SECTION A

CHAPTER IX

ENOCH DAVIS, JR.

 

Enoch Davis, Jr., son of Enoch Davis, Sr. and Elizabeth Anna DeLoach (not proved) was born in North Carolina September 7. 1807.

The attached copies of Enoch's military records show that he fought in the Creek-Indian Wars, enlisting as a Private from Wilcox County, AL. He enlisted at Montgomery, AL on June 1, 1836. He was in McCondichie's Company, First Battalion, Alabama Militia Infantry. He was discharged August 30, 1836, having served three months.

Enoch married Sarah Hawkins on February 15, 1838, having secured the license on February 3, 1838. Sarah was born in North Carolina January 27, 1822.

The names of Sarah's parents are unknown, but it is possible that she was a sister to Susannah Anthony Hawkins who married Arthur M. Davis, Enoch's youngest brother.

There was another Hawkins female connected with our Davis/Kennedy families in Clarke County. During my childhood days when we were living with my Kennedy grandparents (Lou Emma Davis and William Bishop Kennedy), I often heard Grandma speak of "Aunt Betsy Hawkins". She was married to John Fisher, and I suppose Grandma and Grandpa Kennedy named their oldest son for this uncle by marriage - John Fisher Kennedy. See attached picture of Aunt Betsy, as well as her obituary.

Another Hawkins relative was Miss Sarah Hawkins, who was apparently a cousin of Susannah Anthony Hawkins (wife of Arthur M. Davis) and Elizabeth "Betsy" J. Hawkins (wife of John Fisher). A copy of her obituary is also attached.

 

The 1850 Census of Clarke County listed Enoch, Sarah and their first four children:

Enoch Davis, Jr. age 43 born in NC

Sarah 26 11

William 9 AL

Howard 7 If

Caroline 5

Strother 1

By the time of the 1860 Census in Clarke County, Enoch and Sarah had four more children, making eight in all. They are listed as follows:

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Sarah 28 "

William 19 Wilcox Co.

Howard 16 "

Caroline 14 Clarke Co.

Strother G. 12

John 9

Sarah 6

Thomas E. 3

Ann 11 mos.

On October 12, 1863, Enoch Davis, Jr. received $9.00 for hauling salt to indigent families. Rev. T. H. Ball, who wrote Clarke County Alabama and Its Surroundings, devotes several pages to the Salt Works in Clarke County. Salt, of course, is vital to humans and some animals, so the making of salt and its distribution was a thriving business in that county in the 1800's.

In 1870, the Clarke County Census listed Enoch and Sarah with only five children in the home. Several had married, a couple were deceased and another child had been born. The family was listed as follows, Household No. 211:

Enoch Davis, Farmer, age 63,$1,000,$600, born in NC

Sarah " 47 "

John W. 18 AL

Sarah 16 "

Thomas 13 "

Lucy (Ann) 11 "

Samuel 8 "

The first monetary figure represents real estate and the second personal property value.

Enoch Davis, Jr. died February 3, 1888, at his home, and was buried in the Methodist Church Cemetery, Pleasant Hill, Clarke County, AL.

On September 21, 1892, Sarah "Sallie" Davis applied for a pension because of Enoch's service in the Indian Wars (see attached copy of the application). She probably never received the pension because she died that same year, on December 19th. Sarah was buried beside her husband in the Pleasant Hill Cemetery.

Seldom do we know exactly what our ancestors looked like. True, we have old photographs, but this usually gives no clue as to height, complexion, etc. However, when Sarah applied for her pension, she described her husband as: "Five feet eleven inches tall, blue eyes, light hair, and fair complexion".

 

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NANCY ELIZABETH DAVIS

Nancy Elizabeth Davis, first child of Enoch Davis. Jr. and Sarah Hawkins, was born on February 7, 1839 and died on October 2nd or 22nd, 1842. This information was given to me by a Davis descendant approximately fifteen years ago. Later, in 1989, I obtained this same information from a Davis booklet compiled by J. L. Cullen, another Davis descendant.

Nancy Elizabeth was already deceased by the time of the 1850 Census in Clarke County, which explains her absence in that census.

