Biographical Sketches
JOSIAH S. DAVENPORT
Is one of the most honored representatives of Jackson county's pioneers, having long been connected with the history and development of this locality. His well-spent life well entitles him to representation in this volume, and his example is one well worthy of emulation. For many years he was identified with the agricultural interests of Jackson county, and his careful management, sound judgment and enterprise have brought to him a handsome property.
Dr. Davenport is a son of Stephen and Susanna (Simmons) Davenport, the former a native of Clark county, Kentucky, and the latter of Estill county. Their marriage was celebrated in Clark county, and in 1832 they emigrated to Cooper county, Missouri, where they spent a year. On the 6th of October, 1833, they arrived in Jackson county, locating on Section 26, Westport township. It is almost impossible at this day, when we look upon the cities and towns of Jackson county, its fine farms and palatial homes, that 60 years ago it was a wild and unimproved tract of land, the home of far more Indians than white settlers, and the haunt of many kinds of wild animals and game. Of those who were numbered among the neighbors of the Davenport family of that day, none are left; some have gone to other localities, but the greater number have made the journey to that undiscovered country from whose bourne no traveler returns.
Stephen Davenport made a permanent settlement in Westport township. He had made the journey from Kentucky to Missouri in a wagon drawn by a yoke of oxen, and before he had unloaded his household effects a messenger came to him with the news that the Mormons had risen up against the Gentiles. He at once took his old flintlock gun and went to Section 21, Westport township, where the Mormons were located, and helped to subdue them. Several of the number were killed, and the others were driven away. Mr. Davenport immediately erected a log cabin, and the primitive structure was covered with a clapboard roof, had a puncheon floor and many crude articles of furniture. Our subject now has in his possession a bureau which was used in the early home of the family, and which was made in Westport by Henry Sager over 50 years ago, from a cherry tree which grew on the old Davenport farm. He also has an old Indian basket made by Ker-Shin-Ga's family - Kaw Indians - over a half century ago, for which his motgher gave half of a hog jowl. It is still in a good state of preservation. Among his other relics is also an old English china pitcher, which was brought from England more than a century ago by the Spillman family, -- ancestors on his father's side.
Stephen Davenport continued the improvement and cultivation of his land until he was the owner of a very valuable and productive farm. Later he sold out and moved to Washington township, where he died in May, 1883, at the age of 82 years. His wife died in 1852, at the age of 48, and he afterward married Mrs. Margaret Nolan, nee Starks, whose death occurred in 1881. By his first marriage he had 7 children, 5 of whom reached years of maturity. These were Josiah S., Amanda, wife of Elijah F. Slaughter, of Washington township, by whom she has 7 children, 6 of whom are now living; James M., who married Martha L. Campbell and had 3 children, and after her death wedded Miss Mary Wide, and by this marriage there was one son; George, who married Susan West and has 6 children, and lives in Johnson county, Missouri; Elizabeth, wife of H. C. Krister, of Brooking township, by whom she had 3 children. The brothers of our subject both served throughout the civil war as a member of Shelby's army, and the elder was slightly wounded. The parents were both active Christian people, the father holding a membership in the Baptist church, the mother in the Christian church. In politics he was an old-line whig and afterward a democrat. A man of earnest convictions, he was unswerving in his fidelity to a cause or principle which he believed to be right, and his honor in business is shown by the little instance of the fact that he believed that it took four pecks of new potatoes to make a bushel, and always dealt them out accordingly. The upright life of both Mr. and Mrs. Davenport command the respect and confidence of all and they had many warm friends.
We now take up the personal history of J. S. Davenport, and in all Jackson county there is no one who is more widely or favorable known. He was born July 20, 1829, in Clark county, Kentucky, and was therefore only 4 years old when he arrived in Westport township. He remembers distinctly the important events connected with those early days and can relate many interesting incidents of frontier life here, when the Indians frequently visited at his home, when the only mode of travel was by team, when the land was in its primitive condition and settlements were widely scattered. When only 9 years of age he made a hand in clearing the farm. He had to work very hard, and his chances of securing an education were in consequence very meager. He remained at home assisting in the labors of the farm until 19 years of age, when with the spirit of adventure common to young men, and a hope of gain, he left Hickman's Hills in Washington township, on the 14th of May, 1849, and started with an ox team across the plains for California, driving 2,000 miles. In November he reached Sacramento city, and for 3 years worked in the mines on Feather river. It was a rough, hard experience, when lawlessness and disorder were prevalent; and Mr. Davenport, who has always believed in fair play on every occasion, was one of the 12 men to organize the vigilance committee in California in 1851, the committee which revolutionized affairs in that locality, largely transforming disorder into law and danger into safety. After 3 years upon the Pacific slope, in which he succeeded in acquiring a fair capital, he returned home, making the journey by the water route and New York. In 1854 he went to Texas, purchased cattle on the Rio Grande, and drove them to Jackson county, where he sold. He then purchased an improved farm of 200 acres in Washington township, and turned his attention to the more quiet pursuits of agriculture.
