My Genealogy Hound

Samuel Davis. Among the leading farmers of Oakland County, none is more deserving of mention in this Biographical Record than the subject of this sketch, who resides on his beautiful farm of 299 acres, which is located in sections 10 and 15, Farmington township. He was born in the State of Louisiana in 1831 and is a son of James Baker Davis and Susan Slocum, his wife.

James Baker Davis, the father of our subject, met death by drowning while crossing a river in Louisiana, his son Samuel being then but three months old. He left another son, Miller, who has not been heard from in 50 years, and it is not known whether he is alive or dead. Shortly after her husband’s death, Mrs. James Baker Davis removed with her sons to Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and there the subject of this sketch received his education, and lived from 1834 to 1855.

Samuel Davis came to Michigan with his mother in 1855, and located on his present farm of 299 acres in Farmington township, Oakland County, 200 acres being located in section 10 and 99 acres across the road in section 15. Our subject’s mother died on this farm in 1857. Mr. Davis has been very successfully engaged in general farming and stock raising, and has one of the finest and best improved farms in Oakland County. The farm has large and well appointed buildings, in which the owner takes great pride. In 1886 he erected one of the most beautiful homes in the county, which is tastefully surrounded with lovely lawns and shrubbery of many kinds.

Mr. Davis was united in marriage in 1858 with Susan Graft, daughter of Michael and Martha (Wade) Graft, farmers of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, whose parents were pioneers of that county. Mrs. Davis’ father died in 1847 and her mother, in 1898, both on the homestead farm in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. They reared five children, of whom Mrs. Davis is the only one now living. Mr. and Mrs. Davis are the parents of four children, as follows: Mercer, born December 13, 1859, who is living with his parents on the homestead farm; Winter, born October 31, 1862, who is married to Jane Roach, daughter of Michael Roach of Farmington township, Oakland County, and has five children, — Lucile, born October 31, 1891, Miller, born in 1893, Samuel, born in 1894, Marshall, born in 1895, and Gladys, born in 1896; Martha, who married Hon. Fred M. Warner, the present Secretary of State of Michigan, whose sketch will be found elsewhere in this work; and Susan, who was born January 8, 1869, and died October 8, 1870. Mr. Davis is a Mason. He devotes little time to political affairs, being independent and not affiliated with any party. Being a home lover, he spends his leisure time with his family.