 

WILLIAM MOSES DAVIS

William Moses Davis, second child and first son of Enoch and Sarah Davis, was born on August 14, 1841. He served in the Confederate States Army as a Private in Co. K, 23rd Regiment, Alabama Infantry.

There is conflicting information regarding the service record of William Moses Davis. The following quotation is taken from "History of Clarke County" by John Simpson Graham, 1923 (Jackson Public Library), "War Records of Clarke County Veterans according to their own statements". Page 160.

"W. M. Davis, Nettlesboro, was born on the line between Clarke County and Wilcox County (but was reared in Clarke Co) August 14, 1841. Enlisted in Company K, 23rd Alabama Regiment, commanded by Col. Frank Beck. Was never wounded or taken prisoner, was in about 10 battles, the last one being at Bentonville, North Caolina. Stacked arms at Salisbury, NC about April 6, 1865."

You will see by the attached copies of his military records that he was a prisoner of war and was captured at Vicksburg. He was paroled at Salisbury, North Carolina on may 5, 1865.

After the War, William Moses Davis married Mary Ann Elizabeth DeLoach on December 19, 1866, according to Clarke County Marriage Records. The wedding took place at the home of John R. Robertson and the officiant was John Talbert, Justice of Peace. Mary was the daughter of Pennington DeLoach and Epsey James Davis (see chapter on John Davis).

 

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Mary's sister, Lula Miller DeLoach, married Lemuel A. Larrimore, brother to Dock, Cyrus, Pinkney and John Larrimore, the latter being the husband of Catherine Angeline Kannedy. Catherine was the sister of William Bishop Kennedy, whose wife, Lou Emma Davis, was an first cousin of William Moses Davis.

The 1870 Clarke County Census listed the family as follows:

W. M. Davis Age 28 Born in AL

Mary Davis 25 "

Mary Davis 4 "

The above child, Mary Davis, age 4, was either their first child who was called "Mollie" and the age should read "4 MOS.11 instead of four years, or else this child died early in life, as she does not appear again. I think that Mary in the 1870 Census is the same as Mary S. in the 1880 Census, Pleasant Hill District.

Wm. M. Davis age 38 Born AL

Mary A. Davis 33 "

Mary S. 10 "

Maggie V. 8 "

John W. 7 "

Eufala 5 "

Walter 4 "

William Moses Davis and Mary A. DeLoach had only five children. Mary died on May 31, 1924 and William died five years later on April 12, 1929. They are buried in Bethel Cemetery on old Line Road, Clarke County, Alabama.

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p.269, Davis Section of Ancestors and Kin

Tom Kelley was a preacher in the old Methodist Protestant ChurCh.He and Fala served several small rural churches throughout south Alabama. Their last ministry was in the Kinston, Alabama area where, in addition to his preaching, they operated a small store. Shortly after the end of World War II they retired and returned to the Sandflat Community where Tom had been raised.

Oldest child of Tom and Eufala was Jewel Kelley, was born November 8, 1894. She married Barney Vivian "Viv" Kelley in early 1910. Jewel died September 9, 1910, of a mysterious illness that lasted about twelve hours. Vivian and Jewel had no children.

On February 6, 1916, Vivian married Gertrude Scarbrough and they had two daughters, one of which was Annie Kate Kelley, who married Roy Laverne Mott. See p.611, Ancestors and Kin for an account of the descendants of Annie kate and Roy Mott.

Vivian Kelley was a first cousin of Tom Kelley and his granddaughters referred to Eufala as "Granny Fala".

Tom had a "stripped down" car that he had made into a flatbed pickup truck that he and Eufala used for transportation. On Sunday, April 25, 1948, they were in their pickup going to visit friends when Tom turned off U.S. 43 into the path of a northbound car. He and Eufala both sustained severe injuries and Tom's resulted in his death two days later, on April 27th.

Eufala recovered after several weeks and continued living alone for a couple of years in the Sandflat Community. She finally moved to Dickinson to live with her sister, Mollie Davis Kennedy, wife of Robert Lee Kennedy, where she died in 1953. Tom and Eufala are buried in the Kelley Cemetery five miles south of Thomasville.

Tom and Eufala had a son named Johnny Kelley, but R. L. Mott, Sr., who provided me with this information on this family, knows nothing about him.

