Robert Earl Davis

b. 21 September 1854, d. 18 June 1913
Robert Earl and Nancy (Bailey) 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
Birth21 Sep 1854 Robert Earl Davis was born on 21 Sep 1854 in Marion County, Tennessee.2,3,4 
Migration1877 About 1877 Robert migrated to Commerce, Hunt County, Texas, where he worked for about a year in a livery barn. He was them employed in the same line of work in Breckenridge (Stephens County) for a smiliar length of time before returning to Tennessee.1 
Marriageabt 1879 or 1880 He married Nancy E. Bailey, daughter of B.J. Bailey, abt 1879 or 1880 probably in Marion County, Tennessee.5,6 
Migration Following their marriage Robert and Nancy returned to Texas where they farmed for several years before again returning to Tennessee where they took up farming in Marion County.1 
Land9 Sep 1885  Robert's father died in August 1885. The following month Robert and his brothers William and John sold their interest in 70 acres of their father's land to their brother James. The land was situated at the northern end of their father's larger tract and abutted the E. Valley Road on it's east side.7 
Land15 Apr 1886  On 15 Apr 1886 Robert sold to his brother William the interest he had inherited as his father's heir in an additional 98 acres of land.8 
Land15 Apr 1886 That same day Robert purchased 29 and 1/4 acres from his brothers John, William and James. Robert paid them $200 for their interest in this portion of their father's larger tract.8 
Land15 Apr 1886 In addition, on the same date Robert sold his interest in 20 1/2 acres to his brother James.8 
Land15 Apr 1886  Robert also paid his brothers $600 for their share of a separate parcel of land in the 3rd Civil District. It bordered the Sequatchie River and Looney's Creek.9 
Land-Sell30 Jan 1888  Two years later Robert used this land to secure 2 notes of indebtedness; one for $200 and another for $250. A handwritten note in the margin of the deed book records that the lien was discharged on January 6, 1819.10 
Land-Sell1 Jan 1892 Robert and Nancy sold the 29 1/4 acres Robert had purchased from his father's estate to Cowan Harris for $770 on 1 Jan 1892.11 
Land-Buy6 Dec 1892  Robert purchased his brothers' interest in the dower lands of their mother Amanda on Dec. 6th, 1892 for $150. The tract contained 120 acres and was located in the 5th district of the county.12,13 
Land-Buy6 Dec 1892  On the same day Robert purchased 55 acres of the tract William owned on the north side of the Amanda Davis dower land. This 55 acres comprised the eastern portion of the land William purchased when R.E.C. Davis's lands were divided by his sons in 1886. The condition of the sale, in part, involved Robert's assuming a lien against the property held by J.C. Condra.14 
Land-Sell3 Mar 1896  In March 1896 John Condra paid Robert $265 for 11 acres off of the northwest corner of the previously mentioned 55 acres.15 
Land12 Jan 1899  On January 12th, 1899 Robert and Nancy executed what appeared to be a deed selling Amanda's dower land in addition to the 55 acres they purchased from William to E.G. Pryor for $750 (minus the 11 acres sold to John Condra). The deed does not include wording typical of a mortgage type document, however it appears that this was the case. Written in the margin of the document was the following: "I declare that I am the true and lawful holder of the claim secured by this instrument herein recorded and hereby acknowledge the satisfaction therein to secure the lien in full." This entry, dated Nov. 6, 1901, was followed by the signature of E.G.H. Pryor. Hence it appears that Robert and Nancy remained the legal owners of the land.16  
Cens-19001 Jun 1900  At the turn of the century Robert and "Nan" were recorded on their farm in Marion County. They were listed next to Amanda Davis. Nan's entry indicated that she was the mother of 6 children, of whom 4 were living. Three of the children were enumerated with their parents: Ethel (18), Joseph (16) and Curry (9).17 
ChildDeath  The two children who died young were James (in 1891) and John (in 1897). 
Cens-191027 Apr 1910  Ethel and Joseph both married in the years between the 1900 and 1910 census enumeration. In 1910 the household consisted of Robert and Nancy (who had been married 29 years) and sons Benjamin and Curry.18 
Religion Robert was a member Cumberland Presbyterian Church. 
Death18 Jun 1913 Robert died on 18 Jun 1913 at age 58.3,19 
Burial He was buried at Davis Cemetery in Marion County, Tennessee.3,19 

Related Links and Images:

Robert's stone20
The division of Robert's father's land among Robert and his siblings
This Bible may have belonged to Robert's brother James as well as Robert's son Benjamin Davis. Although the information appears copied from an earlier record, the family record page lists Robert and Nancy's children as well as birth data for Robert's parents (icons link to the following pages: births, marriages, family record)
Robert (front row, on left) and his brothers; photo probably taken around 1893-9420

Family

Nancy E. Bailey b. 31 Dec 1857, d. 3 May 1951
Children
Last Edited31 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. [S3154] Jane Sewell, "Davis Reunion," e-mail to D. Powell, 21 Apr. 2012. Jane included images from a Davis Family Bible. The page titled "Family History" includes an entry: "Robt Earl Davis, Born Sept. 21st 1854". All entries on the page, spanning events from 1820 to 1914, were recorded in the same neat, printed hand. The page may be a supplement to a Bible formerly held by Ben T. and Maud Davis.
  3. [S1712] R.E. Davis tombstone, Davis Cemetery, Marion County, Tennessee.
  4. [S1714] Goodspeed, "Goodspeed's Biographies of Marion County (1886)", transcription, USGenWeb: Tennessee, Marion County (http://www.rootsweb.com/~tnmario2/biosmain.html : accessed June 2007), This source uses 21 Jan. 1854 which disagrees with the headstone information.
  5. [S1711] Jason Kennedy, "Tombstone pics," e-mail to D. Powell, 30 Apr 2007.
  6. [S1759] Marion County Historical Society, The Story of Marion County [Tennessee], p. 225. "Nancy Bailey Davis" contributed by Jimmy L. Anderson who was the son of Joe Forrest Anderson and Ruth Lewis, and the grandson of James Anderson and Ethel Davis.
  7. [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.
  8. [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.
  9. [S1762] Marion Co., Tennessee Deed Bk Q: 3.
  10. [S1820] Marion Co., Tennessee Deed Bk R: 8. The deed was dated 30 Jan. 1888 and recorded the same day.
  11. [S1817] Marion Co., Tennessee Deed Bk X: 481. The deed was dated 1 Jan. 1892 and recorded on the 5th.
  12. [S1764] Marion Co., Tennessee Deed Bk BB: 315. The deed was dated 6 Dec. 1892 and recorded 15 Jun 1895.
  13. [S16] Deed analysis shows that Amanda's dower lands sat on the southern end of the larger tract which she and her husband R.E.C. had lived on during their lifetime. An interesting aspect of this 1892 sale of the dower land is that Amanda was still alive but did not sign off on the deed.
  14. [S1764] Marion Co., Tennessee Deed Bk BB: 327. The deed was dated 6 Dec. 1892 and recorded 12 Jul 1895.
  15. [S1764] Marion Co., Tennessee Deed Bk BB: 566. The deed was dated 3 March 1896 and recorded on the 4th. N.E. Davis released her dower interest.
  16. [S1764] Marion Co., Tennessee Deed Bk BB: 582. The deed was dated 12 Jan. 1899 and recorded Feb. 10th.
  17. [S1720] Robert E. Davis household, 1900 U.S. cens., Marion Co., Tennessee, pop. sched., 5th district, ED 99, sheet 1B, dwelling 11, family 11, viewed online at Genealogy.com, viewed May 2007. Household includes: Robert E. Davis, 45, b. Sept. 1854, b. TN, father b. TN, mother b. VA, farmer; Nan E., wife, 42, b. Dec. 1857, mother 6 children, 4 living, b. TN, parents b. TN; Ethel T., dau, 18, b. Dec. 1881, b. TX, parents b. TN; Joseph P., son, 16, b. Oct. 1883, b. TN, parents b. TN; Curry E., 9, b. Sept. 1890, b. TN, parents b. TN.
  18. [S1724] Robert E. Davis household, 1910 U.S. cens., Marion Co., Tennessee, pop. sched., 5th district, ED 128, sheet 6A (p. 109 stamped), dwelling 103, family 103, viewed online at Ancestry.com, May 2007, image 11 of 18. Household includes: Robert E. Davis, 54, marr #1, marr 29 yrs, farmer, b. TN, father b. VA, mother b. TN; Nancy E., wife, 53, marr #1, marr 29 yrs, mother of 6 children, 4 are living, b. TN, parents b. TN; Benjamin T., son, 21, farmer; Curry E., son, 19, farmer; both b. TN & parents b. TN.
  19. [S1715] "Davis Cemetery", transcriptions, Interment.net (http://www.interment.net/data/us/tn/marion/davis/davis.htm : accessed May 2007).
  20. [S1376] Photo courtesy of Jason Kennedy.