My Genealogy Hound

D. W. Davis, a brother of John M. Davis, whose sketch appears in this work, and a relative of Jeff. Davis, is a son of Cornelius Davis, the latter having come to Arkansas from Kentucky, his former home, in 1828. At that time the Territory was but thinly settled, the forests were filled with bear, deer, wild turkey and other game, and the mode of traveling was in ox carts or on horseback. Our subject was reared to farm life, but had no advantages for acquiring an education when a boy, and it is a fact that, up to his eighteenth birthday, he could neither read nor write. He was born in this county December 9, 1833. In 1851 he ran away from home, and went to Fulton County, Ill., where he attended school for three years, working for his board and enough to keep him in clothes. Then returning home he commenced teaching school, and in that way earned means to take him through college, after which he took a course in civil engineering at the McKendrie College. Subsequently he went to Leavenworth, Kan., and took part in the border warfare in Missouri and Kansas. Becoming located at Omaha, he was engaged in his profession of surveying a short time, but later returned to St. Francis County, and in 1857-58 held the position of deputy sheriff. At the breaking out of the war he enlisted in the Crittenden Rangers, the first company raised in Arkansas. A few months later he helped Marsh Walker raise his regiment, of which he was made captain and commissary. After the war Mr. Davis came home and commenced farming, and also took up the study of law, afterward entering upon his practice, but soon again abandoned the legal profession and resumed farming. This he still follows, and is also engaged in surveying, in addition being timber inspector of the Third district, comprising St. Francis, Cross and Poinsett Counties. He has the credit of sending in more money than any other inspector in the State. He has a fine farm, with over 100 acres under cultivation, upon which are good buildings and a fine orchard. His principal crop is cotton, but does not confine himself to that one product as do some. He has also tried introducing thoroughbred short-horned cattle, but the country is not yet educated up to seeing the value of fancy stock. Mr. Davis was married in 1863 to Mrs. McClintock. They are the parents of five children: Blanche (wife of James W. Steward, who was superintendent of the public schools for ten years), De Witt (nineteen years of age and who is studying surveying, of which he has a practical knowledge, having at the State Fair at Little Rock competed and taken the prize for the best plat of a thirty-two sided farm and architectural drawings), Annie, David and Mabel. Mr. Davis and wife are members of the Episcopal Church. He is also a member of the Knights of Honor, and is a strong Democrat.