Kinfolks
By Evelyn Flood

I find the Davis families harder to research than the Jones and Smith families.

On the 1850 Newton County, Arkansas census in Van Buren Township,
found Isham(Isom)Davis born 1814 in Tennessee and his wife
Sarah Stanton Harp (daughter of Sampson Harp and Deborah Grace),
born 1812 in Tennessee.

Isham Davis owned land, purchased on 15 November 1854, in Section 25,
Township 16 North, Range 23 West(40 acres) in Newton County,
Arkansas.

Children living in the Davis family in 1850 were:
Polly Davis age 15 born Tennessee
John Davis age 13 born Arkansas,
Leander Davis age 12 born Arkansas,
Isham Davis age 1 born Arkansas.

In 1860 in Jackson Township the family consisted of:
Isham and Sarah Davis and their children:
Henderson age 16(is this Leander listed in the 1850 census?),
Isham Davis age 12,
Oliver Davis age 10 and
Mary Elizabeth Davis age 6.

Leander H Davis was in the Confederate Army and died in the first
year of the Civil War. In checking my list of Confederate soldiers
I found a Leander Davis who was in Co. D, 15th (Johnson's)Arkansas
Infantry. One could check this unit to see if this were him.

In 1870, Newton County, Arkansas,Jackson Township the family
consisted of Isham and Sarah Harp Davis with children
Mary Elizabeth Davis age 17 and grandsons :
Henderson Lafferty and Franklin Lafferty.
It is my belief that Polly Davis, the eldest daughter, was the mother
of Henderson and Franklin (Lafferty) Davis.
I find no other explanation as to who these boys were. This is my
personal opinion.

Isham M Davis, born Oct 1848 in Newton County, and his wife Sarah
are found on the 1870 Newton County, Arkansas census:
Davis, Isham, age 22
Sarah, age 18
John B, age 3
James M, age 1.
My notes state that Isham Murphy Davis married :
(1) SARAH LOUISA NORRIS, (1853-1913)
but I find no marriage record for them either in Newton, Boone or
Carroll Counties, Arkansas.
Sarah Louisa Norris was the daughter of John Norris and Mary McGuire.
I show the following children for Isham M and Sarah:
i:John Burton Davis, born in Arkansas.
ii:James M Davis, born in Arkansas.
iii:Oliver Martin Davis, born in Arkansas
iv:Columbus Sylvester Davis, born in Arkansas.
v:Nannie Norine Davis, born in Arkansas.
vi:Cora Ann Davis, born Feb 1880 in Texas.
......Cora Ann married JAMES M PACE. She died Jan 1914 in Oklahoma. ......buried beside her mother in Stonewall Cemetery.
vii:Perry Stanton Davis, in Texas.
viii:Barton L Davis, born 31 Jan 1887 in Texas and died in 1983 in
Stockton, California.
Wife Sarah Louisa Norris Davis died 15 November 1913 in Oklahoma.
Her tombstone gives birth date of 1853. She is buried in Stonewall
Cemetery, Pontotoc County, Oklahoma.
Sarah and Isham M Davis were divorced ca 1890, probably in Texas.

Sarah Norris Davis later married BARTLEY MARTIN PACE in July 1894 in
Hunt County, Texas. Bartley Martin PACE was widower of Alice JARMAN
who died in 1893. Bartley was father of Ida Pace (Isham M Davis'
second wife).

Isham M Davis married secondly to
(2) IDA PACE, in Texas about 1894.
Ida was born 18 April 1870 in Smith County, Texas.
Their children I have record of are:
(continuing numbering of Isham Davis children)
ix: Cora Ann Davis, born 1894.
x: Alonzo B Davis ,born 1900. and
xi: Ollie Otis Davis, twin, born 1902.
xii: girl twin, died in infancy
xiii: Ida Davis,born ca 1904. She married CHARLES CRESS.
xiv: Berry Davis born ca 1905. Died Kings County, CALIFORNIA.
xv: Thomas Campbell Davis,born 10 Sept 1906. Died in California
(Note: Thanks Jerre' for updates).

