John Davis

b. between 1810 and 1813
FatherRobert Davis1,2 b. 26 Apr 1778, d. bef 20 Oct 1830
MotherNancy McMillan d. 1824
Birthbetween 1810 and 1813 John Davis was born between 1810 and 1813. 
Marriage28 Aug 1834 He married Sarah Harriett Mitchell, daughter of John Mitchell and Nancy Craig, on 28 Aug 1834 in Washington County, Virginia.3 
Migration  John and Sarah migrated west to northern Missouri shortly after their marriage. It appears they first lived in the non-county area that became Schuyler Co. in 1845. The couple's second son, Robert, born in 1837 or 1838, reported Schuyler County as his place of birth on Civil War records.

In the fall of 1836 Sarah's mother and stepfather (Nancy Craig Mitchell Bovell and Rev. Stephen Bovell) migrated to Missouri as well. Upon reaching Huntsville (Randolph County) they traveled another 80+ miles to visit John [and Sarah] as well as John's sister and brother-in-law, Mary and Samuel Eason. This mileage is consistent with the distance between Huntsville and Schuyler County.4,5  
Cens-18401840  However, John and Sarah did not make this northern location their permanent home. In 1840 John was enumerated as the head of a household in Macon County which lies north of Randolph County but south of Schuyler County.6 
Cens-185018 Nov 1850  By the time of the 1850 census, which named all members of the household, John and Sarah's family had grown to include 6 children: John 13, Robert 12, Mary L. 10, William 8, Francis 4 and Martha 2.7 
Cens-186023 Jun 1860  Ten years later the three oldest children were no longer at home, but two additional sons, Leonidas and Walter had joined the family.8 
Occupation John was both a millwright and a farmer.7,8,9,10 
Cens-187030 Jul 1870  On 30 Jul 1870 John was living in Narrows township, Macon County with Leonidas, age 17, Walter, age 12 and John S. age 9. The identify of the younger John S. is not clear since John and Sarah had an older son John who was still living. Sarah was not enumerated in John's household, although it appears she was recorded just a few doors away.9 
Cens-18801 Jun 1880  By June 1880 John and Sarah had moved into Macon City. They were both 68.10 

Related Links and Images:

Sarah's mother followed this VA to MO migration route when she and her second husband, Rev. Stephen Bovell, migrated west in 1836. Though their destination was Randolph Co. they continued on to visit Sarah and John. This may also have been the route Sarah and John followed a year or two earlier.
John and Sarah settled in Macon County, Missouri. Locate Macon Counties on the Missouri map (also accessible via the Misc. Locations link in the menu bar at the top of any page).

Family

Sarah Harriett Mitchell b. abt 1813
Children
  • John Mitchell Davis+ (circa 1836 - )
  • Robert Davis+ (19 May 1838 - 2 May 1902)
  • Mary L. Davis (circa 1840 - )
  • William R. Davis (circa 1842 - )
  • Francis Davis+ (circa 1846 - 17 Aug 1880)
  • Martha E. Davis (circa 1848 - )
  • Leonidas Davis+ (between 1853 and 1854 - )
  • Walter Davis (between 1855 and 1856 - )
Last Edited20 Jun 2011

Citations

  1. [S2289] Jack Hockett, Washington Co. VA Will Book 6 1827-1834, p. 30: distribution of the slaves of Robert Davis dec'd among his heirs, as found in Washington Co., Virginia Will Bk 6:244.
  2. [S28] Gerald H. Clark, Guardian Bonds Washington Co., VA, p. 25. Entry dated 20 Oct. 1830: James L. Davis named guardian of John, Francis M., Robert E. and Margaret Jane Davis, orphans of Robert Davis, dec'd; bond: $8,000 with John Preston, John Davis and James L. White as sureties.
  3. [S4] D.E. Brown, Marriages of Washington Co., VA 1781-1853, p. 17. Transcription reads: "28 Aug. 1834 Davis, John and Sarah H. Mitchell" by Stephen Bovelle.
  4. [S2625] "Compiled Service Records of Union Soldiers Belonging to Units From Missouri," digital images, Footnote.com (http://www.footnote.com : accessed Apr 2010); Robert Davis, 1st Lieut. Co. F, 2nd Missouri State Militia Cavalry.
  5. [S2627] "Anne Middleton Craig Mitchell Bovell Travel Journal, 1836", Evermore - The Mitchell line (http://www.evermore.imagedjinn.com/home/category/… : Apr 2011). Anne Mitchell Bovell kept a journal of her travel from Abingdon, VA to Randolph Co., MO in 1836. The journal was held by Anne's son Rev. J.B. Mitchell and then by John T. Mitchell. A transcript was shared with the Evermore website owner by Mitchell Noll.
  6. [S2549] John Davis household, 1840 U.S. cens., Macon Co., Missouri, Goshen township, p. 24 (stamped on second page of set), line 15, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Dec. 2010. Household includes: 2 males under 5; 1 male 20-29; 1 female under 5; 1 female 20-29; also 2 slaves.
  7. [S360] John Davis household, 1850 U.S. census, Macon Co., MO, pop. sched., District No. 32, p. 178b (stamped), dwelling 858, family 868, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Apr 2011. John Davis 37, farmer, b. VA; Sarah 37 b. VA; John 13; Robert 12; Mary L. 10; William 8; Francis 4; Martha 2; all children born MO.
  8. [S358] John Davis household, 1860 U.S. cens, Macon Co., MO, pop. sched., Jackson Township, p. 213, dwelling 387, family 387, viewed online at Ancestry.com, John Davis 4_ [not clear], miller, owns land worth $2,177, pers, prop. of $600, b. VA; Sarah H., 47, b. VA; Wm R. 19; Francis 15; Martha 13; Leonidas W. 6; Walter 4; all b. MO.
  9. [S270] John Davis household, 1870 U.S. cens, Macon Co., MO, pop. sched., Narrows twp, p. 226b (stamped), dwelling 160, family 158, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Apr 2011. Household included: John Davis (millwright) 58 b. VA, owns land worth $1,200, personal property of $2,100; Leonidas 17; Walter 14; John S. 9; Columbus Harris, 26, black, servant, b. MO; Josephine Harris, 3, Mary _, 1; all MO except John Davis.
  10. [S269] John Davis household, 1880 U.S. cens., Macon Co., MO, pop. sched., Macon City, ED 125, page 2B, dwelling 15, family 15, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Apr 2011. Household includes: John Davis (ex miller) 68, b. VA; Sarah H. Davis (wife) 68, b. VA; all parents born in VA except Sarah's father b. Ireland; resid on Jefferson St.