Byron C. Davis

As printed in 1905

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 Biographical review of Lee County, Iowa; (1905). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.