In the book's own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
Born 1844
From History of Boone County, Iowa (1914)
JESSE DAVIS.
Jesse Davis, a retired farmer living on his finely improved place of one hundred and sixty acres on section 9, North township, has made his home here for the past third of a century. He was born in Harrison comity, Ohio, October 4, 1844, and was eleven years of age when, in 1855, he came to Boone county. Iowa, with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Davis, who were farming people. Extended mention of the family is made in the sketch of Henry L. Davis which appears on another page of this work. Jesse Davis had but limited educational advantages, attending subscription schools only after his removal to Boone county. At the age of twenty-one years he commenced farming for himself and operated a part of the old homestead for about eight years. After his marriage, however, he purchased land and at different times owned several farms in Worth township, which he subsequently disposed of and finally became the owner of his present valuable farm, which is well tiled and is a very productive and well improved place. He carried on general farming and handled much stock, but is now practically living retired, while the land is cultivated by hired help.
In 1873 was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Davis and Miss Mary A. Hiatt, a daughter of James Hiatt, a pioneer carpenter and contractor. She was born in Indiana and was but three years of age when the family came to Boone county. Mr. and Mrs. Davis have had five children, namely: Lillie May. who is now the wife of C. H. Johnson and has one son, Harvey; Mrs. Ida lille Dyer, who lives in the eastern part of Boone county and has one child, Russell; Albert, a farmer of Des Moines township who married Miss Carr and has two children, Marvin and Lester; Bessie, the deceased wife of a Mr. McQuilken; and one child who died in infancy unnamed.
Although Mr. Davis has always taken an active interest in public affairs, he has never accepted office, preferring to give his entire time to his farming interests. His political support has always been given the republican party. He is progressive and public-spirited and can always be relied upon to further any movement which he believes will prove of benefit to his locality.
As printed in History of Boone County, Iowa (1914). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
The printed record stops around 1914. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.