Andrew Jackson Davis, a progressive farmer and stock raiser and the second son of William and Elizabeth Davis. He was born in Wapello County, Iowa. He spent his early life on the farm, received his education in the public schools and remained with his parents until age 27. He then moved to a farm of 240 acres in section 20, township 50, Arrow Rock Township, given to him by his father William. His farm was one of the most productive and valuable farms in the County and had a large house and two barns. He had 7 children.

It was written," Andrew Jackson Davis has met with encouraging success in his vocation being in independent circumstances with a sufficiency of this world's goods in his possession to insure his future against the worry and anxiety which falls to the lot of the careless and improvident. He believes in progress in all the term implies, cultivates the soil with the most improved methods and having made agriculture the subject of close and critical study, never fails to realize abundant returns from the time and labor expended on his farm. He is held in high esteem by his neighbors and is proud of the fact that his antecedents were among the old and honored families of Virginia and that his wife's family is connected with the best people of central Missouri. He is a Democrat in politics, but not a partisan, takes an active interest in whatever tends to the material progress and moral advancement of the community and enjoys, to a marked degree, the confidence of his fellow citizens of the county of Saline." (Past and Present of Saline County, Missouri, by the Honorable William B. Napton)

Andrew Davis along with his two brothers, Duane and Guilford, visited a sick friend in 1861, who had Spinal Meningitis or Diphtheria and they all contracted the disease. Only Andrew survived.

William Davis was reared to farm labor and remained with his parents until 21 years of age, receiving in the meantime such limited education as the schools in those days were able to impart. In 1845 he left home and went to Warsaw, Illinois, where he remained until the spring of the following year, when he made a trip by flatboat down the Mississippi to New Orleans and after disposing of it at the New Orleans markets, he walked home (according to family lore). In the ensuing fall he secured employment at Terre Haute, Indiana, for $10. per month, but in the winter his wages were reduced to nine dollars, and at these figures he put in the time until the spring of 1847, when he gave up his job and during the remainder of that year worked on the rivers, making his second trip by flat boat to the city of New Orleans.

William's family wanted to get him away from the "bad influence" of the men on the river so in the spring of 1848, in partnership with his uncle, John G. Gray, he bought a land warrant, paying one-half of the price, sixty two dollars in cash. He went to Iowa and purchased eighty acres seven miles east of Ottumwa, which he improved and on which he lived and prospered until 1867. During this time he increased his acreage to 316 acres mostly under cultivation.

In 1866 William had a quarrel with his brother-in-law, Andrew Jackson Major possibly over Andrew Major's estate(500 acres), over politics or religion, and William decided to sell out and move to Missouri. Disposing of his real estate in Wappello County, Iowa, he moved to Pettis County, Missouri in May 1867 and one year later, on March 31, 1868 moved to Saline County, Missouri and purchased 480 acres from Mrs. Jane Harwood eldest daughter of M.M. Marmaduke, which he immediately began to improve and which became one of the finest farms and most desirable country homes in the community. The farm was located three and a half miles west of Arrow Rock. William Davis has always been a tiller of the soil and as such has made his calling very successful. He has long enjoyed the reputation of being one of the most enterprising and progressive farmers and stock raisers in Saline County and has so managed his affairs as to amass a handsome "competency" for his declining years as well as providing each of his sons with sufficient means to succeed. Politically William Davis was an ardent supporter of the Democratic party ever since old enough to vote and was known as "Democrat Davis" in his later years in Missouri. His ambition never led him to seek public office or position. His active life always supported the needs of the poor and unfortunate and the social and moral welfare of his community.

In 1876, William was one of three trustees who bought land from Mrs. McDonald at Walnut Grove and constructed a building for use as a Grange Hall and Church. The Grange was Worthy Grange #99, P of H. The building was used as a Church by Methodists and Presbyterians.

Much of the above from notes of John "Jack" Leonard Smith Davis, Jr. and " History of Saline County", by William B. Napton, 1910.

This page last modified Monday, 02-Dec-2024 10:28:55 MST

This site maintained by C.J. Ellis
© 1999, 2000 C.J. Ellis