James Kelley Davis1

b. 30 November 1857, d. May 1911
James Davis (cropped)
photo courtesy Jason Kennedy
FatherRobert Earl B.C. Davis1 b. 24 May 1820, d. 8 Aug 1885
MotherAmanda Melvina Fitzallen Carmack1 b. 24 Sep 1825, d. 27 Feb 1901
Birth30 Nov 1857 James Kelley Davis was born on 30 Nov 1857 near Sulpher Springs, Marion County, Tennessee.1,2,3,4 
Childhood  James spent his childhood on his parents farm in Marion County. He grew up in the company of 3 brothers; 2 sisters did not survive childhood.5,6,7 
Marriage12 May 1881 He married Nettie Duke on 12 May 1881 in Marion County.8 
Land9 Sep 1885  On 9 Sep 1885, shortly after his father's death, James purchased his brother's interest in 70 acres of their father's land adjacent to the E. Valley Road.9 
Land15 Apr 1886  On 15 Apr 1886 James sold to his brother William the interest he had inherited in 98 acres of the same larger parcel in Marion County.10 
Land15 Apr 1886 James then sold Robert his interest in another 29 acres of the same tract.10 
Land15 Apr 1886 And on 15 Apr 1886 James purchased his brothers interest in 20 1/2 acres which abutted the southern boundary of the 70 acres James had purchsed from them the previous fall.10 
Land15 Apr 1886  James, John and William also sold Robert their interest in a separate tract of land bordering the Sequatchie River and Looney's Creek in the 3rd Civil District.11 
Land-BuyMar 1887 In Mar 1887 3 members of the Duke family (J.K., G.W. & Nelson) sold James their interest in the land on which Mary Duke was then living for $200 each. The tract was described as being in the 3rd Civil District and was bounded as follows: on the north by J. & J. Pickett, on the east by J.F. Richards, on the south for J.K. Davis and on the west by Samuel Burnett and Joseph Anderson.12,13 
Land-Sell7 Apr 1891  James and Nettie only kept the 160 acre Duke farm about 4 years. In April 1891 they sold it to Samuel Harris for $550.14 
Land-Sell12 Dec 1892 And on 12 Dec 1892 James and Nettie sold 90.5 acres to John T. Hall for $2,300.15 
  An analysis of the above deed shows it to be the same land that originally belonged to the estate of R.E.C. Davis and which James purchased from his brothers in 1885. An interesting aspect of the 1892 deed is the wording which excludes from the sale "one half acre for a grave yard with the privilege of passing to and from said grave yard at an time". Over 100 years later, this stipulation is still honored, allowing Davis family members to visit the old cemetery. 
Land24 Mar 1896  James and Nettie apparently also owned other land in Marion County. In March 1896 James signed a lease on 90 acres of land he owned in the 7th Civil District of Marion County. The land was described as bordered on the west by the Sequachee River, on the east by W.J. Kelley, on the south by W. J.J. Hoge and on the west by the waters of the Senachee River. The deed stated that for $1 James granted George A. O'Hara of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, the exclusive right to drill for petroleum oil and gas on the land. There was additional wording that clarified how James was to be paid for any oil or gas found on his property and how damage to his crops, etc. was to be handled.16,17 
Widowed16 Sep 1899  Nettie died on 16 Sep 1899 at which time James was 41 years old. 
Cens-19001 Jun 1900  The following summer he was enumerated living with his widowed mother in the fifth district of Marion County. James's brother Robert and his family were enumerated as the adjacent household.18 
Frat-Soc He was a member of the Masonic Order.1 
DeathMay 1911 James died on the 15th or 16th of May 1911 in Marion County, Tennessee, when he was hit by a falling tree.19,20 
Burial He was buried at Davis Cemetery in Marion County, Tennessee.4 

Related Links and Images:

The division of James's father's land among James and his siblings
This Bible may have originally belonged to James as the first entries in it are for he and Netta (icons link to the following pages: births, marriages, family record - includes data on the families of James' brother Robert Earl Davis)
James (top row, on right) and his brothers; photo probably taken around 1893-9421
Last Edited28 May 2013

