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 1833, Switzerland county
From The history of Jasper county, Missouri : including a condensed history of the state, a complete history of Carthage and Joplin, other towns and townships : together with numerous portraits of prominen (1883)
JOHN J. DAVIS, post-office Maple Grove, has a fine farm of 159 acres, all under cultivation, and raises Northern sugar-cane. He has a molasses factory, and made in 1882 over 8,000 gallons, and has made some of the best sugar in the state made from sugar-cane. This enterprising man was born in Switzerland county, Ind., May 3, 1833, and was reared in Stark county. 111., on a farm. When fifteen years of age he went to breaking prairie and followed that business for ten years. He then moved to Peoria county, Ill., and engaged in making molasses and has continued it ever since. He came to Jasper county. Mo., in 1871, and located on his present farm and engaged in making molasses on a small scale, but now has one of the largest factories in Missouri. He was married to Mary J. Albertson Nov. 9, 1854; she was born July 13, 1839, in Wayne county, Ohio, moved to Indiana, and was there reared and educated. By this union there are nine children: Nettie M. Adams, Mary C. Butler, Elsie Copeland, Eliza J., Zora A. Frazier, Rachel A., Edna B., John J., and Charles E. Mr. and Mrs. Davis are members of the M. E. Church and stand high in the community.
As printed in The history of Jasper county, Missouri : including a condensed history of the state, a complete history of Carthage and Joplin, other towns and townships : together with numerous portraits of prominent (1883). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
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