 

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HOWARD COVINGTON DAVIS

Howard Covington Davis, third child and second son of Enoch Davis, Jr. and Sarah Hawkins, was born on November 29, 1843. on the 1850 Clarke County Census his age was listed as seven, in the home with his parents.

The following excerpt is taken from John Simpson Graham's History of Clarke County:

"H. C. Davis, Chance - was born in Clarke County in 1843, on November 29th, near Lower Peach Tree. Enlisted in the army in Company B, 38th Alabama Regiment, under Captain W. R. elch, at Yellow Bluff, on the Alabama River, Colonel Ketchman in command. Was in the following battles: Chickamauga, September 19-20, 1863; Missionary Ridge, Resca, Georgia; New Hope Church, Atlanta, GA; Columbus, TN; Nashville, TN; Spanish Fort. Was never taken prisoner, but was slightly wounded one time at Spanish Fort in April, 1865. Was discharged March 15, 1865, at Livingston. (Note: abbreviation of states is mine. Also, there are errors in dates of his being wounded and also date of discharge. He was discharged before he was wounded? MKR)

Howard Davis was married twice - the first time to Sarah Agnes Pine, born on August 21, 184.1. (one source says August 2nd). They married on January 4, 1866 at the David Pine home. The officiant was J. P. Nettles, J.P. There were six children by this first marriage. Sarah is buried in an old cemetery at Packer's Bend, Clarke County, AL. I personally have never seen her tombstone and have been given two different dates for her death. one, July 21, 1878, which is obviously in error if her last child was born on July 23rd. The other date given to me was August 21, 1878, which must be the correct date.

The 1870 Clarke County Census, Grove Hill, listed the Howard Davis family in Household No. 74. Addison Walker was in No. 73 and Ellen Pine in No. 72.

Howard Davis, age 26 $325

Sarah A. 28

Lula 0. 3

John H. 11 mos.

 

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LULA OCTAVIA DAVIS

Lula Octavia Davis, oldest child of Howard and Sarah Davis, was born on February 5, 1868. She married Thomas Jefferson Kennedy, brother of William Bishop Kennedy. See the Kennedy Section of this book for a complete account of their descendants.

 

JOHN HOWARD DAVIS

John Howard Davis, second child and only son of Howard and Sarah Davis, was born on April 23, 1870 He married Lillie Elona Wilson, daughter of Martha Jane K ennedy and Thomas R. Wilson. See Kennedy Section of this oook for an account of their descendants.

ANNIE L. DAVIS

Annie L. Davis, third child and second daughter of Howard and Sarah Davis, was born on June 26, 1871. Died early in life.

 

MARY ELLEN DAVIS

Mary Ellen (some say Ella) Davis, fourth child and third daughter of Howard and Sarah Davis, was born October 27,1873. She married Cornelius Zebedee Bradford on October 20, 1893 at the H. C. Davis residence. Zebedee was born on December 13, 1869, the son of James T. Bradford and Mary E. Walker.

For years I tried to get information on Mary Ellen and Zebedee Bradford, but all anyone could tell me was that they had migrated to Arkansas.

After I had tracked down a descendant of Mary Lavinia Thomas (granddaughter of Susan Davis and John T. McCoy) and James Marcellus Bradford, who had also migrated to Arkansas, I began to wonder if perhaps James and zeb Bradford were related, and maybe had left Alabama together. I still do not know for certain that the two families traveled at the same time, but I do know that the two Bradford men were brothers.

 

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Myra Loomis Mulcare, granddaughter of Mary Lavinia Thomas, was able to send me the name of one of Mary Ellen and Zeb's granddaughters who lives in Banks, Arkansas, the same town in which Mary Lavinia and James Marcellus lived.

Mary Ellen and Zebedee Bradford had twelve children.

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ELIZABETH "LIZZIE" RUSSIN DAVIS

Elizabeth "Lizzie" Russin Davis, fifth child and fourth daughter of Howard and Sarah Davis, was born April 28, 1875. She married John Fisher Kennedy, son of William Bishop Kennedy and Lou Emma Davis. A complete account of their descendants will be found in the Kennedy Section of this book.

