Davenport, Elizabeth T.

DAVENPORT

Posted By: Volunteer (email)
Date: 3/6/2010 at 22:23:11

Mrs. Elizabeth T. Davenport is residing with her son-in-law and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. C. M. Maynard, at No. 27 North First street in Council Bluffs, having for many years lived in the city. Her parents were Samuel and Rachel (Test) Swanner, the former a native of Pennsylvania, while the latter was born in New Jersey, September 12, 1803. They came west with the Mormons at an early day and established their home with them in Pottawattamie county. Mr. Swanner settled on a farm east of the city and resided there until the Mormons started westward, when he joined them and went with them to Salt Lake City, his wife remaining here with her daughter, Mrs. Davenport. He continued in Salt Lake City for several years but died in 1880 in Chillicothe, Ohio. Mrs. Swanner was well-to-do and made her home in the dwelling now occupied by Mrs. Davenport up to the time of her death, which occurred on the 22d of November, 1888.

Mrs. Davenport has been married three times. She first gave her hand in marriage to Fred Lord, who was killed a few years later, in July, 1853, at Traders' Point, Iowa, leaving her one daughter, Ella, now the wife of W. O. Liscomb, a resident of California. After losing her first husband Mrs. Lord became the wife of D. Washington Griffey, of Covington, Kentucky, who came to Pottawattamie county at an early period in its development and resided here for several years, being recognized as a leading and influential citizen. He served as deputy county clerk under William Turner for some time and was active in the public life of the community at an early day. In 1852 he went west and in 1861 joined the army there, serving throughout the period of the Civil war. When hostilities had ceased he returned home and died in Dakota City, Nebraska, about ten years ago. There were two daughters by that marriage: Frances, who is the wife of Clarence M. Maynard, who was born in Des Moines in 1856 and is a son of William Maynard, a former postmaster of Council Bluffs, who was a pioneer business man here and established the Nonpareil, then the only paper of the city, becoming its first editor in 1857. He had resided a short time in Des Moines, where he engaged in the printing business for several months. With this exception he lived in Council Bluffs continuously from May, 1856, and here died in February, 1876. At the time of his death he was compiling and publishing the first directory of Council Bluffs. His son, Clarence M. Maynard, is now engaged in the printing business in Omaha but he and his wife and family reside with her mother, Mrs. Davenport. Mr. and Mrs. Maynard have two children, Mignon J. and Rachel M. The latter is at home, and the former, a graduate of the State University of the class of 1907, is now a teacher of Greek and Latin in the college at Decorah, Iowa. Dora Griffey, the second daughter, is the deceased wife of John G. Bohn, a barber of Council Bluffs, and .unto them were born three children: Lizzie, Frank and Thomas.

After the death of Mr. Griffey his widow became the wife of Taylor Davenport, a native of Illinois, who came west in 1870, settling in Council Bluffs with his father and mother, Mr. and Mrs. Zacharias Davenport. The father and son were both railroad contractors and engaged in work in the west on the Union Pacific and other railroads. They afterward went from Iowa to Mexico, where they were engaged in railroad construction and later they proceeded to Denver, where both the father and mother died. Taylor Davenport continued in railroad contracting in the west and south, and died in Texas in 1889. The only child of that marriage died in infancy.

Mrs. Davenport is well known among the pioneer residents of Council Bluffs, having resided in this city since 1847. She owns an attractive home at No. 27 North First street, where she is living with the Maynard family, and four generations have been represented in this home. Mrs. Davenport has intimate knowledge of the leading events in the history of the city and has been an interested witness of its growth and development through more than four decades.

1907 History of Pottawattamie County