William and Josei)h, who, jointly and severally, gave the best they could of thought and energy to the cause of progress in that section of the new west which early in life they selected to be the field of their lives' work.

George, who was born in Alton, Staffordsliire, was two years old when his parents brought him to the United States and located in Buffalo, New York, where the other sons were born, and where the father died in 1825. The mother, leaving her young children in Ihiffalo, returned to England, where some property had been left, which she sought but failed to recover..She died at her old home in 1827. For four years George, who had this been left an orphan at the age of ten, managed to support himself and his brothers. Then he went to England, hoping to succeed where his mother had failed. He returned in less than a year, having worked his passage each way, and Ijringing back nothing except a meagre fund saved from his own personal earnings while away and a dogged determination to succeed by his own efforts. By dint of industry and economy he managed to study one year at Carj-ville Collegiate Seminary, a year at Aurora Academy and two years at French's Collegiate Institute in Geneva, Xew York. During these years he taught school and did such other work as he could find to do.

After leaving the institute he read law in the office of Hon. George P. Baker, of Buffalo, making his home with a Dr. Chapin and assisting the Doctor in office work. keeping his books, etc.

He came west in 1838. His first stopping place was Davenport. Here he met and was at once employed by David J. Owen, who was making a geological survey of Iowa. For the next six months he was a surveyor. Thus he acquired an intimate knowledge of much of the country and saved considerable from his liberal salary.

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

L. L. DAVIS.

This worthy citizen of College township was born in Zanesville, Ohio, November 4, 1 83 1, the son of Thomas and Margaret Davis, who were both natives of South

Wales, and who, after they were married, came to this country about the year 1820. To them were born six children, the subject of our sketch being the only one living. Thomas Davis was a wheelwright by trade, and this he followed until the time of his death, which occurred in 1842, and his remains are interred in Cleveland, Ohio. His wife survived him until the year 1875, passing away at the age of seventy-five years, and her remains are interred in Granville.

Mr. Davis-received his education at Newark, Ohio. He continued to live with his mother, after the death of his father, until he was twenty-three years old, when, in the fall of 1854, he went to Iowa, but returned to Ohiq the following spring, only to go back to Iowa in September, 1855, Avhen he purchased forty acres of wild, uncultivated land in College township, and later added another forty acres to it, and from this, through skill and industry, Mr. Davis has made one of the very finest farms in the township. Many times during the early part of his residence on this land has he been obliged to drive wild cattle of? his fields in order to preserve his crops.

On September 18, 1855, L. L. Davis was united in marriage with.Anna Jones, a native of South Wales and the daughter of John G. Jones, a cooper by trade, who with his family came to this country and settled in Ohio, where he passed the remainder of his (lays. To Mr. and Mrs. Davis nine children were born, eight of whom are now living: Margaret Anna married A. M. Dice, a farmer living in Fairfa.x township; Estella A. lives at home; William died at an early age; Perry M. married Miss Millie Stephenik and lives in College township; Katherine Alice teaches school; Effie married Shirley Minor, a farmer living in College township; Maud S. is a school teacher; Minnie May lives at home; Lew married Ella Butler and lives, in College township.

Being a stanch Republican in politics and a very able man, Mr. Davis has been elected road supervisor for twenty years, also a school director and justice of the peace, but he declined to fill the last named office. In religious faith he and his family are Baptists, and are held in the highest respect and esteem by all who know them.

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

GENERAL W. L. DAVIS

General W. L. Davis was a gallant soldier of the Civil war and few" men have been equally well known in connection with the Iowa National Guard. His local connection as a resident of Cedar Rapids lias been that of manager of the money order department, of the postoffice for nearly twenty years, and his military service has been characterized by no greater loyalty or fidelity than he has displayed in the discharge of his civic duties. General Davis is the fourth son of Rev. Dr. William and Charlotte (Miller) Davis, the father being a minister of much prominence in the church of the United Brethren in Christ. The son was born August 4, 1843, near South Bend, Indiana. The family, owing to the father being called to various pastorates, frequently changed their place of above and Bluft'ton, Indiana, and Dayton, Westerville, Cincinnati and Seven Mile, Ohio, were successively the places of residence of the family during the childhood of General Davis. While serving as pastor of the congregation of his church, the Rev. William Davis pursued a course of study in the Cincinnati Medical College, from which he was graduated in 1849. Soon after completing the course there, he removed to Seven Mile, a village about thirty miles north of Cincinnati, where for ten years he enjoyed a large practice as a member of the medical profession, while his children were given the advantage of excellent common school and academic training. In 1861 the call of the west brought General Davis and his two elder brothers to Areola, Illinois, where an unsuccessful effort was made at farming. The elder brothers enlisted in the Fifty-fourth Illinois Infantry, leaving the younger brother with the farm crop and all the appurtenances to dispose of and claims to settle. The father came on from Ohio and took charge and General Davis found a special engagement to teach in Westfield College during the winter.