Citations

  1. [S1714] Goodspeed, "Goodspeed's Biographies of Marion County (1886)", transcription, USGenWeb: Tennessee, Marion County (http://www.rootsweb.com/~tnmario2/biosmain.html : accessed June 2007).
  2. [S1711] Jason Kennedy, "Tombstone pics," e-mail to D. Powell, 3 May 2007. Jason provided the full, corrected date of birth for James.
  3. [S3154] Jane Sewell, "Davis Reunion," e-mail to D. Powell, 21 Apr. 2012. Jane included images from a Davis Family Bible. The first entries on both the birth and marriage pages were for James and Nettah (Duke) Davis. The subsequent entries, in a different script, were for Ben and Nancy (Hudson) Davis and their children.
  4. [S1715] "Davis Cemetery", transcriptions, Interment.net (http://www.interment.net/data/us/tn/marion/davis/davis.htm : accessed May 2007).
  5. [S1723] Robert E.C. Davis household, 1860 U.S. cens, Marion Co., TN, pop. sched., 5th District, p. 243 (stamped), dwelling 262, family 244, viewed online at Ancestry.com, May 2007, image 4 of 13. Household includes: Robert E.C. Davis, 40, farmer, b. VA, owns real estate: $4,000 and pers. prop: $5,000; Manda M., 35, b. VA; John L., 9; Robert E., 6; James K., 3; all boys b. TN.
  6. [S1722] Robert Davis household, 1870 U.S. cens, Marion Co., TN, pop. sched., 5th District, p. 434 (stamped), dwelling 123, family 120, viewed online at Ancestry.com, May 2007, image 15 of 16. Household includes: Robert Davis, 50 farmer, b. VA, owns prop val at $4,000 & pers. prop of $700; Amanda, 44, keeping house, b. TN; John 18, farm laborer; Robert, 16, farm laborer; James, 12; William 7; Rutha, 9; all b. TN.
  7. [S1721] R.E.C. Davis household, 1880 U.S. cens., Marion Co., Tennessee, pop sched., 5th district, ED 76, page 39C (p. 222 stamped), dwelling 354, family 358, viewed online at Ancestry.com, May 2007, image 14 of 17. Household includes: R.E.C. Davis, 60, marr, farmer, b. VA, parents b. VA; Manda, 55, wife, b. VA, parents b. VA; Rbt., 25, son, works on farm, b. TN; cont. next page: James K., 22, son, b. TN; William, 17, son, b. TN; all son's parents b. VA; M.R. Hall, 45, boarder, b. TN; John T. Hall, 9, son, b. TN.
  8. [S1763] Marion Co., Tennessee Marriage Records 1881-1885: 1. entry #4 J.K. Davis and Nettie Duke married May 12, 1881 in the 3rd district of Marion Co.; groom 22; bride 18, both born Marion Co., TN; both reside Marion Co., TN; groom is farmer; married by T.A. Shelton, JP, witnesses: S.C. Condra [?], John Davis, both of Marion Co., TN; recorded May 12, 1881.
  9. [S1761] Marion Co., Tennessee Deed Bk O: 409. The land was located in the 5th Civil District and bordered the E. Valley Rd. on its east side. The sale was dated 9 Sept. 1885 and recorded 5 Oct. 1885. The sellers were R.E., John and William E. Davis as heirs of R.E.C. Davis, dec'd. The buyer was James K. Davis. Amanda Davis released her interest in the tract.
  10. [S1762] Marion Co., Tennessee Deed Bk Q: 1-3. One of a series of deeds where R.E., John L., James K. and Wm E. , all listed as heir of R.E.C. Davis dec'd, divide a parcel of land lying to the west of the East Valley Rd.
  11. [S1762] Marion Co., Tennessee Deed Bk Q: 3.
  12. [S1816] Marion Co., Tennessee Deed Bk P: 515. The deed was dated and recorded on 19 March 1887.
  13. [S1762] Marion Co., Tennessee Deed Bk Q: 80. The deed was dated 11 March 1887 and recorded the following day.
  14. [S1817] Marion Co., Tennessee Deed Bk X: 575. The deed was dated 7 Apr 1891 and recorded 8 Jul 1895. "Nettah" released her dower interest.
  15. [S1818] Marion Co., Tennessee Deed Bk DD: 172. The deed was dated 12 Dec. 1892 and recorded in Jan. 1898. "Nettah" released her dower interest.
  16. [S1819] Marion Co., Tennessee Deed Bk CC: 111. The deed was dated 24 March 1896 and recorded the same day.
  17. [S1714] Goodspeed, "Goodspeed's Biographies of Marion County (1886)", transcription, USGenWeb: Tennessee, Marion County (http://www.rootsweb.com/~tnmario2/biosmain.html : This source states: "After his marriage, Mr. Davis located upon his father's farm, which he operated for a few years, but in 1895 purchased his present place").
  18. [S1720] Amanda Davis household, 1900 U.S. cens., Marion Co., Tennessee, pop. sched., 5th district, ED 99, sheet 1A (p. 135 stamped), dwelling 10, family 10, viewed online at Genealogy.com, viewed May 2007. Household includes: Amanda Davis, b. Jan. 1824, 66 [year and age not clear], mother of 6 children, 3 living; cont. top next page: James K. Davis, son, 42, b. Nov. 1857, wid, b. TN, father b. TN, mother b. VA.
  19. [S1715] "Davis Cemetery", transcriptions, Interment.net (http://www.interment.net/data/us/tn/marion/davis/davis.htm : accessed May 2007; date of death reported to read 16 May 1911).
  20. [S1748] James K. Davis entry, Marion Co., Tennessee Death Records: entry 60822 (1911). This source states he died on May 15, 1911.
  21. [S1376] Photo courtesy of Jason Kennedy.