Carroll County IAGenWeb

HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY IOWA

A Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement

VOLUME II ILLUSTRATED

CHICAGO THE S. J. CLARKE PUBLISHING COMPANY 1912

Transcribed by Sharon Elijah August 20, 2020

One of those who are successfully identified with the agricultural pursuits of Union township is John Davis, who was born in Scott county, Iowa, on the 14th of August, 1870. His parents were Joseph and Celia (Hulett) Davis, the father a native of Ohio and the mother of Connecticut. Joseph Davis was a son of Kinsey and Abigail Davis, the father also a native of the Buckeye state, where he engaged in farming for many years. They were among the very early pioneer settlers of Carroll county, where they lived to a ripe old age. To them were born seven children: Jessie, Elizabeth, Mary Ann, Joseph, Nathan, William and Jennie. Joseph Davis was reared in Ohio, from which state he moved to Scott county, Iowa, where he resided until 1877. In the latter year he came to Carroll county, purchasing eighty acres of land in Union township, upon which he wrought many improvements, later adding another sixty acres to his tract. There Mrs. Davis passed away in 1888, at the age of forty-three. She was a daughter of Joel Hulett, a native of Connecticut, and a farmer, who located in Scott county during the pioneer days. Later he came to Carroll county, where he passed away after which his wife returned to Scott county, where she was living at the time of her demise. Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Hulett: Elizabeth; Celia, who became Mrs. Davis; and Nathan. Joseph Davis passed away on his homestead in 1892, at which time he was fifty-three years of age. The family of Mr. and Mrs. Davis numbered seven children: Josie, the wife of Langley Parker, of Union township. John, our subject; Mabel, the wife of John Bell, of Newton township; Ida, who married Henry Bell, of Casson, Minnesota; Alfred, who is living in Union township; Jessie, the wife of Fred Anderson, of Newton township; and Millie, the wife of Frank Anderson, of Audubon county.

The school days of John Davis began in Scott county, where his parents resided until he had passed his seventh anniversary. His education was continued and completed in the district schools of Carroll county, which he attended for several years after they located here. He remained at home until he had attained his majority and after the death of his father he operated the homestead, one hundred acres of which he now owns, for several years.

On the 14th of August, 1893, Mr. Davis was united in marriage to Miss Lena A. Titus, a daughter of Samuel and Ella (Howell) Titus. They were among the early settlers of Glidden, where Mrs. Davis was born, but are now living in Union township. They are the parents of three children: Mabel; Lena A., now Mrs. Davis; and Clarence. To Mr. and Mrs. Davis have been born one daughter and two sons, Fred, Celia May and Boyd.

Mr. Davis’ fraternal relations are confined to his membership in Charity Lodge, No. 197, A.F. & A. M., while politically he is a republican. Township affairs always engage his active attention and for six years he served as trustee while he is now township clerk. Practically the entire life of Mr. Davis has been spent in the vicinity where he is now residing and among whose citizens he numbers many close friends, who were the comrades of his boyhood.

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