The spring of 1862 found the family in Muscatine, Iowa, and William Davis in the employ of Neidig & Burtner as traveling salesman in Mercer and Rock Island counties, Illinois. In this he was quite successful. On the 7th of August, 1862, General Davis enlisted as a member of Company B, Thirty-fifth Iowa Infantry, under command of Captain A. B. John. On settling with his employer he was amazed at his remuneration, it being more than double what he had anticipated. Being a stranger or nearly so in the city and state, preferment was neither sought nor expected with his company and regiment. He participated in a series of battles which resulted in the capture of Vicksburg under General Grant, the subsequent, campaign of Sherman against Jackson, Mississippi, the Meridian campaign, the Red River expedition, including the battles of Fort De Russy, Henderson Hill and Pleasant Hill, and the operations at the mouth of the Black River. Later under the command of General A. J. Smith, he took part in the battle of Lake. Chicot, Arkansas. The next few months were spent in West Tennessee, Arkansas and Missouri, chasing Price and Marmaduke from those districts. This being accomplished, his command embarked at St. Louis and proceeded to Nashville, Tennessee, where under "Pap" Thomas,

General Davis look part in a two class' battle that drove Hood from the state, continuing the pursuit to Eastport, Mississippi. A short respite from the strenuously active campaign and the troops then received orders to proceed to Mobile, Alabama, by way of New Orleans. While at Memphis, Mr. Davis, then a young lieutenant, received orders from the war department to report to General A. L. Chetlain at Memphis for assignment to duty. There he remained during the rest of his army life, performing all the duties pertaining to the office of his rank until his muster out, March 31, 18GG, a portion of the time being in command of the "Irving Military Prison."

On his return from the army he found his father presiding over the destinies of Western College at Western, Iowh. lie pursued a course in the business college at Pittsburg, afterward becoming traveling salesman for N. B. Brown, a manufacturer of woolen goods in Cedar Rapids, later managing a couple of real-estate transactions at Lisbon, and then hung out his sign proclaiming him to be a dealer in drugs, paints, oils, wall paper, etc.

In 1867 General Davis was married to Miss Mattie W. Cowden of Pennsylvania. Prosperity and adversity in about equal proportions came as they do to most people. The community was one day shocked by the suicide of the editor of the Lisbon Sun and his widow requested Mr. Davis to assume the management of the paper. Later he bought the plant and continued as editor and proprietor of the Sun during the succeeding ten years. Within a month after the beginning of General Grant's first term as president he was appointed postmaster of Lisbon and continued in office for nearly a year after Mr. Cleveland's first term as president began, so that his incumbency covered more than sixteen consecutive years. Being of a military turn of mind, Mr. Davis soon after locating in Lisbon organized a company of state militia, now the National Guard, and was elected its captain. A year later he was chosen lieutenant colonel of the First Regiment of the Iowa National Guard. The Lisbon company was then transferred to Cedar Rapids and George Greene was elected captain. Four years later Mr. Davis was commissioned colonel of the regiment which under his management gained a reputation for efficiency and department, and military bearing unequaled by any in the state. It was during his five years' service as colonel that lie organized a battalion of the National Guard of the state, conducting them to Washington, D. C. The command was in the inaugural parade of President Benjamin Harrison. It is noticeable that this is the only instance in which Iowa troops ever participated in the inauguration of a president of the United States. The command was royally treated and was applauded vociferously for its excellence. The newly inaugurated president extended to the members a special reception at the White House and the newspapers of the city gave illustrations of the command in the procession, and also cuts of the officers. When General B. A. Beeson was appointed by Hie governor to the office of adjutant general, Colonel Davis was chosen as his successor in command of the Second Brigade, I. N. G. It was during this period in his military career that the Columbian Exposition was held in Chicago and the ceremony pertaining to the dedication of the buildings was participated in by a large contingent of the military force of several states. Adjutant General George Greene, under General Boies, by his orders organized a brigade of the First and Second Regiments from the Iowa National Guard, placing General Davis in command, although he was not the senior commanding officer. Disagreeable weather to a great extent married much of the ceremony, yet on the day of the greatest display, General Miles, the Commander-in-Chief, took occasion to highly compliment Colonel F. W. Malin and his First Iowa Regiment for their almost perfect work as escort to the vice president, a part of which escort duty the regiment had to perform on double time. General Davis was placed on the retired list of the state at the expiration of his five years' service as brigadier general and has since continued in civil life.

Four children were born unto General and Mrs. Davis: Carrie, who is now head of a division in the agricultural department in Washington, D. C.; Lulu B., who is the widow of B. F. Tisdale and lives in this city; Arthur W., a lettercarrier connected with the Cedar Rapids postoffice; and Ira J., who was drowned in the Cedar River near the Palisades, May 17, 1894.

General Davis is a member of the United Brethren church and is president of its board of trustees. He belongs to Mount Ilermon Lodge, A. F. & A. SI.; Trowel Chapter, R. A. SI.; Apollo Commandery, K. T., and also to El Kahir Temple of the Mystic Shrine. His political allegiance is given to the republican party but he has never sought elective office although he has been continuously in public service. He has made a distinguished record in military circles and manifests public spirit in his support of municipal interests, furthering every movement and measure for the general <rood.

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