 

SARAH A. DAVIS

Sarah A. (probably Agnes) Davis, last child of Howard and his first wife, was born on July 23, 1878 and her mother died approximately one month later. No further information.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . .

Howard Covington Davis married second, Ellen E. Pine, Sarah's sister, who bore him three sons. The date of this second wedding was January 31, 1879. Ellen Pine was born on June 3, 1843 and died January 19, 1924. She is buried in the Kennedy Cemetery, Chance, Alabama, beside Howard, who died Janaury 28 1934.

The 1880 Clarke County, Alabama Census, Cane Creek Precinct, listed Howard and his second wife, along with the five children by his first wife.

H. C. Davis age 36 b. AL

Ellen 36 "

Lula 0. 12 "

John H. 10 "

Mary E. 6 "

Elizabeth R. 4 "

Sarah A. 1 "

My maternal grandmother, Carl Steele Faile, used to tell Sister and me "ghost stories" and always included tales of the Pine family. She said if you spent the night at the Pine home, you could hear Mr. Pine beating his slaves with chains, and the slaves screaming in the night, even though this event occurred many years ago. She also said that when you were in bed at night, you could feel someone pulling the covers off the bed, but the occupant would just calmly sit up in bed, reach down to retrieve the covers and pull them back into place. I do not recall if Grandma was speaking from her own experiences or relating a tale told to her.

 

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WASHINGTON EDGAR DAVIS

Washington Edgar Davis, first child of Howard Covington Davis and his second wife, Ellen E. Pine, was born on January 6, 1883. Edgar never married, and died on February 3, 1937. He was buried in the Kennedy Cemetery, Chance, Alabama.

 

MARVIN PINE DAVIS

Marvin Pine Davis, second child of Howard and Ellen Davis. He was born on March 19, 1885 and died March 28, 1918. Married Maggie Hall, daughter of Alice I. Smith and George E. Hall and granddaughter of Charlie Smith and Harriet Baugh.

Marvin and Maggie had one daughter.

After Marvin Davis' death, Maggie married a Mr. Ware and had two children.

WILLIAM CLAUDE DAVIS

William Claude Davis, last child of Howard Covington Davis and his second wife, Ellen E. Pine, was born on September 10, 1887. Claude never married; he died on December 20, 1936 and was buried in the Kennedy Cemetery, Chance, Alabama.

 

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AMANDA CAROLINE DAVIS

Amanda Caroline Davis, fourth child of Enoch Davis, Jr. and Sarah Hawkins, was born on July 21, 1845. The 1850 Clarke Co. Census gives her age as five. Amanda Caroline married Napoleon Osborne September 14, 1865. The wedding took place at the home of Enoch Davis and the officiant was John D. Fisher, M. G. This is recorded in Marriage Book B, Clarke County, AL.

The 1870 Clarke County Census listed an Osborne family as follows:

Lafayette Osborne age 37

Amanda Osborne 28

Nancy 11

Mary 10

Rebecca 9

Sarah 6

Roxey 4

Georgia 3

Andrew 1

Obviously, this is NOT our Amanda Caroline Davis. The first child in the family, Nancy, was born in 1859 and Amanda and Napoleon married in 1865. Perhaps the Osbornes had a Lafayette as well as a Napoleon (such illustrious names!) who also married a girl by the name of Amanda.

 

STROTHER GREGG DAVIS

Strother Gregg Davis, fifth child of Enoch Davis, Jr. and his wife, Sarah Hawkins, was born on May 5, 1849. In the 1850 Clarke County Census his age was listed as one year. According to J. L. Cullen's Davis Booklet, Strother died August 14, 1864 of yellow fever.

 

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JOHN WALTER DAVIS

John Walter Davis, sixth child of Enoch Davis, Jr. and Sarah Hawkins, was born on January 15, 1852 and died after 1928. He married first, Emma Jane Clark, on January 18, 1877. The wedding took place at the residence of W(illiam) C(ampbell) Clark. The wedding was recorded in Volume 7, page 392, Wilcox County Marriage Records. The minister was George Watson.

