Edmond Francis Davis Story
Edmond Frances Davis linage appears to date back to James Town and the Sadahoc Colony of 1607. I used Ann and Nans family books as well as Captain John Davis of Steamboat Springs Colorado to trace the linage. I have kept in contact with John throughout the last 20 years off and on and he has been a wealth of information. Other than great uncle Arch, he is the only Davis bloodline I have met from my great grandfather Edmonds linage. Captain Johns Frances Marion Davis and John Thomas Davis were brothers. Their dad was Frances Marion (senior). I am glad Dad kept in contact with Captain John Davis. In the 90's we all got to meet him. Captain John Davis gave me a small painting great Uncle Arch had painted when we were there.
This is a picture of Captain John Davis family, Francis Marion brother was the brother of our great grandfather John Wesley. The son of Frances Marion Edwin Everett was Captain Johns Grandfather. I have not been able to contact Captain John Davis of Steamboat Springs this year. Last time I spoke to him he was of ill health. John spent many many years and much money collecting data on the Davis family. Captain John retire from his carreer as an Air line pilot several years ago but still skied the slopes in Colorado after retirement.
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The family Frances Marion Jr. (Son of Frances Marion)
Captain John Davis of Steamboat Springs (his address on some of his letters to dad was from Florida) family. Thanks Captain Davis for your research and urging to take interest in the family lineage.
Francis Marion (brother of John Wesley Davis our great grandfather) found on grave finders. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/30012552/francis-marion-davis
Francis Marion Jr. (John Wesley Davis brother) Uncle of Edmond Frances
Son of Francis Marion Sr. (1805-1864) & Wilmoth B. (Stanton) Davis (1811-1857), born March 3, 1844 in Adair Co., KY. He was the 6th of of at least nine children: William Rezin (1831), John Wesley (1834), Nancy Elizabeth (1837), Comfort (Unk), Sarah Ann (1841), Francis Marion (1844), Mary Sophia (1846), Judith V. (1848) and Martha Susan (1851). At the age of 19 he joined the Company I, 13th Regiment, Kentucky Volunteer Cavalry, USA, which existed from 12/22/1863 - 1/10/1865 and was organized at Columbia, Adair Co., Kentucky. After the war he moved to Mason Co., IL where he met and married Virginia Caroline Brown in July 1870. They moved to Dickinson Co., KS in a prairie schooner in 1873 and soon after settled in Ottawa Co. Their first home was in Sec. 4, T12S, R1W in Ottawa Co. Their first home was a "dugout", followed by a rock house built nearby. The family moved several times in Ottawa & Dickinson Counties but most often lived in the Willowdale area and joined or were joined by many other family members by the names of Brown, Taylor, Yale, Hobbs, Overstreet, Kibler, Dilling, Hertzog and Chase. Francis had several occupations laborer, farmer, superintendent of the county poor farm near Minneapolis and rural mail carrier (In 1900 he was the first rural carrier out of Abilene). Francis and Carrie had four sons, William Francis, Edwin Everett, Henry Madison and John Rezin, with the first two being born in IL and the later two being born in KS. Francis died in 1906 and is buried in Prairie Mound Cemetery near Solomon.
Siblings:
William Rezin Davis (1831-1899)*
John Wesley Davis (1834-1879)
Nancy Elizabeth Davis Gunter Bright (1837-1928)*
Comfort Davis (Unk-1841)
Sarah Ann Davis Taylor (1841-1921)
Francis Marion Davis Jr. (1844-1906)
Mary Sophia Davis Harrison (1846-1906)
Judith V. 'Juda' Davis Wood (1848-1883)
Martha Susan Davis Parris (1851-Unk)
* = On Find A Grave
Obituary
Francis Marion Davis was born in Adair county, Kentucky, March 3, 1844, died at his home near Solomon, Kan., Sept. 10, 1906.
When a mere boy he enlisted in the Union Army, Co. I, 13th Kentucky Cavalry, and served to the close of the war. He moved to Illinois soon after the war and in 1870 was married to Carrie Brown, who still survives him. To this union were born four sons, all of whom were present at the time of his death. In 1873 he moved to Kansas and homesteaded in Ottawa county and since then has been a resident of Ottawa and Dickinson counties. He was converted and joined the Methodist church, in Illinois, and for nearly forty years has lived a devoted christian life. During the past year he was unable to lie down and so was compelled to sit in his chair night and day. Throughout the course of his illness, over two years, he was never known to murmur. His mind was clear and strong up to the monent of departure and he expressed his readiness and willingness to go. Just at twelve o'clock he closed his eyes to earthly scenes and his pure spirit departed to join the great throng of the redeemed who have come out of great tribulation and have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the lamb. The funeral was held at the Willowdale M. E. church, Tuesday, Sept. 11, at two o'clock, Rev. Moore officiating. The remains were laid to rest in Prairie Mound cemetery at Solomon.
Mrs E. E. Davis
This article was from the Friday, 9/21/1906 issue of The Solomon Tribune, Solomon, KS.
Dad gave me a suitcase with Ann and Nan's history collection along with letters and research Captain John Davis had compiled. I thought it fitting to start my writings with his branch of the family and how we are related.
After moms death the final box of Dads history has been obtained. We have artifact from the Civil War era and the DAR pin of Dora as well as an unbelievable amount of history dating back many generations. Their stories are a lesson of life in America. I have no pictures of our great great grandfather John Thomas Davis. He and his wife both died in their 30's and early 40's. I am grateful to have a picture of his brother.
