John Davis

DAVIS, LYMAN, SMITH

Posted By: Allamakee co. Coordinator (email)
Date: 11/21/2004 at 21:53:16

John Davis.
Mr. Davis is one of the enterprising and successful farmers of Boulder County, who have demonstrated that agricultural pursuits can be successfully carried on in Colorado. He has also, during the past seventeen years, been identified with the mining, lumbering and saw-milling interests of this county. Was born in Franklin Co., Mass., April 30, 1817. His early life, until his ninth year, was spent on a farm, and in attending school; after which, he worked in a cotton factory during the succeeding fifteen years. In 1841, he went to Grant Co., Wis., where he took up a farm, on which he discovered lead, and followed farming and lead-mining eighteen months. He then returned to massachusetts, and again worked in a cotton-factory two years. He was married, in 1844, to Miss Lucy Lyman, of Warren, Mass. In 1845, he returned to his farm in Wisconsin, where he continued to carry on farming and lead-mining until 1850. He then removed to Waukesha County, same State, and engaged in the mercantile business, and in running a match-factory, continuing the same two years. In 1852, he removed to Allamakee Co., Iowa, where he purchased and ran a saw-mill. In 1863, he came to Colorado, and, in company with Austin Smith, erected a saw-mill in Ward District, Boulder Co., which they rean until 1866, when he purchased Mr. Smith's interest, since which time, he and his son, Charles L., have run the mill. In 1865, he pre-empted 160 acres of land eight miles northeast of Boulder City. In 1867, he returned to Iowa for his family, and on the way across the plains, was twice attacked by Indians, but after sharp skirmishing, escaped without loss. He has since resided on his farm, engaged in agricultural pursuits and in running his saw-mill, and has devoted considerable attention to mining in the mountains, being the discoverer and owner of the Grey Bird Mine, in Ward District, and in connection with his sons, Charles L. and F.W., owns the Mayflower in same district, and is otherwise connected with the mining interests of that district.

-source: History of Clear Creek and Boulder Valleys, Colorado. Chicago: O. L. Baskin, 1880; pg. 630

-transcribers notes: I found the John Davis family enumerated on the 1860 Federal census, living in Linton twp., near Ion, Allamakee co. John is age 42 and his occupation listed as Sawyer. Lucy is age 28 and is keeping house. Their children are: Mary A., age 13; Charles, age 9 and Frank age 5 - all born in Wisconsin. Sarah, age 1 was born in Iowa.

-transcribed by Sharyl Ferrall