MARY ELIZABETH DAVIS married LEVI NEWTON CASEY on 18 December 1870,
in Newton County, Arkansas.
Their children were:
i:Sarah Jane Casey
ii:Martha Elizabeth Casey
iii:Mary Ann Casey
iv:Oliver Casey
v:James Arthur Casey
vi:Cora B Casey
vii:Obedience Mae Casey
viii:Nancy Lee Casey
ix:George Monroe Casey
x:Walter Ellis Casey
Mary Elizabeth Davis Casey died in 1908 in Ardmore, Carter County,
Oklahoma.

On the 1880 census of Newton County Isham and Sarah Davis lived in
Jackson Township, visit No.19-19 with Henderson age 16 and Franklin,
age 15 as grandchildren. Henderson and Franklin were now listed as
Davis. (Was their mother Isham and Sarah Davis' daughter Polly Davis
who married a Lafferty??)

CORRECTIONS:
I had previously thought Martha Bell was the daughter of
Nancy Busby Bell Lawson but found this was incorrect.
Nancy Busby Bell Lawson was living in Randolph County, Arkansas in
1870 with husband Thomas Lawson and children James, Buryl, Sarah E,
Nancy J Bell and son Thomas A Lawson
The "Nancy Busby Bell Lawson Story" will follow in the near future
on my web site.
Martha Bell was actually the daughter of Nancy Ann (mnu)Bell Davis.
Her half-sisters and half-brothers were :
John T Davis, Nancy Jane Davis.(shown on 1870 Newton County census).

1870 Newton County, Arkansas Census, Pleasant Hill Twp.,Visit 283
Davis, Tolliver T, 21, AR (son of Alexander Davis)
.... Nancy A. (Bell)31, AR
..... Martha, 5, AR (she is probably Nancy A's daughter (Bell)
.....John T, 2, AR
.....Nancy J, 1, AR
(Nancy A Bell, 28, married TOLLIVER T DAVIS, 18, on 27 June 1867
(page 29)in Newton County, AR. by Thomas C Bethel J.P.

Martha Bell had previously married L. B. Smith 14 Sept 1879 in Newton
County,Arkansas)by Willis S. Henderson, ODM.

Henderson (Lafferty?)Davis married MARTHA A BELL SMITH on
28 December 1882 in Newton County,Arkansas.

Martha Bell Smith had a son, Will Smith born ca 1880 in Newton
County, Arkansas. No further information.

Henderson (Lafferty?) Davis and Martha Bell Smith Davis had the following children:
(1)Celia A Davis--born July 1883 who married :
.......(1)WILLIAM HARVEY SWEARINGEN in 1903 in Newton County.
Swearingen Children were: i:Arvil Swearingen
ii:Dessie Swearingen
iii:Albert Swearingen
iv:Ora Swearingen who married Arthur Nichols.

Celia A Davis Swearingen then married:
....(2)THOMAS J SEXTON in 1915 in Newton County.
Sexton Children were: i:Riley Sexton who married BONNIE SHATT(SHATSWELL)
ii:Louis Walter Sexton who married ALICE LEONA SMITH.
iii:Thomas Edward Sexton who married (1)MARY DAVIS and
.......(2)MAXINE HAMPTON

(Henderson (Lafferty)Davis children continued:

(2)Frank G Davisborn Feb 1886 who married
MARTHA PARALEE DODSON, daughter of Thomas and Mary E Sexton Dodson.
Their children were:
i: Virgie Davis
ii:Beecher Davis
iii:Oscar N Davis.
The couple were living in Pleasant Hill Township of the 1910 Newton
County, Arkansas census.

(Henderson (Lafferty)Davis children continued

(3)Newton Levi Davis born 15 November 1885 who married:
(1) ALICE CURTIS in 1912 and (2) ALLIE VICIE "Icey" RHYNES in 1914.
Both marriages in Newton County, Arkansas.

