John Griffith Rogan Davis1

b. 27 December 1834, d. 19 January 1905
FatherJames Davis1,2 b. Jun 1783, d. 16 Mar 1844
MotherNancy Smith1 b. 26 Dec 1791, d. 18 Dec 1882
Birth27 Dec 1834 John Griffith Rogan Davis was born on 27 Dec 1834 in Washington County, Virginia.3 
  John's middle names appear to have been in honor of Griffith Rogan who married his mother's sister Mary Smith in 1824. 
Ward22 Apr 1844  John's father died in March 1844. The following month the Washington County court appointed Archimedes Davis [John's older brother] as his guardian.2 
  Prior to his marriage John lived with his mother, in whose household he was enumerated in 1860. He was employed at that time as "Commissioner of the Revenue". John also owned personal property valued at $2,300 which included two slaves.4,5 
Marriage18 Oct 1866 He married Margaret P. Sophia Hortenstine, daughter of John Hortenstine and Margaret Wilson, on 18 Oct 1866 in Washington County, Virginia. John's brother James, a Baptist minister, performed the ceremony.6 
Cens-Sum  John and Margaret remained on the Davis homestead where they cared for John's mother and raised a family that included at least 10 children. In 1870 John's land was valued at $3,300; his personal property at $600.7,8 
  When John's mother died in 1882 she left her estate to John and named him her executor. John's sister Nancy Bradley died in 1896 leaving him a share of her Washington County land. It was described as that portion which sat on the north side of the public road leading from near J.G.R. Davis' residence to the Turnpike Rd. near Butt's hat shop. The will also itemized the distribution of a note Nancy held on John.9,10 
  A family anecdote states that John and Margaret never fully recovered financially from the effects of the Civil War.1 
WidowedJul 1890  Margaret died from typhoid fever in July 1890. The couple had lost two sons to typhoid as well: John in June 1889 and Griffith in May 1890. 
Cens-190026 Jun 1900  Ten years after Margaret's death John was enumerated as the head of a household that also included 3 children still at home: Nannie (18), Sophia (13) and Arthur (11). In addition, 86 year old Martha A. Smith (widowed and identified as John's aunt) was part of the household.11 
Marriage26 Aug 1902 John married second Laura (Tilson) Copenhaver on 26 Aug 1902 in Washington County.12 
Death19 Jan 1905 John died on 19 Jan 1905 at age 70.3 
Burial He was buried at Davis Cemetery in Washington County, Virginia.3 

Related Links and Images:

John's side of JGR Davis family monument; also other views
Other interments in Davis Cemetery

Family

Margaret P. Sophia Hortenstine b. 19 May 1844, d. 4 Jul 1890
Children
  • James Edwin Davis8 (14 Sep 1867 - 8 May 1898)
  • John Hortenstine Davis8 (30 May 1869 - 14 Jun 1889)
  • Mary Elizabeth Davis+8 (14 Mar 1871 - 18 Sep 1902)
  • Griffith Rogan Davis8 (9 May 1873 - 19 May 1890)
  • Olivia West Davis8 (21 Jan 1875 - )
  • Margaret Wilson Davis8 (13 Jul 1877 - 12 Mar 1953)
  • Henry Roberts Davis8 (31 Aug 1879 - 11 Feb 1950)
  • Nannie Smith Davis13 (12 Sep 1881 - 24 Mar 1965)
  • Ella Norra Davis+14 (9 Aug 1884 - 13 Feb 1951)
  • Annie Sophie Davis14 (22 Aug 1886 - )
  • Arthur Cummins Davis14 (25 Jan 1889 - )
Last Edited28 May 2013

