My Genealogy Hound

John C. Davis, druggist and apothecary, Harrisburg, Ark. One of the most popular and efficient druggists in the town of Harrisburg is Mr. John C. Davis, whose nourishing establishment is located in one of the busiest portions of that town. He established his present business in 1888, and carried a general stock of drugs, patent medicines and fancy groceries. His birth occurred on the 22d of September, 1867, in Crittenden County, Ark., and he is the youngest in a family of five children born to Dr. N. A. and Eliza M. (Drake) Davis, natives of Tennessee. Dr. N. A. Davis was reared in the country, and received his education in the common schools of Tennessee. He learned the printer’s trade, and followed that for some years, when he began the study of medicine, and graduated from the St. Louis Medical College in the class of 1850. He first began the practice of his profession at Ozark, Christian County, Mo., and was married at Bolivar, Mo., on the 1st of December, 1843, to Miss Eliza M. Drake, daughter of Jacob and Anna (Williams) Drake, natives of East Tennessee. Mrs. Davis is a distant relative of J. Q. Adams, and a second cousin of Governor Taylor, of Tennessee. After his marriage, Dr. Davis removed to Christian County, Mo., where he remained until the spring of 1861. He was outspoken in all his political views, and when the war broke out he joined Gen. Price’s army as surgeon, and held that position during the entire struggle. In 1866 his family joined him in Louisiana, and from there they moved to Crittenden County, Ark., where they made their home until 1870. In that year they moved to Cross County, and from there, in 1873, he moved to Forest City, where his death occurred in 1876. The mother remained on the home place until 1878, and then made her home with her son, John C. Davis, until her death, in 1888. The latter was reared in town, and spent his schoolboy days in Forest City and the schools of Marion and Crittenden Counties. In 1882 he entered the drug store of his uncle. Dr. T. C. Whitsett, of Marion, as a clerk, and continued with him two years. He then went to Jonesboro and worked as a clerk until 1886, after which he was on the railroad until February, 1887. He then came to Harrisburg, and purchased a half interest in the drug business of M. D. Simmons & Co., with whom he continued until March, 1888, and then withdrew, and established himself in his present business, which he is now prosperously conducting. He is a conservative Democrat, and gives his support to all enterprises for the good of the county.