L. B. Davis

DAVIS, POOLE, REMICK, LEE, COLE, SMITH, KINERY, LITZKOW

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 11/11/2011 at 08:03:11

L. B. DAVIS has spent his whole life in ceaseless activity and it has not been without substantial results, as will be seen from a glance at his farm of two hundred and forty acres. His career is an example of industry, perseverance and good management, rewarded by substantial results, well worthy the imitation of all who start out in life as he did, with little capital except a good constitution, a fair education and a liberal supply of pluck and energy. He is a native of Quebec, Canada, born in 1844, and is a son of Phineas and Betsey (Poole) Davis, and grandson of Phineas and Lyda (Remick) Davis. The grandfather was a native of the United States, and was holding an official position at the breaking out of the Revolutionary War. Soon afterward he emigrated to Canada. His father, Theodore Davis, was a native of England and came to America in Colonial days. To the grandfather’s marriage were born seven children: Artemus, William, Betsey, Susan, Johanna, Phineas and Aaron, all of whom are now deceased. The grandfather was a blacksmith by trade, but also followed the occupation of a farmer. In his religious views he was a Congregationalist.

Phineas Davis, the father of our subject, was a native of Vermont. He was born in 1806, and was reared to manhood in Canada, where he received his education in the common schools. He was left motherless when but five years of age, and when nineteen years had passed over his head he went to Upper Canada, where he was engaged in lumbering, in this way accumulating a little money. About 1826 he was married to Miss Betsey Poole, a daughter of Theodore C. and Sally (Lee) Poole. Mrs. Davis was born in the province of Quebec, Canada, in 1808. Her parents were natives of the Old Bay State, and were of English descent. After marriage, Mr. Davis bought a farm and tilled the soil in the province of Quebec until his death, in 1885. He was a well educated man and had held many public positions. He and his wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Six children were born of this worthy couple, two of whom died young. Phineas T. is deceased; Lucerna was the wife of Philo Cole; and L. B. is our subject.

Until twenty-one years old our subject remained with his father. During that time he attended the district school, and later attended the academy at Stanstead. He accumulated some means by renting land of his father and by teaching school in his native county, and in 1869 went to Illinois, where he rented land for two years. In that state he was married to Miss Mary J. Smith, daughter of Thomas and Ellen (Kinery) Smith, and to this union was born one son, Emery E. In 1869 Mr. Davis bought his present farm in Grundy County, Iowa, and four years later brought his family to this county. Here he has made his home ever since. For six years he resided in the village of Morrison, where he was in the lumber and stock business. He now makes a specialty of stock-raising. Mrs. Davis died in this state, and Mr. Davis took for his second wife Miss Bertha E., daughter of August Litzkow. Two children have been given them, Almeda A. and Ruth A. In politics Mr. Davis is a member of the Democratic party. He is a public-spirited citizen and has held a number of local offices, one of which was Assessor of Lincoln Township. His eldest son is on the farm with him.

Source:
Portrait and Biographical Record
of Jasper, Marshall and Grundy Counties, Iowa
1894