|
a.
|
Note: Census 1870, Decatur County, Indiana Jackson Township: Davis, Rebecca 24, Melissa 23, James 21, Edwin 17 1880, Decatur County, Indiana, Jackson Twp.: Davis, James R. 32, Caroline 32, George 6, William 4, Della P 6/12 Dec, Edwin T. (Brother) 27 1900, Decatur County IN: Davis, James B. May 1848, Martha C. Mar 1848, Geroge A. ___ 1873, William Nov 1875, Della Dec 1888 1910, Decatur County, IN: Davis, James B. 62 Martha C. 62 4/3 ____________________________________________________ JAMES B. DAVIS. An enterprising and successful farmer of Decatur county, Indiana, who lives three miles southeast of Burney, now living retired, and who has succeeded in life as a consequence of his own persistent industry and good management, is James B. Davis, a man who believes strongly in principles of right and justice, and who during his long life in this county, has been regarded as one of its very best citizens. James B. Davis, who was born in 1848, in Union county, Indiana, is the son of Isaac and Martha (Barr) Davis, the former of whom was born in Butler county, Ohio, in 1803, the son of James Davis, Sr., who married Mary Taylor. They were natives of New Jersey. Mary Taylor was of Scotch-Irish origin, and James Davis was of German parentage. They were among the earliest settlers in Union county, Indiana, and lived the greater part of their lives in that county. They were very prosperous farmers, and at the time of his death, he owned approximately one thousand acres of land. They had eight children, of whom Isaac Davis, the father of James B., was the seventh child. He was born in Butler county, Ohio, and about 1803, when Isaac was born, the family removed to Union county, and there entered land, where they spent the remainder of their lives. Isaac Davis was a successful farmer and owned several hundred acres of good land at the time of his death. Until 1856, when the Republican party was organized, he was a Whig, and he affiliated with the party of Lincoln, and remained loyal to it all the rest of his days. He was more of a patriot than a partisan and always had at heart the best interests of his country. Isaac and Martha (Barr) Davis had eight children, of whom James B. is the fifth child. The father died in 1858. James B. Davis lived at home and worked on the farm until he was twenty-two years of age, when he removed to Decatur county, Indiana, and purchased a farm in Jackson township. In 1873 Mr. Davis was married to Martha C. Ewing, who was the daughter of Patrick and Lydia (Morgan) Ewing. The Ewing family is one of the oldest and most prominent in Decatur county, and is descended from one Patrick E. Ewing, who emigrated to America from Ireland some time during the War of the Revolution. On the voyage a son was born, and on account of kindness shown to him by General Putnam, he was named for the general and to this day the name has been kept in the family. On Patrick's arrival in America, he settled in Maryland, near the Susquehanna river, some forty miles from Baltimore, where he died. His family consisted of four sons, Samuel, Joshua, Nathaniel and Putnam. The first three settled in Virginia, where they became prominent citizens. Their descendants have since migrated to Tennessee and Missouri, and have attained considerable prominence in different states. Putnam Ewing remained in Maryland until some time after his marriage to Miss Jennie McClelland, the daughter of Doctor McClelland, of that state, and then came to Bourbon county, Kentucky, in 1866. Subsequently, he settled in Bath county and there lived and died. He had ten children, namely: Robert, Patrick, Joshua, Polly, Samuel, Jennie, James, Eliza, George McClelland and Andrew Jackson. It was the Patrick Ewing of this family who was the father of Mrs. James B. Davis. He was born in Cecil county, Maryland, in 1803, and was three years old when brought by his father to Kentucky. He remained on the farm in Kentucky until after his marriage to Lydia Morgan, of Montgomery county, Kentucky. He was a member of the state militia of Kentucky and was married in September, 1826, to Miss Morgan. About 1827 he came with his wife and infant daughter to Decatur county. He was a hardy son of illustrious ancestors and was a man of exceptional native ability. He accumulated a large tract of land in this county. Mrs. James B. Davis is a woman of rare intelligence and one whose conversation sparkles with wit and humor. She had only the meager advantages of the pioneer public schools as far as an education is concerned, but she is a woman of great native ability, and one does not have to listen to her conversation long before discovering this wonderful native ability. Her children can be justly proud to have for their mother a woman of her intelligence. After the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Davis, they liked in Jackson township on a farm until 1883, when they sold out and purchased the farm they now live upon, three miles southeast of Burney. In the early years of their married life they had the usual experiences of the pioneer citizens. They lived in a log cabin for the most part, and both remember keenly the hardships of this early life. Mr. and Mrs. Davis have had three children, George was born in 1874, and is a farmer in Decatur county; William, in 1875, and is engaged in farming with his brother, George, and Della is the wife of Samuel Hanks, who lives three miles northwest of Burney and who is a prosperous farmer. Della has one child, Mary C. Hanks. George and Will Davis lived on the farm at home until George was twenty-eight years old, when he decided to begin life for himself. At that time the parents gave to the sons, George and Will, a farm of one hundred and twenty acres with an incumbrance of some two or three thousand dollars. This was no small load, even for mature shoulders, but by industry and shrewd management they cleared the farm of indebtedness in sixteen months' time. They have prospered proportionately ever since, and are now large dealers in live stock. Their home is called "Bachelors' Hall." James B. Davis had always been identified with the Republican party until 1912, when the new Progressive party was formed, with which he affiliated. He is a man who is little impressed by political parties or party emblems, but believes it is his duty, as a citizen, to support superior men and superior measures, rather than to cast his vote blindly without regard to platforms or principles, or the moral standing of the party's candidate. The sons are like their father in this respect. They are well respected in this community and favorably known. Mr. and Mrs. Davis have lived honorable and upright lives and have set a worthy example for their children and for their friends in this community. No word of suspicion has ever attached to the character of James B. Davis. He is a manly man and a true Christian gentleman. "History of Decatur County, Indiana" Lewis A. Harding B. F. Bowen & Co. Indianapolis, Indiana published in 1915. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|