Davis, John C.

DAVIS

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 9/16/2019 at 17:17:02

John C. Davis

(From the 1891 Biographical History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, p.386)
JOHN C. DAVIS, a farmer of Neola Township, was born in Menard County, Illinois, June 26, 1860, a son of George H. and Emma Jean (SHEPHARD) DAVIS, natives of Illinois and of Kentucky parentage. George was brought up on a farm, married in 1855 in Illinois and came to Cass County, Iowa, and two years later to Pottawattamie County. Here he purchased 182 acres of land in Knox Township, erected a good frame house 18 X 26 feet and one and a half stories high, barns, sheds, etc., and made many other improvements. He also dealt in livestock to some extend, but took especial pleasure in raising fine horses, such as the Hambletonian, and he planted about two acres of both large and small fruits and an ornamental grove. Was active in the public welfare. His wife died leaving five children: Elijah, John C., Mary E., Cora L., and Amos A. After her death, he married his second wife, a native of Indiana; and by this marriage there were two children: Emma, Jean and Clara; the later died in infancy.

Mr. DAVIS, our present subject, was brought up to farm life and at the age of 22 years left home and married Mary F. RUCKLE, July 4, 1882. She was the daughter of Peter RUCKLE, a native of Baltimore, Maryland, who came to Iowa about the spring of 1863, locating on 100 acres of land in Knox Township, Pottawattamie County. He had four children, namely: Mattie, who resides at home and is teaching school in Avoca; James G., who is also a teacher, residing in Knox Township; Mary F., who is fourth in order of birth; and Charles, who resides in Echo, Umatilla County, Oregon. Mrs. DAVIS was born August 26, 1861, was reared as a farmer's daughter, and received a good education in the Avoca High School.

After their marriage, Mr. DAVIS remained in Knox Township for a half year and then located upon forty acres of land in Neola Township, which he purchased and owned for two years. Selling out, he made a prospecting trip to Nebraska, but returned and bought eighty acres of land on section 21 in Neola Township, where there were some improvements; but he has added many more, building fences, planting fruit trees, etc., and made a neat home, where he is enjoying the comforts of life.

On national questions, he is a Democrat; in local matters, he votes for the best man. He takes special interest in the temperance question, is a public-spirited citizen, doing much for the benefit of the community. Has held the various township offices; has been a member of the Board of Education, of which he was once the president; and has been Justice of the Peace two years and re-elected in 1890, receiving in his election to that office more votes than any other man has ever received. He and his wife are among the representative families of the community, taking an active part in both its social and its moral advancement. Their children are three in number: Bertha May, born August 30, 1883; Floyd Orville, June 20, 1886, and Leta M., May 26, 1889.