In his Davis Booklet, compiled by J. L. Cullen, he says that Emma Jane Clark was the daughter of Gillam Clark. At the time of the 1860 Wilcox County Census, there was a Gilman Clark, 8 years old, in the home of James J. Kirk. In 1870, Adaline F. and Olivia C. Clark are in the home of William Campbell Clark and his second wife, Elizabeth Clark. William's first wife, Jane Kirk, was deceased by that time. Also listed was Joseph Calvin Clark, William and Elizabeth's one year old baby.

William Campbell Clark,farmer age 51

Elizabeth Clark 29

William Thornton Clark 19

Absalom Clark 17

Jonathan Parrish Clark 14

James Robert Clark 11

Amanda Elmira Clark 9

Joseph Calvin Clark 1

Adaline F. Clark 17

Olivia C. Clark 13

If Gilman, Emma Jane, Adaline and Olivia were the children of Gillam (or Gilman) Clark, Gillam was probably the brother of William Campbell Clark. I do not know in whose home Emma was living in 1870, as she was only 14 years old at the time, but by 1880 she was married to John Walter Davis. They were isted in the Clarke County Census that year, residing in the Pleasant Hill District.

John W. Davis age 26

Emma 22

Alabama 2

Adline Clark 24 (sister to Emma)

J. L. Dortch (no relation)

Emma Jane Clark Davis is buried in the cemetery at Pleasant Hill Methodist Church and her tombstone reads: Emma J. Davis, Born December 25, 1856; Died November 1, 1895.

No marker has as yet been found for John Walter Davis, and he was probably buried beside his second wife, Alice Kimbrough, whom he married after the death of Emma Jane. There was no issue by the second wife.

 

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SARAH ELIZABETH DAVIS

Sarah Elizabeth Davis, daughter of Enoch Davis, Jr. and Sarah Hawkins, was born July 3, 1854; died March 25, 1934. Married on December 16, 1875, William Thornton Clark, born February 27, 1851; died November 27, 1906. There is a tombstone in the Pleasant Hill Cemetery, Clarke Co. AL which reads: "W. T. Clark, born February 2, 1857; died November 27, 1906". This is probably William Thornton Clark.

William was the son of William Campbell Clark and Elizabeth Jane Kirk. This is another family that has close ties with our Davis/Hicks/Kennedy families. W. C. Clark and Elizabeth Jane Kirk had a son Absalom who married Lettie Ann Kennedy (daughter of Neal Kennedy and Martha Ann Hicks) and another son, Jonathan who married Satellia Davis (daughter of William Erasmus Davis and Janey/James Cornelia Southall. Satellia was the granddaughter of Johnson Davis and his second wife, Mary H. Culpepper.

Sarah Davis and William Thornton Clark had four sons.

4. Davis Lamar Clark, born on March 26, 1892. No further information.

LATER: I have just learned that William Campbell Clark, who was called "Camp", was a racing jockey. This was told to me by his granddaughter, Jessie Lee Clark Money.

 

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THOMAS ENOCH DAVIS

Thomas Enoch Davis, fifth son and eighth child of Enoch Davis Jr. and Sarah Hawkins, was born June 23, 1857 in Wilcox County; died in Mobile May 25, 1925. Married Amanda Elmira Clark on January 31, 1883 at the residence of her father, William Campbell Clark. This is recorded in Wilcox County Marriage Records, Vol. 10, page 279. Amanda was born July 28, 1960 and died February 24, 1933. She and Thomas are buried at Pleasant Hill Methodist Church cemetery in Clarke County. They had seven children.

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During the Depression of the 1930's when we were living on Clinton Avenue in Toulminville, near Mobile, Alabama, the family back of us was the "Pinky" Davis family. Daddy said they were "kinfolks" but I never knew how we were related until I began researching my Davis relatives. Sonny Davis confirmed the fact that they were the Pinky Davis family.

 

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LUCY ANN DAVIS

Lucy Ann Davis, ninth child of Enoch Davis, Jr. and his wife, Sarah Hawkins, was born June 12, 1860; died August 10, 1929. Lucy Ann was married on January 30, 1883 to Abel S. Davis,her first cousin. He was the son of Johnson Davis and his second wife, Mary H. Culpepper (see chapter on Johnson Davis).