Citations

  1. [S2574] Theophilus Rogan, "Reminiscences" (transcribed excerpt, undated). Mr. Rogan was a first cousin to the children of James Davis and Nancy (Smith) Davis.
  2. [S28] Gerald H. Clark, Guardian Bonds Washington Co., VA, p. 36.
  3. [S2] Catherine McConnell, High On A Windy Hill, p. 61.
  4. [S234] Nancy Davis household, 1860 U.S. cens, Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., Western District, p. 322 (original number), dwelling 2363, family 2301, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Nov. 2008, image 322 of 361. Household includes: Nancy Davis, 68, owns land val. at $4,000, pers. prop of $3,500; Nancy, 30, tea com school, owns land val at $1,000 and pers prop of $180; John G.R. 26, Com. Revenue, owns pers. prop of $2,300; all b. VA.
  5. [S1308] John G.R. Davis, owner, 1860 U.S. census, Washington Co., Virginia, slave schedule, p. 25 (original script), line 34, viewed online at Ancestry.com. 2 slaves: 1 male (18y); 1 female (16y); 1 slave house.
  6. [S6] Thomas Colley, Washington Co. VA Marriages 1853-1880, p. 84. John G.R. Davis, 32, sgl, b. & resid WCV; farmer, s/o James and Nancy Davis, AND Margaret Hortenstine, 22y, sgl, b. & resid WCV, d/o John & Mgt Hortenstine; marr: 18 Oct. 1866 by James A. Davis.
  7. [S635] John G.R. Davis household, 1870 U.S. cens, Washington Co., Virginia, pop. sched., North Fork Township, p. following 157 (stamped), dwelling 9, family 9, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Dec. 2008, image 2 of 52. Household includes: John G.R. Davis, owns land val at $3,300 and pers. prop of $600, farmer; Margaret P.S., 25; James E., 2; John H., 1; Nancy, 78; Sexton, Nancy, 19, servant; all b. VA.
  8. [S165] John G.R. Davis household, 1880 U.S. Census, Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., North Fork District, ED 98, page 11C (p. 193 stamped, dwelling 260, family 261, viewed online at www.Ancestry.com, Dec. 2008, image 31 of 61. Household includes: John G.R. Davis, 45, farmer; Margaret P.S., 35, wife; James E., son, 12; John H., son, 11; Mary E., dau 9; Griffith R., son, 7; Olivia W., dau, 5; Margret W., dau, 2; Henry R., son, 9/12, b. Aug; Martha A. Smith 65, aunt, wid; Nancy Smith [last name implied by slash indicating duplicate of surname above however surname should have been Davis], 88, mother, wid; all b. VA; all parents b. VA.
  9. [S2171] Nancy Davis will (recorded 1883), Washington Co., VA Will Book 21: 194. The will was dated 12 Apr 1873 and proved 26 Feb. 1883.
  10. [S2170] Nancy E. Bradley will (recorded 1896), Washington Co., VA Will Book 25: 259. The will was dated 5 Feb. 1891 and proved 27 Jan. 1896.
  11. [S634] John _ R. Davis household, 1900 U.S. cens., Washington Co., Virginia, pop. sched., Abingdon district, ED 105, sheet 19A (p. 32 stamped), dwelling 349, family 351, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Apr. 2013. Household includes: John _ R. Davis, 67, b. Dec. 1833, farmer; Nannie S., dau, 18, b. Sept. 1881; Sophia A., dau, 13, b. Aug. 1886; Arthur C., son, 11, b. Jan. 1889; Martha A. Smith, aunt, 86, wid, b. Feb. 1814, mother of no children; all b. VA.
  12. [S123] William R. Wheeler, Washington Co., VA Marriage Licenses 1881-1890, p. 26. J.G.R. Davis, 68, wid, s/o James & Nancy Davis, farmer, marr Laura A. Copenhaver, 40, wid, d/o __ & __ Tilson; 26 Aug. 1902.
  13. [S3155] Paula Nixon, "The John Griffith Rogan Davis Family," e-mail to D. Powell, 21 Apr 2013. Paula is the great great granddaugther of John Griffith Rogan Davis. She shared a collection of family trees titled Ancestry Information For Dorothy Ellen Fry and Charles Emory Fry. The data was compiled by L.D.F. [Lloyd Davis Fry, s/o Mary Elizabeth Davis & Emory Absalom Fry] and printed 15 Dec. 1964.
  14. [S2170] Nancy E. Bradley will (recorded 1896), Washington Co., VA Will Book 25: 259. The will was dated 5 Feb. 1891 and proved 27 Jan. 1896. Nancy remembered "Arthur, Sophie & Ella, the three youngest children of J.G.R. Davis & Sophie his wife."