I-341,Newton County,Arkansas Marriage
Levi Newton Davis 27, Cowell(15Nov1885 AR-22Mar1956,Barton Co.MO)
Alvitha Allie Vicie "Icie" Rhynes 17,Tarlton
15 January 1914
W P Spears by C H Snow,O.M.
Her parents:William T Rhynes & Rosa A Humphrey (1900 PL.Hill;1910
Richland Twp)
Levi's parents:Henderson Davis(Lafferty)& Martha A Bell Smith(1900,
1910 PL.Hill Twp)

(Henderson (Lafferty)Davis children continued)

(4)Sarah Elizabeth Davisborn 18 August 1889.
She married WILLIAM NATHANIEL BURDINE on 1 September 1904
in Newton County, Arkansas.

William Nathaniel Burdine was son of Joseph Burdine and
Martha Pickett.
Sarah was William Nathaniel Burdine's second wife.
William Nathaniel Burdine had been married previously to
MARY EMELINE COOPER, daughter of Joseph B Cooper and
Sarah Flood Smith Cooper.(Mary Emeline died in childbirth).
William and Mary had two sons:
i:James T Burdine who married LUCY CRINER, and
ii:Columbus J Burdine who married JOEANER CRINER.

William Nathaniel and Sarah Elizabeth Davis Burdine had the
following children (continuing numbers in order)
iii.Simon Solomon Burdine
iv:Talmage Burdine,
v:Monroe Lafayette Burdine,
vi:Joseph Henderson Burdine,
vii:Lonnie Burdine,
viii:Bonnie Burdine Treat,
ix:Colby Burdine,
x:John Harve Burdine,
xi:Mary Ann Burdine Pendley,
xii:Lula Mae Burdine McGuire,
xiii:Russell Orval Burdine,
xiv:Lowell Burdine,
xv:Mozell Burdine and
xvi:Clois Burdine.

This is another way the Flood family is related to a Newton County,
Arkansas families.

(Henderson (Lafferty)Davis children continued)

(5)Lula J Davis-- who married CHARLES A PRUITT.
Children unknown.

(6)Allec M Davis--,born November 1891.
Nothing further known.

(7)Mattie B Davis-- born November 1893 who married
HENRY LAMBDIN in 1915 in Newton County, Arkansas.
She died 23 March 1892 and is buried in New Cowell Cemetery,
Newton County, Arkansas

(8)Margaret"Maggie"E Davis-- born November 1895 who married
ALBERT SWEARINGEN on 25 September 1910 in Newton County, Arkansas.

(9)Harley H Davis born August 1898 in Newton County.
Nothing further known.He is in picture above.

(10)Dora Ethel Davis born 3 Dec 190l in Newton County.
She married LAWRENCE NICHOLS
Dora Davis Nichols died 5 Oct 1987 in Santa Barbara County,
California

(11)Oliver Chester Davis, born in 1905 in Newton County.
He married ORA BELLE RICH in 1924 in Newton County, Arkansas.
Ora Belle Rich was the daughter of Bartley "Doak" Rich and
Sarah Isabelle Wilson.
Oliver died 10 Nov 1945 in Ceres, California.

The following paragraph was sent to me by Tricia Swearingen:
"I was reading your article, KINFOLKS again, graciously provided to
me by Phyllis Halleck. I noticed you didn't have information on
Martha and Henderson's youngest child, Chester. (Oliver Chester Davis)
I have corresponded with a cousin of mine, Sonja V who is the
Grand daughter of Chester and received the following information:
OLIVER CHESTER DAVIS
Born 7 Sep 1905 Newton Co. Ark, d) 11/10/1945 Ceres, CA
Married 11/22/1924 to Ora Belle Rich
Born 11/27/1904, Newton Co. Ark, d) 4/1985 Ceres, CA
5 children:
i:Laymon Davis
ii:Hazel Davis
iii:Bob Davis
2 I don't know.
Chester died before I was born, but I knew Aunt Ora very well. She
remarried after Uncle Chester's death, to ARTHUR VAUGHN. I believe he
was from California, but I don't know. They had no children.

Also, regarding Celia Ann Davis,
she married) WILL (William Harvey) SWEARINGIN 5/31/1903, in Wayton,
Newton County,Arkansas
(I have a copy of the marriage bond)
They had 4 children.
i:Arvil (Orville) Lister Swearingen
Arvil married and had at least one child when he died in a boating accident in Miami, Oklahoma Sep 1, 1928

ii:J.W. Swearingen who died in Colorado.

iii:Dessie (married a CINDLE), they had 2 or 3 children, I only
remember Rueben,

iv:Albert Harold, (my father) married BESSIE BELL RAINS 4/26/1931 in
Spiro, Oklahoma, they had 4 children, all living.

