M. 31 Jul 1823 in Rowan County, North Carolina2
Wife: Mary Clifford
D. 22 May 1888 in Jersey County, Illinois1
Samuel Davis was fairly typical of the people who migrated west in early 19th-century America. He tried to better himself by working hard at the only thing he knew: farming.
Samuel was born July 8, 1798 in Rowan County, North Carolina, the eighth child of John Davis and Elizabeth Bryan.3 His early years were described as having been spent in “the wilds of North Carolina,” and he received little or no formal education.3 When he was 23, his father died, and left him a portion of his land.4
On July 31, 1823, Samuel married Mary Clifford.2 They had eight children, three of whom died young. In 1829, the family moved to Greene County, Illinois (later split off as Jersey County).3 They were among the first settlers of the area and it's likely that the Davis family lived in a log cabin during the early years. Samuel arrived poor, but did fairly well farming in Illinois — by 1850, his property was worth $6,000.5 He kept the same farm for many years, and was described as having “always lived the life of a quiet farmer.”3
On July 31, 1823, Samuel married Mary Clifford.2 They had eight children, three of whom died young. In 1829, the family moved to Greene County, Illinois (later split off as Jersey County).3 They were among the first settlers of the area and it's likely that the Davis family lived in a log cabin during the early years. Samuel arrived poor, but did fairly well farming in Illinois — by 1850, his property was worth $6,000.5 He kept the same farm for many years, and was described as having “always lived the life of a quiet farmer.”3
Samuel's 1840 homestead document.
While Samuel mostly kept to himself at his home, the same couldn’t be said for his only son, Asbury. One night in the fall of 1869, Asbury was met with violence as he exited a Jerseyville saloon. Some witnesses said he had been bodily thrown out in a drunken state, and a few men inside came out and beat him up. Others loaded Asbury into a wheel barrow and brought him to the jail, where he was found dead in cell awhile later.6 It’s unknown how Samuel received this news, but it must have been a terrible time for him and his family.
In 1872, it was reported that Samuel was in such good health in his mid-seventies that he retained “almost the same activity that marked his boyhood.”3 His wife Mary died in 1875,7 and in the 1880 census, Samuel was recorded as living on the farm of Jospeh Luckey, who was his son-in-law's brother.8 Samuel's unmarried daughter Louisa was living with him.
Samuel died May 22, 1888 at the farm of C.H. Waters, six miles west of Jerseyville.9 His obituary described that he was “a kind and affectionate husband and father.”9 Samuel was buried in the Keller Cemetary in Jerseyville next to his wife. At the time of his death, his descendants totaled 4 children, 39 grandchildren and 28 great-grandchildren.
Children:
1. Louisa Davis — B. about 1828, (probably) Rowan County, North Carolina5
2. William Asbury Davis — B. 23 Apr 1831, Greene County, Illinois;10 D. 16 Oct 1869, Jerseyville, Illinois;10 M. Mary Elizabeth Luckey (1835-1901), 10 Mar 1853, Jersey County, Illinois11
3. Mary Jane Davis — B. March 1834, Greene County, Illinois;12 D. 7 May 1927, Parsons, Kansas;13 M. Samuel Luckey (1830-1884), 7 Apr 1853, Jerseyville, Illinois14
4. Margaret E. Davis — B. 4 Jul 1835, Greene County, Illinois;5,15 D. 18 Oct 1919, Jersey County, Illinois;15 M. Tissier LaFayette Cray (1835-1920), 29 Sep 1857, Jersey County, Illinois16
5. Minerva Davis — B. 17 Mar 1838, Jerseyville, Illinois;5,17 D. 24 Dec 1923, Jersey County, Illinois;17 M. John Cray (1826-1892), 5 Apr 1856, Jersey County, Illinois18
Sources:
1 Find-a-Grave listing of Samuel Davis
2 Marriage record of Samuel Davis and Mary Clifford, North Carolina, County Marriages, 1762-1979, FamilySeearch.org
3 Atlas of Jersey County, Illinois, 1872
4 Will of John Davis, North Carolina Probate Records, 1735-1970, FamilySearch.org
5 1850 U.S. Census, Jersey County, Illinois
6 “Found Dead! An Interesting Trial,” Jersey County Democrat, Jerseyville, Illinois, 23 Oct 1869
7 Find-a-Grave listing of Mary “Polly” (Clifford) Davis
8 1880 U.S. Census, Jersey County, Illinois
9 Obituary of Samuel Davis, Jersey County Democrat, Jerseyville, Illinois, 31 May 1888
10 Find-a-Grave listing of William Asbury Davis
11 Marriage record of Asbury Davis and Mary E. Luckey, Illinois Marriages, 1815-1935, FamilySearch.org
12 1900 U.S. Census, Labette County, Kansas
13 Obituary of Mary J. Luckey, Parsons Daily Sun, 9 May 1927
14 Marriage record of Samuel Luckey and Mary J. Davis, I.M.
15 Find-a-Grave listing of Maggie E. (Davis) Cray
16 Marriage record of Tissier Cray and Margaret Davis, I.M.
17 Find-a-Grave listing of Minerva (Davis) Cray
18 Marriage record of John Cray and Minerva Davis, I.M.
