William Early Davis1

b. 6 October 1862, d. 28 August 1912
William Davis (cropped)
image courtesy Jason Kennedy
FatherRobert Earl B.C. Davis2 b. 24 May 1820, d. 8 Aug 1885
MotherAmanda Melvina Fitzallen Carmack2 b. 24 Sep 1825, d. 27 Feb 1901
Birth6 Oct 1862 William Early Davis was born on 6 Oct 1862 in Tennessee.3,1 
Cens-18701870  He grew up in Marion County.4 
Land  William's father died in August 1885. In the months that followed William and his brothers executed a series of deeds dividing their father's land. When the transactions were completed William owned 98 acres in the 5th Civil District of Marion County. The land sat on the west side of the East Valley Rd.5,6,7  
Marriage22 Aug 1886 He married Margaret Ann Smith, daughter of Benjamin Franklin Smith and Nancy Stewart, on 22 Aug 1886 in Tennessee.1 
Land-Buy26 Jan 1887 The following January William bought 3/4 of an acre from George Smith. It represented a sliver of land that separated a portion of William's larger tract from the E. Valley Road.8 
Land-Sell6 Dec 1892 On 6 Dec 1892 William and Margaret sold 55 acres to [his brother] R.E. Davis. It was part of the land William acquired from his brothers in 1886.9 
Land-Sell3 Sep 1893  Two years earlier William and Margaret had sold 26 acres from the same tract to W.S. Harris.10 
Migration Around the time of this transaction William and Margaret left Tennessee and migrated to Bogg Springs in Polk County, Arkansas. Their two youngest children were born in Arkansas.1 
Cens-190012 Jun 1900 At the turn of the century the family was enumerated farming in Ozark township in Polk County. William and Margaret had been married 13 years and were the parents of 4 children, all of whom were living. Besides William and Margaret, the household included: Robert (12), George (10), Mary (5) and Nancy (2).11 
28 Feb 1901  In late February, 1901 William received a telegram that his mother was very ill. He traveled back to Tennessee, but arrived just as she was buried.12 
Land-Patent4 Apr 1904  William homesteaded land in Polk County for which he received a patent on 4 Apr 1904. The land was described as the Southwest quarter of section 12, township 6 south of range 33 west and the northeast quarter of the northwest quarter of section 13, township 6 south of range 33 west. The tract totalled 171.51 acreas.13 
  The land sat near the Arkansas-Oklahoma line. William was a farmer and also raised cattle. He worked hard in conditions that were sometimes very difficult. One winter his feet developed frostbite. Gangrene set in and left him crippled.1 
Death28 Aug 1912 William died on 28 Aug 1912 at age 49.3,1 
Burial He was buried at Oak Grove Cemetery in Polk County, Arkansas.3 

Related Links and Images:

The division of William's father's land among William and his siblings
William (bottom row, on right) and his brothers; photo probably taken around 1893-9414

Family

Margaret Ann Smith b. 26 Jun 1868, d. 3 Nov 1959
Children
Last Edited17 Jul 2011

Citations

  1. [S2606] The William Early Davis and Margaret (Smith) Davis Family, typed family stories and data compiled by their granddaughters Marea (Davis) McGregor and Opal (Davis) Reno.
  2. [S1714] Goodspeed, "Goodspeed's Biographies of Marion County (1886)", transcription, USGenWeb: Tennessee, Marion County (http://www.rootsweb.com/~tnmario2/biosmain.html : accessed June 2007).
  3. [S1756] Nixby Daniel Kannady and Loreda Daniel, Cemetery Inscriptions of Polk County, Arkansas, p. 221.
  4. [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.
  5. [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.
  6. [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.
  7. [S1762] Marion Co., Tennessee Deed Bk Q: 3.
  8. [S1762] Marion Co., Tennessee Deed Bk Q: 4.
  9. [S1764] Marion Co., Tennessee Deed Bk BB: 327. W.E. Davis and wife M.A. Davis of Marion Co. TN to R.E. Davis; M.A. released dower. Deed dated 6 Dec. 1892 and recorded 12 Jul 1895.
  10. [S1815] Marion Co., Tennessee Deed Bk AA: 639. W.E. Davis and wife M.A. to W.S. Harris; deed dated 28 Feb. 1890 and recorded 6 Nov. 1893.
  11. [S1749] William Davis household, 1900 U.S. cens., Polk Co., Arkansas, pop. sched., Ozark township, ED 103, sheet 8B, dwelling 144, family 152, viewed online at Ancestry.com, June 2007, image 16 of 63. Household includes: William Davis, 37, b. Oct. 1862, marr 13 years, farmer, owns farm, b. TN, parents b. VA; Margaret A., wife, 31, b. June 1863, marr 13 yrs, mother of 4 children, all living, b. TN, parents b. TN; Robt F., son, 12, b. Sept. 1887, TN; George, son, 10, b. Oct. 1889 TN; Mary B., dau, 5, b. __ 1895 Ark; Nancy _, dau, 2, b. Jan. 1898, Ark.
  12. [S1728] Amanda Davis obituary, Sequatchie Valley News, March 7, 1901. Obituary from personal collection of Jason Kennedy.
  13. [S1757] Desmond W. Allen and Bobbie McLane, Arkansas Land Patents: Polk County, p. 34.
  14. [S1376] Photo courtesy of Jason Kennedy.