Ora Swearegin(married ARTHUR NICHOLS) they had one son,
Wilson Nichols

According to the marriage bond, Will Swearingen was born about 1871
in Ark and died in 1914 in Cowell. He is buried in the New Cowell
Cemetery.
In about 1915 Celia married TOM SEXTON and had 3 more sons.
Of course my mystery surrounds Martha and her mother Nancy and of
course the space alien, William Harvey Swearingen.
Thanks,
Tricia Swearingen"(END)

Henderson Davis is listed as Henderson Lafferty in 1870 Newton
County,Arkansas census per my notes. I have not read the actual
microfilm,but my typed copy of the census indicates the last name as
Lafferty. He is listed as a Davis in the 1880 Newton County,Arkansas census.

In 1900 Henderson and Martha Bell Smith Davis are living in
Pleasant Hill Township, Newton County,Arkansas. They had 10 children
with 10 living at this time. Who was the other child born before
1900?

In 1910 the Henderson Davis family is living in Pleasant Hill
Township(Newton County, Arkansas) having had 13 children with 12
living.
They were neighbors to Sally Burdine and children Lester and Ernest
Collins.

Henderson L Davis homesteaded 160 acres, purchased 16 June 1904,
Section 29, Township 14 North, Range 20 West in Newton County,Arkansas.
No further information.
Did this family move to Oklahoma??

Found William Nathaniel and Sarah Elizabeth Davis Burdine on the
1920 McIntosh County,Oklahoma census, Burton Township.

Franklin M (Lafferty) Davis, born 4 March 1866 married LOUISA CROUCH.
They lived in Falls County, Texas. They had eleven children and
raised their children in that area.
Franklin died on 31 December 1932.
Franklin and Louisa are buried in the Covington Cemetery in Reagan,
Texas.
Just recently found this information from a family member.

Sarah"Sallie" Stanton Harp Davis, born 3 June 1811 in Overton County,
Tennessee died on 8 June 1894. She is buried in Covington Cemetery,
Reagon, Falls County, Texas. Her marker reads:
"Sallie-wife of Isom Davis. Born in Overton Co. TN June 3, 1811.
Died June 8, 1894".
Someone sent me the tombstone reading:
"DAVIS, Sallie - wife of Isom Davis,b Overton Co., Tennessee
6-3-1811,d Falls Co., Texas 6-8-1894"
the Covington Cemetery is on-line
https://sites.rootsweb.com/~txfalls/covington.htm
There are other Davis and Crouch names listed in this cemetery

An interesting note here:
Found Sampson Harp and Deborah Grace Harp on the 1860 San Joaquin
County, California Census at Fostoria.
They were on the 1850 Johnson County, Arkansas census living near
daughter Hester Morning Harp and her husband Edward Grangeene,
with son Sampson Grangeene.
I have been researching the Grangeene family for years.
Edward and his brother Oliver Grangeene were sons of
Abraham Grangeene and Julia Ann (mnu)Grangeene Campbell.
Julia Ann was the mother of the two Grangeene sons, plus she was the
mother of:
Henderson Campbell,
Elizabeth Campbell Holt Lawson Carlton;
Peter C Campbell and
Mary Barnett Campbell Holt.

Isham (Isom) Johnson Davis was born ca 1814 in Overton County, Tennessee.
I do not know when he died nor where he is buried.

Since I am typing this on my Notepad, I have no way of checking spelling errors as I do my HTML thingy.
If anyone has additional information to add to this family, would appreciate any updates or corrections.
Am way behind in my filing and will be adding more notes to this
family later on.

I sent the story of Sarah Elizabeth Davis Burdine to the Newton
County,Arkansas Times Newspaper and it was published on 24 June 1999
in the Times in my Kinfolks Column. Since I had gathered up much more
information on her family, decided to change the title of this story
to the Isham and Sarah Harp Davis Family.