 

 

SAMUEL JOHNSON DAVIS

Samuel Johnson Davis was the tenth and last child of Enoch Davis, Jr. and Sarah Hawkins. He was born on July 22, 1862; died November 10, 1936. Sam married Henrietta Amanda Kennedy on February 3, 1884. She was the daughter of Neal Kennedy and Martha Ann Hicks (see Kennedy Section of this book).

 

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THE HAWKINS FAMILY

There were four Hawkins women who lived in or near Chance, Clarke County, Alabama. Elizabeth Jane Hawkins, Susannah Anthony Hawkins, Sarah Hawkins and another Sarah Hawkins. The first three were possibly sisters, with the fourth definitely being related, as you will see by her obituary.

 

ELIZABETH JANE HAWKINS

Elizabeth Jane Hawkins, or "Aunt Betsy", which is how my grandmother (Lou Emma Davis Kennedy) spoke of her, was born in 1815. In 1850 she was residing in Marengo County, AL with her husband, John D. Fisher. They were listed in that census as follows: John D. Fisher, laborer, age 47; Betsy, age 35; both born in North Carolina.

After they came to Clarke County, John became a preacher. The attached copy of her obituary confirms that fact. You will see in this book that he performed several marriages. John died in 1867 and Aunt Betsy in 1893. You will also note that Lou Emma and William Bishop Kennedy named their oldest son "John Fisher Kennedy".

 

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SUSANNAH ANTHONY HAWKINS

Susannah Anthony Hawkins was born October 28, 1819 and was a sister to Elizabeth Jane Hawkins. Susannah married Arthur M. Davis and they had Louvenia Emma Davis, my grandmother. As stated above, Grandma spoke so many times of "Aunt Betsy Fisher".

SARAH HAWKINS

Sarah Hawkins, born in North Carolina in 1822; married to Enoch Davis, Jr. She is believed to be a sister to Susannah Anthony and Elizabeth Jane. You can readily see that their ages fit.

 

SARAH HAWKINS

The other Sarah Hawkins was born in Marengo County November 7, 1843. She was probably the little six year old girl listed in the 1850 Marengo County Census.

William H. Hawkins, farmer Age 32 B. NC

Catherine W. 19 "

Sarah A. 6 "

Henry B. 4 "

Josephine 2 "

You will note that William H. Hawkins was born in 1818 and his age makes it possible for him to be a brother of Betsy, Susannah and Sarah who married Enoch Davis Jr.

Following is a copy of Sarah Hawkins' Obituary as it appeared in the Clarke County Democrat in late November or early December of 1919.

"Miss Sarah Hawkins departed this life November 29, 1919. She was born Novemer 7, 1843 in Marengo County and lived there until womanhood, then moved to Clarke County. She was never married, and after the death of her immediate family, she lived here with her cousins (Samuel Johnson Davis and Amanda Kennedy, his wife). Her life was a useful one. She was a member of Cane Creek Methodist ChurCh.Sadly we look over the past, remembering the many pleasant hours spent with her. She realized that her time was near and was confident that she had been washed white in the blood of HIM who died on the Cross to redeem her. She bore her intense suffering with great patience. Her devotion to children was a feature of her life. She was laid to rest in the Pleasant Hill Cemetery

 

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the following day. The funeral service was conducted by Rev. Floyd."

Damon By Mary A. Wilson, a friend

 

 

At the time of the 1900 Clarke County Census Sarah A. Hawkins was listed in the home of her cousin, Samuel J. Davis, along with his wife, Amanda K. and their five children.

Zeola Kennedy Williams (who lived for many years in the house which was built by Samuel Johnson Davis) and Mamie Kennedy Williams told me that after Sam and Amanda moved to Mobile to be near their children, Sarah Hawkins moved into the home of John Fisher Kennedy and Lizzie Russin Davis, parents of Mamie and Zeola. Sam was a brother of Howard Covington Davis, who was Lizzie's father, and Amanda was a sister to William Bishop Kennedy, Johnny's father.

 

 

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CHAPTER X

MOSES DAVIS

 

Moses Davis probably was the seventh child of Enoch Davis and his wife, Elizabeth Anna DeLoaCh.He was deceased by 1858, survivied by only one child, a daughter, according to the statement given by Arthur M. Davis, his brother.

