DAVIS, Joshua M.

DAVIS, HOLTON, JEWETT, LEWIS, MORGAN, WILSON, STALEY, SPARGUR, ROBBINS, BOOTH, WHEELER, JUETT, FLOREA, NESBITT

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 1/11/2014 at 06:19:24

Biography ~ Joshua M. Davis

History of Nodaway County, Independence Twp., Missouri
National Historical Co., St. Joseph MO, 1882.

Joshua Davis, farmer and stock-raiser, section 25, post office Gaynor City.

Although not and old settler of this county, is nevertheless one of our representative farmers. He is a native of Pike County, Ohio, and was born [August 05] 1811. He was there raised to manhood and remained in that vicinity till 1856, when he emigrated to Iowa, and settled in Decatur County.

After a long residence there he removed to this state and county, locating where he now resides. He has 160 acres of land that will compare favorably with any in the county, all of which is under cultivation. Mr. Davis has been twice married; first to Miss Elizabeth Holton. They had by this union eight children: Jacob, Joshua, John, Mary A., Rachel, Isaac, Julia and Jane. Mrs. Davis' death occurred in 1867. After a lapse of two years, or in 1869, Mr. D. married Mary J. Jewett. They have four children: Branson, Miranda, Adel and Alice.

Gaynor M.E. Church.

Miss Miranda Davis was married in the M. E. Church, as the first wedding in February, 1893, to Charles T. Lewis. Her brother Branson Davis and Nell Lewis Morgan were their attendants. At that time a protracted meeting was being held, and they were married preceding the service by the minister, W. B. Herbert. Mrs. Lewis' father, Joshua Davis, was the first funeral held there and at that time there were no seats. They sat on boards. Mrs. Lewis took part in a play to help buy seats. She was sixteen (16) years old, and she is now eighty-one (81). So you see that was in 1888, the year the church was built, according to Mrs. Hart. Mrs Lewis said Dr. Allen and Dr. Street were there. The Streets' lived where the switchboard is now and had a livery stable and hotel. They kept travelers overnight. Mrs. Lewis said the population "in Gaynor" was much greater than it is now.

NOTE: Joshua was the son of Joshua DAVIS (1772 - 1840) and Rachel (WILSON) DAVIS (1776 - 1864), both of whom died and were interred on the DAVIS farm near Sunfish Creek, Pike County, Ohio.

Elizabeth (HOLTON) DAVIS, the daughter of Thomas & Margaret (STALEY) HOLTON, was born in Virginia, August 24, 1811, and died December 30, 1866, Decatur County, Iowa, interred Old Davis City Cemetery, Davis City. Elizabeth and Joshua were the parents of Jacob DAVIS (1833 - 1864, Civil War Veteran, died of disease); Thomas DAVIS (1836 - 1837); Joshua M. DAVIS II (1836 - 1909); John B. DAVIS (1839 - 1898, Davis City IA, Civil War Veteran); Mary A. (DAVIS) SPARGUR (1841 - 1921); Rachel (DAVIS) ROBBINS (1843 - 1888, inter. Old Davis City Cemetery, Davis City IA); Isaac DAVIS (1848 - 1940); and, Julia A. (DAVIS) BOOTH (1850 - 1903).

Mary Jane (JEWETT) DAVIS, the daughter of David JUETT (1795 - 1863) and Sarah Ann (WHEELER) JUETT (1823 - 1843), was born October 24, 1839, Fayette County, Ohio, and died April 04, 1926, Hopkins MO, interred Long Branch Cemetery, Gaynor MO. Joshua and Mary Jane's children were Minnie DAVIS (1869 - 1870, inter. Old Davis City Cemetery, Davis City IA); Branson DAVIS (1870 - 1896); Miranda (DAVIS) LEWIS (1872 - 1961); Adella (DAVIS) FLOREA (1874 - 1955); and, Alice (DAVIS) NESBITT (1876 - 1904).

Transcription & Note by Sharon R. Becker, January of 2014