Thank you Anna and Nan Davis my great aunts, and Captain John Davis for you research.
I will start the story with dads grandfather Edmond Francis Davis.
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The story of the lost generation
John Wesley Davis married Mary Elizabeth Thomas May 17, 1860, in Adair, Kentucky
1861 Edmond Frances Davis was born April 27, 1861 to John Wesley Davis and Mary Elizebeth (Thomas) in Adair County Kentucky.
April 12, 1861 - At 4:30 a.m. Confederates under Gen. Pierre Beauregard open fire with 50 cannons upon Fort Sumter in Charleston, South Carolina. The Civil War begins. Kentucky civil war time line can be found here https://www.civilwartimeline.net/events-by-state.php?eventTags=kentucky
July 5th 1862 a battle occured in The above mentioned birthplace of EF Davis, Lebnon Kentucky. Edmond Frances (EF) would have been just over a year old. https://www.civilwartimeline.net/events-by-state.php?eventTags=illinois
1863- When Edmond Frances was 2 1/2 years old along with his parent (John W. and Mary E. Davis) moved to Knights Prairie, Hamilton County Illinois
1864 Edmonds little sister Joanna Wilmoth was born.
Edmonds grandfather Francis Marion Davis died on November 4, 1864, in Missouri when he was 59 years old. Francis Marion was born on August 8, 1805, in Green, Kentucky.
1866 Edmonds little sister Nancy Elizabeth was born
1868 Edmonds little brother William Archer was born
1871 Edmonds little sister Mary Virginia was born
1872- At the age 11 years old the family moved to to Missouri. They moved to two different towns in Missouri within a little over a year.
1873 Edmonds little brother John Thomas was born.
1874 The family moved back to Illinois near Raleigh, Saline county, Illinois was there one year then moved back to Hamilton county.
Edmonds little sister Mary Virginia died Febuary 24, 1874 age approximatly 3.
1875 Edmonds little brother James T Davis was born Sept. 21 and died October 15th of the same year.
Edmonds mother Mary Elizebeth Thomas Davis died September 25th at the age of 35. Hamilton County Illinois.
Edmonds sister Joanna Wilmoth also died May 28th at age approximately 11.
1879 Edmonds father John Wesley Davis died April 22
at the age. Edmond was 17 years old, left with 3 siblings to raise.
1880 Edmond Frances moved the living children (Nancy,William,John T.) Carroll County Missouri. It is listed in the census as living with Archer P. Thomas brother of (Mary Elizebeth Thomas dad)
Carrol Missouri Archer P. Thomas, 33 years old Tenant farmer, Mary J. 28 wife, James W. 27 farmer laborer, nieces and nephews Frances Edmond Davis 19 farm laborer, Nancy E. Davis, Archer P. 12, and John T. Davis 9
1884 At age 21 came west in to Ottawa Co. /Dickinson Co. Kansas where his uncle Francis Marion Jr. had been living since 1873.
I typed what the letter said.
A hand written letter that is difficult to read written by E.F. Davis
E.F. Davis was born near Lebnon adair Country Kentucky in the year of our lord 1861. At the age of 2 1/2 years old moved with his parent John W. and Mary E. Davis to Knights Prairie Illinois 6 miles west of McLeansburo Hamilton county living in the above community until about 11 years old. Then the family moved to Rilay??? County Missouri. Then in the same year moved to Stadand? county MO and stated there one year then moved back to Illinois near Rolla Salem Co. was there one year then moved back to Hamilton county. Then both parent as well as three children died. Leaving E.F. Davis with three little children to look after ranging in age from 3 to 8 years old. Being only 15 years old myself it was a very trying affair at the age of 15. We with and uncle A.P? Thomas moved to Carroll County Missouri. Later at the age of 21 E.F. Davis came west in 1884 and settled in Ottawa County Kansas. The following 2 years lived in Dickinson County Kansas in the year 1887 was married to Dora E. Langston and lived in Ottawa County 8 years.Then wife and 3 young men Arch, Milton and Harry and later two young ladies came to our house Anna and Nan. Well thank the lord we have these all yet and firmly settled down in good old Abilene Dickinson county Kansas.
Signed by E.F. Davis A hand written letter that is difficult to read. I have a copy of the letter in my Davis Suite Case.
1880 Carrol Missouri Archer P. Thomas, 33 years old Tenant farmer, Mary J. 28 wife, James W. 27 farmer laborer, Edmond Frances Davis 19 farm laborer, Nancy E. Davis, Archer P. 12, and John T. Davis 9. 1880 Edmond Frances moved the children (Nancy,William,John T.) and is listed in the census as living with Archer P. Thomas brother of (Mary Elizebeth Thomas brother)
At age 18? Edmond had lost both parents and 3 siblings. Archer P. Thomas (Mary Elizabeths brother) and the 4 remaining children of John Wesley moved to Carroll County Missouri to live with their late mothers brother.
1884 1884 Edmond Frances moved to Kansas where his uncle Frances Marion was already living. . At age 21 Edemond Frances came west in 1884 to Ottawa Co. /Dickinson Co. Kansas where his uncle Francis Marion Jr. had been living since 1873.
1887 Edmond Frances Davis Married Dora Langson. Arch William was born at the end of December 21.
1891 Milton Lenard Davis was born April 4th
1892 Harry Wesley Davis was born Novemeber 22
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1896 Nancy Elizabeth and Anna Adelle were born July 30th
1910 Elmer (Bill) was born March 10th