According to the 1830 Census of Clarke County, Moses Davis was born between 1800 and 1810. Also in the home was his wife, born during the same time frame as he, with a male child under five years of age.

Apparently the son listed in the 1830 Census was deceased, as Arthur said there was only one child living, a daughter:

It appears that the Moses Davis who married Margaret Dear in Wilcox County, Alabama is NOT our Moses Davis. The license was issued August 13, 1832. This Moses Davis/Margaret Dear is being traced by Nancy Franklin of Mt. Calm, Texas. She says Moses and Margaret did not have a child named Addy, nor did Moses and his second wife, Mary Anne Reynolds, nor did he and his third wife.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SOURCES FOR MOSES DAVIS

Estate Papers of Enoch Davis, Sr.

Clarke County, Alabama Census Records

 

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CHAPTER XI

SAMUEL G. DAVIS

 

Samuel G. Davis, son of Enoch Davis, Sr. and Elizabeth Anna DeLoach (maybe), was born in 1812, according to the 1860 Wilcox County Census Record.

Family records of Devereaux Riddlebarger, Pensacola, FL, show that Samuel was born in 1822.

There is also some confusion as to the names of Samuel's two wives. The records of Mrs. J. W. Philen, Thomasville, show that the first one was Elizabeth Sheffield.

However, there is a Monroe County Marriage Record of a Samuel G. Davis and Mrs. Jane E. Johnson who married on April 7, 1834. This is recorded in Book 1, page 7, with Henry G. Jones as security. Could this possibly be Elizabeth Sheffield, who was married to a Johnson before she married Samuel? The dates of birth for the two older Davis children occurred after 1834.

When the estate of Enoch Davis, Sr. (Samuel's father) was settled around 1858 or 1859, the two older child of Samuel were listed as follows: "Elizabeth, about 17 years old, who resides in Wilcox County; Elijah, about 21 years of age and who resides in Wilcox County." According to their ages given at the time of the 1860 Census, their ages were reversed by the person giving the Estate information.

The estate papers of Enoch Davis, Sr. also listed Samuel's five children by his second wife, whose name was omitted: Margaret Jane Davis, 13 years; Celestia Ophelia Davis, 12 years; Julia Allas (Alice?) Davis, 10 years; James Robert Davis, 8 years; Sarah Cornelia Davis, 6 years.

I do not know when Samuel's first wife died, but by 1860, he had remarried. Again, to quote Mrs. J. W. Philen, "He married Jane Kirk, daughter of James Johnson Kirk and his first wife. However, the Kirk Journal says, "She (Mary) married S. G. Davis, a widower with two children, and they lived happily together until the summer of 1860 when he died." This left her with five children: four girls and one little boy.

The 1860 Wilcox County Census, Prairie Bluff, Household No.391 listed the family as follows:

Samuel G. Davis, farmer Age 48 RE,$3000 PP,$5300 B.NC

Mary E. Davis 2 B.AL

Margaret 10

Celestia 9

Julia M. 6 (should read Julia A.)

James Robert 5

Sarah C. 3

 

 

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Ann E. 20

Elijah S. 17

The Kirk Journal stated that Samuel G. Davis died in 1860, and the 1870 Wilcox County Census had his widow as head of the household by then. The Estate Papers of his father had Samuel listed as "deceased" in 1860 also.

1870 Wilcox County Census:

Mary Davis 38 RE, $1000 PP,$100 B. AL

aphelia 18

Alice 16

Robert 14

Cornelia 11

You will note that Margaret J., Elizabeth and Elijah are all out of the home by 1870. By that time, the three were probably all married. Also, the family's financial situation has changed considerably - no doubt due to the War Between the States.

 

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ELIZABETH DAVIS

Elizabeth Davis, assumed to be the first child of Samuel G. Davis and his first wife, was born in May of 1840 and died in October of 1878. Records of Mrs. J. W. Philen and the Kirk Journal show that Elizabeth Davis married Oliver Hassel Perry Kirk. However, some other family members believe that Oliver was named for Oliver Hazard Perry, noted for his heroism during the War of 1812.

