Minerva Greer1

b. 18 November 1841, d. 21 February 1903
FatherDr. W.A. Greer2
Birth18 Nov 1841 Minerva Greer was born on 18 Nov 1841 in Macon County, Missouri.3,2 
Marriage9 Aug 1866 She married Robert Davis, son of John Davis and Sarah Harriett Mitchell, on 9 Aug 1866 in Macon, Macon County, Missouri.1 
Cens-18706 Jun 1870  Robert and Minerva settled into life in Macon. The 1870 census recorded them with their first child, 10 month old Isadora. Robert was employed as an engine builder. He owned land worth $1,000 and personal property worth $2,000.4 
Cens-188014 Jun 1880  However by the summer of 1880 Robert and Minverva had moved on. They lived in Bucklin, (Linn County, Missouri) where Robert kept a saloon. Besides Robert and Minerva, the family at this time included "Doda", Hattie, Mollie and Robert Jr.5 
Cens-19006 Jun 1900  By June 1900 the family lived at 108 Jackson St. in Peoria, Illinois where Robert worked as a watchman in a railroad yard. Minerva's entry reported that she was the mother of 2 children and both were living. The household included the couple's sons Robert and Lewis who at ages 19 and 18 worked as a carriage painter and paper hanger respectively.6 [Minerva's "living children" entry only included the two children living at home] 
  However, Robert was not well. The following March he was admitted to Jacksonville Insane Asylum suffering from dementia. In Dec. 1901 Minerva, acting as his conservator, applied for an increase in his Civil War pension. She stated that she and Robert were the parents of 2 sons and 2 daughters, all of whom were living with Minerva at 902 N. Adams St. in Peoria.7 
Widowed2 May 1902  Robert died on May 2nd 1902 while still hospitalized in Jacksonville. 
12 May 1902  A few weeks later Minerva began the submission process for a Civil War widow's pension. Her application stated that she owned no property. A follow-up affidavit dated 29 August, 1902 stated that she was in very poor health and had recently undergone an operation for cancer of the womb.8 
Death21 Feb 1903 Minerva died of cancer on 21 Feb 1903 at her home in Peoria, Illinois. She was 51. Her Civil War pension application file stated she died on the 14th, but that is contradicted by both her headstone and her obituary.3,9,2 
Burial She was buried at Woodlawn Cemetery in Macon, Missouri.3 

Family

Robert Davis b. 19 May 1838, d. 2 May 1902
Children
  • Doda Davis1 (2 Jul 1869 - )
  • S. Hattie Davis10 (30 Aug 1872 - 4 Mar 1891)
  • Mollie Davis1 (10 Jun 1875 - )
  • Robert Davis Jr.1 (12 Jan 1879 - )
  • Lewis Davis1 (14 Mar 1882 - )
Last Edited1 May 2011

Citations

  1. [S2629] Robert Davis affidavit dated Aug. 4, 1898, Robert Davis (1st Lieut. Co. F., 2nd Regiment, Missouri State Militia, Cavalry, Civil War), pension no. S.C. 569,267, Minerva Davis widows application 763,038, Case Files of Approved Pension Applications..., 1861-1934; Civil War and Later Pension Files, Record Group 15, NARA.
  2. [S2639] Phyllis E. Mears, Macon County Missouri Obituaries 1889-1903 Part I, p. 215. Abstract for Melvina [sic] (Greer) Davis.
  3. [S2631] Elizabeth Prather Ellsberry, Cemetery Records of Macon Co., Missouri Vol I, p. 8. Entry for Minerva Davis, wife of R., Nov. 18, 1841-Feb 21, 1903.
  4. [S270] Robert Davis household, 1870 U.S. cens, Macon Co., MO, pop. sched., Macon, p. 152 (stamped), dwelling 22, family 25, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Apr 2011. Robert Davis, 33, engine builder, owns land worth $1,000, pers, prop of $2,000, b. MO; Minerva, 20, b. VA; Isadora, 10/12, b. Aug MO.
  5. [S2624] Robert Davis household, 1880 U.S. cens., Linn Co., MO, pop. sched., Bucklin, ED 177, page 19 C (p. 375 stamped), dwelling 152, family 159, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Robert Davis, 48, saloon keeper, b. MO/VA/VA; Minerva, 30, wife, b. VA/VA/KY; Doda, 10, dau; Hattie, 8, dau; Mollie, 6, dau; Robert, 2, son; all b. MO/MO/VA.
  6. [S2630] Robert Davis household, 1900 U.S. cens., Peoria Co., Illinois, pop. sched., Peoria township, ED 95, sheet 7A (p. 61 stamped), dwelling 92, family 170, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Apr 2011. Household includes: Robert Davis, b. May 1837, 63, marr 25 yrs, b. MO, parents b. VA, watchman at RR yd, rents home at 108 Jackson St.; M.H., wife, b. Nov 1848, 51, marr 25 yrs, mother of 2 children, both living, b. VA, father b. VA, mother b. KY; Robt, son, b. Feb. 1881, 19, b. MO carriage painter; Lewis, son, b. Mar. 1882, 18, b. MO, paper hanger; also a lodger.
  7. [S2629] Declaration for Original Invalid Pension, Robert Davis (1st Lieut. Co. F., 2nd Regiment, Missouri State Militia, Cavalry, Civil War), pension no. S.C. 569,267, Minerva Davis widows application 763,038, Case Files of Approved Pension Applications..., 1861-1934; Civil War and Later Pension Files, Record Group 15, NARA.
  8. [S2629] Declaration for Widow's Pension, Robert Davis (1st Lieut. Co. F., 2nd Regiment, Missouri State Militia, Cavalry, Civil War), pension no. S.C. 569,267, Minerva Davis widows application 763,038, Case Files of Approved Pension Applications..., 1861-1934; Civil War and Later Pension Files, Record Group 15, NARA.
  9. [S2629] Robert Davis (1st Lieut. Co. F., 2nd Regiment, Missouri State Militia, Cavalry, Civil War), pension no. S.C. 569,267, Minerva Davis widows application 763,038, Case Files of Approved Pension Applications..., 1861-1934; Civil War and Later Pension Files, Record Group 15, NARA.
  10. [S2631] Elizabeth Prather Ellsberry, Cemetery Records of Macon Co., Missouri Vol I, p. 8.