My Genealogy Hound

Below is a family biography included in The History of Barry County, Missouri published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1888.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

* * * *

James C. Davis, a successful farmer residing two miles north of Cassville, Mo., was born in St. Clair County, Ill., in 1818. He is a son of Robert and Flora (Short) Davis. Robert Davis was of Welsh descent, and was born in Virginia in 1797. He went with his uncle to Illinois in 1807, his parents having died when he was an infant. In Illinois he grew to manhood and married, but he was not permitted to live the time allotted to man, and died when in the prime of life, in 1823. His wife, who was a native of Ohio, was born about the same time as her husband, and died one year later. They left three children who grew to maturity, James C. being the only one now alive. His father having died when he was five years, and his mother when he was six years of age, he was taken by his father’s uncle, J. C. Davis, with whom he lived until the latter’s death in 1834. He was reared on a farm, and after the death of his guardian he went to Centerville, Wis., where for three years he was engaged in various kinds of work, such as mining, teaming, etc. In 1837 he returned to his native county, and two years later married Sarah Moore, a daughter of Robert Moore, and a native of St. Clair County, Ill., born in 1821. Mrs. Davis died in 1849, leaving five children, viz.: Fletcher (who is now a farmer in Texas), Moses (a farmer in California), Nancy J. (wife of George Tipton, of Menard County, Ill.), Palmyra (now deceased) and Arminda (wife of James Humphreys, of Ripley County, Mo.). In the year of his wife’s death Mr. Davis went overland to the far West, reaching California after a five months’ journey. He remained in the Golden State two years, engaged in mining, running a livery stable, and dealing in stock, after which he returned to Illinois. In July, 1852, he wedded Martha Moore, a sister of his first wife. She was born in St. Clair County in 1834. Children have been born to this union as follows: George (a farmer of Christian County, Mo.), Mary (wife of Joseph Smith, of Taney County, Mo.), James, Flora, John J. (born August 4, 1853, and died February 6, 1855), Viola (born May 7, 1859, and died April 3, 1861), Philander (died January 5, 1866,) and Charles (born February 17, 1867). In 1858 Mr. Davis removed to Texas, and thence, in 1866, to Lawrence County, Mo., where he purchased 240 acres of land three miles south of Mount Vernon. Here he resided until 1884, when he sold out and purchased his present farm of 210 acres. Mr. Davis is a prosperous farmer and a highly esteemed citizen of the county. In politics he is a Democrat, but previous to the war was a Whig, having cast his first vote for Harrison in 1840. He and wife are active members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he is trustee and class leader.

* * * *

This family biography is one of 103 biographies included in The History of Barry County, Missouri published in 1888.  For the complete description, click here: Barry County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps

To view additional Barry County, Missouri family biographies, click here

Use the links at the top right of this page to search or browse thousands of other family biographies.