Now came a desire to have a home of his own, and on the 4th of May, 1856, Mr. Davenport was united in marriage with Miss Sallie J. Thomas, a daughter of Jesse and Maria (Davenport) Thomas. In 1836 they came to Missouri, locating on a tract of raw land on Section 21, Westport township. There the mother died in 1839. By their marriage they had 4 children: Lucinda, who became the wife of Jesse Davis and had 6 children, 2 of whom are now living. Both she and her husband are now deceased. Lurinda is the widow of Thomas C. Peers, and resides on Troost avenue, Kansas City. Elizabeth became the wife of Bristol Davis, and they had 2 children, but the parents are now deceased. Joel Franklin married Mrs. Eliza (Hayes) Rout, and they died leaving 1 child. Mrs. Davenport is the next younger. Minerva became the wife of Marcellus Collins, and died leaving 3 children. Joseph C., deceased, completed the family. Mr. Thomas was again married, his 2nd union being with Elizabeth Bailey, by whom he had 2 children, but only 1 is now living - Wiliam O., an attorney of Kansas City, who married Lydia Barnes and has 2 children. Two sons of the family served in the civil war. John C. died in the army, and Joel Franklin was a lieutenant in Colonel Hayes' regiment, of Shelby's command, and was slightly wounded. In 1845 Mr. Thomas removed to a tract of wild land on section 28, Westport township, and remained there until he had reared his family. He afterward took up his residence on Section 33 of the same township, and there passed away December 12, 1887. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and one of nature's noble men. In politics he was an old-line whig.
Mrs. Davenport was born June 28, 1834, in Kentucky, and during her infancy was brought to Jackson county, where her girlhood days were passed. Our subject and his wife began their domestic life upon a farm in Washington township, but in 1857 sold out and removed to Linn county, Kansas, where he entered from the government a tract of 160 acres, on which he lived for a year. The border troubles then began and he returned to Westport, but on the breaking out of the civil war removed to Texas, settling on a farm in Fannin county, where he made his home until 1863. His home the succeeding 2 years was in Grayson county, Texas, but during that time, being a practical wagon-master, he joined General Steele's command as brigade wagon-master, with the rank of captain, operating in Indian Territory, Arkansas and southern Missouri. He had charge of the wagons at the battles of Fort Gibson and Elk creek, and remained in the service until the close of the war. He then returned to Texas, and soon again came to Jackson county, Missouri, living on a rented farm in Washington township for 2 years.
The succeeding 3 years Mr. Davenport passed on another farm in Washington township, and then located on Section 21, Westport township, where he made his home for 12 years. On the expiration of that period he sold out and purchased a farm in Brooking township, which he still owns, comprising 120 acres of valuable land, as fine as can be found in Jackson county. Wishing to retire from active business life, in October, 1890, he removed to his present home, comprising 30 acres on Section 28, Westport township, a part of the Jesse Thomas estate. He has just completed thereon a very fine residence, and now has one of the first homes in this locality. It is tastefully furnished, and now in his declining years Mr. Davenport is able to secure the comforts and luxuries of life as well as its necessaries, while his business career has been crowned with prosperity. He carefully managed his interests, and possessing sound judgment and indefatigable enterprise he worked his way steadily upward to a position of affluence. Both he and his wife are faithful and consistent members of the Christian church, with which they have been identified for 30 years, and its work and upbuilding have taken a very important part. For 10 years he served as one of the elders of the Westport church. Socially, he is a member of the Masonic order, and in politics was for 43 years a democrat, but is now a stalwart advocate of the populist party, and is deeply interested in its success. He attends its conventions, and in 1893 was its candidate for the office of county treasurer of Jackson county. His life has been well spent, and over his record there falls no shadow of wrong or suspicion of evil. He possesses a happy, sunny temperament, and for 40 years he has found his wife to be an able companion and helpmeet, while her many excellencies of character and genuine worth have endeared her to all who have made her acquaintance.
This page was last updated August 2, 2006.