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Elbert C. DAVIS, a son of William R. and Christina A. (HICKMAN) DAVIS, was born in Lawrence County, Mo., on March 19, 1848. William R. Davis was born in North Carolina, and when nine years of age went with his parents to Kentucky. They made the journey overland, and settled on the Barren River, in Kentucky, and engaged in farming. Christina A. Hickman, who was a distant relative of her husband, was also born in the "Old North State." William R. Davis chose farming as his life vocation, but after coming to Missouri he was ordained to preach in the Primitive Baptist Church. Although he has preached for many years he has never accepted a nickel for ministerial work. When he left Kentucky his only possessions were his wife and one child, and a two-wheel cart and a yoke of oxen. Upon landing in Lawrence County he located upon Stahls' Creek, where he remained over one year, at the expiration of which time he sold out and removed to the farm
where he now resides. His wife died in July, 1872. They were the parents of eight children, six of whom are living, viz: Mique A. N. (Mrs. Thomas R. ISBELL, of Lawrence County), Jackson B. (of Mount Vernon, Mo.), Emily J. (widow of John HAYS), T. E. (wife of David HALL), Jonathan Houston and Elbert C. Those dead are James and Juliett P. Rev. Davis was seventy-one years of age on the 11th day of November, 1887, and recently made a trip to Independence, Kas., to attend to some ministerial work. Elbert C. Davis spent his boyhood days on his father's farm, and attended the common schools. He remained with his father until May 31, 1868, when he married Lucy E. HUDSPETH, and began the battle of life for himself. He settled on
the farm where he now resides, and has since been engaged in farming and stock raising. Mrs. Davis is the daughter of Benjamin and Sarah (MAY) HUDSPETH, natives of North Carolina, who first removed to Kentucky, whence they came to Missouri. They settled in Dade County, where Mrs. Davis was born and reared. Mr. Davis has 200 acres of prairie land, all under cultivation, and sixty acres of timbered land. His farm is well adapted to stock raising, at which he has been very successful. Mr. and Mrs. Davis removed to Texas after their marriage, and their eldest daughter was bornin the "Lone Star" State. They have four children, one of whom, Oran E., is dead. Those living are Etta May, Homer J. and Hattie Myrtle.
M. T. DAVIS, one of the firm of the Aurora Mercantile Company, was born in Tyler County, W. Va., December 12, 1848, and is a son of Absalom and Sarah (HOLMES) DAVIS, who were also natives of West Virginia, and of Scotch descent. The Davis family settled in Virginia at an early day, the paternal grandfather, Jonathan, being a soldier in the Mexican War. He died in Pike County, Mo., in 1863. The father of M. T. Davis was a farmer by occupation, and remained in Virginia until 1852, when he moved westward and located in Pike County, Mo., and there resided until his death, which occurred in 1873. His widow is still residing on the old homestead. They were the parents of six children, five of whom are living: Napoleon, Mansfield T., Elizabeth J. (wife of H. M HOPKE), Asa M. and Emma (wife of J. T. MALONE). Virginia is deceased. M. T. Davis was reared in Pike County, Mo., and was educated in the common schools, and attended college for about five months. He remained on the farm until nineteen years of age, and then began clerking in a store at New Hartford, continuing that occupation for two years. He was then taken into partnership, and the firm was known as MOTLEY & DAVIS until 1874, when Mr. Davis sold his interest, and began merchandising for himself at Wellsville, Mo. In 1877 he came to Aurora and began merchandising with J. B. MILLER, and has continued the same up to the present time. They carry a very large and select stock of goods, and employ ten clerks in their store and bank, the latter institution being organized the same time the store was. He is cashier of the bank and is secretary and treasurer of the mercantile company. Mr. Davis was first married in 1875 to Mary N. STONE, of Warren County, who died in 1881, having borne two children, only one of whom is living, Ernest E. The one deceased was Katie. In 1883 he was united in marriage to Addie H. GIBSON, of Lawrence County, by whom he has had two children: Allen M. and Millie A. Mr. Davis is a Mason, and a Knight Templar in the same.
Reuben DAVIS, who is also engaged in tilling the soil, is the son of George and Eleander (ALEXANDER) DAVIS, and was born in Union County, Ind., January 27, 1829. At the age of twelve he came to Missouri with his parents, who settled in Lawrence County in 1840. Here the father died in 1876, and the mother many years previous to this, in 1842. Their son, Reuben, attained his growth in Lawrence County, and followed agricultural pursuits upon his present farm. He had spent from 1850 to 1854 engaged in mining in California, and after returning from that State he purchased his present property. He married Miss Mary DAVIDSON, daughter of John and Sarah (ALLEN) DAVIDSON, and to them were born four sons and three daughters: John W. (a substantial farmer of Peirce Township), Sarah E., Ruth Althea (wife of Harvey CORNELL), George W. Reuben Charter, Desdemona and James S. Mr. Davis enlisted in the Federal Army, in Company A, Seventy-sixth Regiment East Missouri Militia, and rendered active service for one year. He has a good farm of 200 acres, and is one of the county's best citizens.
William N. DAVIS is of Scotch and English descent, and on the maternal side is a descendant of the celebrated WITHERSPOON family, of Revolutionary fame. He is a son of James W. and Syrena (WITHERSPOON) DAVIS, and grandson of James Ball and Sarah (MARTIN) DAVIS. The latter were born in South Carolina and Kentucky, respectively. The grandfather was a farmer, and moved to Tennessee at an early date, where he became a wealthy slave-holder. They were the parents of one child, who was born in Kentucky in October, 1819, and was reared and married in his native State. His wife was a daughter of Hardy WITHERSPOON, and they became the parents of eight children, six of whom lived to maturity: Malinda J., William N., Rumsey O., Sarah E., Mary F. and Louisa E. After his marriage, Mr. Davis lived on a farm in Warren County, Ky., for about four years, and in 1844 came to Lawrence County and settled seven miles northeast of what is now Peirce City, where he lived until 1850. He resided in different portions of Lawrence County until 1863, and from that time until his death, which occurred in 1881, he resided in Mount Vernon, excepting his service in the army. He was a Union man during the war, and served in the Lawrence County Home Guards and State Militia, and was quartermaster sergeant of Company B, Fifteenth Missouri Cavalry. William N. Davis, son of the above, was born in Warren County, Ky., March 1, 1843, and was brought by his parents to Lawrence County when less than two years of age. He received a good common-school education, and at the age of eighteen enlisted in the Home Guards, serving three months. He was in the E. M. M. service from August, 1862 to November 1, 1863, when he enlisted in Company B, Fifteenth Missouri Volunteer Cavalry, serving in Missouri, Arkansas, Kansas and the Indian Territory, principally scouting and skirmish fighting, and discharged June 30, 1865. He was taken prisoner by the enemy in February 1862, but escaped after a short retention. After his return from the army he attended school for some time, and then engaged in teaching, and in 1868 was elected superintendent of public instruction of Lawrence County. He took a full law course at the Michigan University at Ann Arbor, graduating in 1873. Since that time he has been engaged in practicing his profession at Mt. Vernon, and in collection pension, and other government claims. He is a Republican, and belongs to the Masonic fraternity. May 2, 1875, he was united in marriage to Ida MARTIN, a daughter of John S. MARTIN and Jane A. (KELSO) MARTIN, and by her is the father of two children, Winona and Ora. Mr. Davis is one of the best lawyers in Lawrence County, and has been notary public for many years. He belongs to the G.A.R., and was first commander of Jewell Post, No. 118, organized at Mount Vernon, Mo., 1883.
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