HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY, KENTUCKY, by Robert Peter, ed. by William 
H. Perrin, O. L. Baskin Co., Chicago, 1882.  Reprinted by Southern 
Historical Press, Easley, SC, 1979.

JOHN DAVIS, farmer and stock-dealer, P. O. Walnut Hill, is a son of Jesse 
H. and Sarah A. (Travis) Davis, and was born in Fayette County June 11, 
1830.  His paternal grandfather, Henry, came to Kentucky about the year 
1802, and settled in Jessamine County, where he lived the remainder of 
his life, and where his son Jesse was born and now resides, at the age 
of eighty years.  John lost his mother when he was fourteen years of age 
and received only the common educational advantages of country youth.  
But he displayed a natural aptitude for business and found means to 
gratify his inclinations.  He was for seventeen years engaged in the 
livery business in Lexington, and at the same time carried on a 
considerable trade in buying and selling horses and mules.  In this he 
prospered so that he was able to buy a fine property about eleven miles 
from the city, on the Richmond pike, and known as the old "Embry farm."  
It contains 258 acres of excellent land, which is well worked by its 
enterprising proprietor, who still continues to deal in live stock.  He 
married Henrietta, daughter of Joseph and Sarah (Taylor) Downing, whose 
maiden name is one found in the early records of Fayette County, as is 
also that of Taylor.  Their family number six children-Morgan S., Sarah, 
wife of W. S. King, Joseph D., John W., Henrietta and Charles W. C.

Travis Taylor Downing King
=
Jessamine-KY

http://www.rootsweb.com/~kygenweb/kybiog/fayette/davis.j.txt