Oliver was the son of James Johnson Kirk and his second wife, Margaret Drury Southall, according to the Kirk Journal, a copy of which was sent to me by Don Philen, Atlanta, GA.

Grace Adoline Kirk (daughter of James Johnson Kirk and his first wife, Jane Walker) married Eli Brasell. They were the grandparents of Lewis Clyde Brasell who married Kate Mary Davis (see chapter on Johnson Davis).

James Johnson Kirk and his first wife had another daughter who married Willam Campbell Clark. An account of three of their children (William Thornton, Jonathan Parrish and Amanda Elmira Clark) will be found in the chapters on Enoch Davis, Jr. and Johnson Davis. Another brother, Absalom Clark, married Lettie Ann Kennedy (see Kennedy Section in this book).

Oliver Hazard Perry Kirk was born February 18, 1842 and died November 20, 1882. He is buried in Liberty Cemetery, Wilcox County, near Lower Peach Tree, as is Elizabeth.

 

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ELIJAH SANFORD DAVIS

Elijah S. Davis, assumed to be the second child of Samuel G. Davis and his first wife, was born on March 20, 1843; died on May 10, 1910. He is buried in Mt. Olive Cemetery, Clarke County, AL. Records of Adele Rivers say Elijah died May 2nd, not May 10th.

Civil War Records in Clarke County show that an E. S. Davis served as a Pvt. in Co. C, 6th Regiment; he enlisted in Wilcox County in May of 1861 and was discharged on May 8, 1865. He applied for a pension at age 58 due to disabilities, giving his address as Thomasville, Alabama.

The following excerpt is from Memorial Record of Alabama, Vol. I, (1893, Brant & Fuller; Madison, Wisconsin), reprinted 1976.

History of 6th Alabama Infantry: Organized at Montgomery, May 1861 and ordered first to Corinth, (MS?) then to Virginia where it passed the fall and winter in vicinity of Manassas Junction, and reorganized the following spring, enlisting for the whole of the war. Its first serious fighting was at Seven Pines, where it suffered terribly, losing 102 of its number. Its mutilated columns passed with great distinction, but with additional suffering, through the battles of Mechanicsville, Cold Harbor, Malvern Hill, Boonsboro, Sharpsburg, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, the Wilderness, Spotsylvania and Winchester. A number of its men were captured at Cedar Creek. Moving back to Petersburg, it was placed in Fort Mahone, exposed to continual fire, until its eighty men, under Lt. Col. Culver, surrendered at Appomattox.

The above excerpt was sent to me by William Andrew Davis of Montgomery, AL, a descendant of Elijah S. Davis. Other information furnished by Bill states that Elijah was discharged in 1861, but Barefield's Clarke County Alabama Records give the year 1865. Whatever the date of discharge, Elijah enlisted as a musician (Private), but was later placed in the ranks. When he was discharged, it was as a Corporal.

Elijah received a stomach wound, according to family tradition but this fact is not documented anywhere.

Family tradition says that Laura Ann Philen, who would become Elijah's first wife,, wrote letters to local boys who fought for the South during the Civil War. Elijah was so impressed by Laura through her letters that he arranged to meet her when he returned and they soon married.

Elijah and Laura Ann Philen were married on January 15, 1866. Laura was the daughter of Wesley Philen and Mary Walker. Laura was born on March 28, 1842. She and Elijah had seven known

 

319

 

 

 

children before she died on January 15, 1877, two days after the birth of their last child. Laura is buried in Mt. Olive Cemetery between Thomasville and Fulton.

Laura's parents are also buried in Mt. Olive Cemetery and the tombstones read:

Wesley Philen Mary Philen

B. July 28, 1814 B. March 23, 1810

D. May 14, 1887 D. October 19, 1886

The 1870 Clarke County Census listed Elijah and Laura's family as follows:

Elijah Davis age 30

Laura 30

Bettie 5

Robert 3

Baby 3 mos.

Neither of the two older children listed above (Bettie and Robert) in the 1870 Census are listed by the descendants of Elijah and Laura. And the "baby" cannot be Matt Davis since his birthdate is December 6, 1866. Furthermore, Walter, born 1878 and Malcolm, born 1880, are listed by one source as being the children of Elijah and Laura. Again, if Laura died in 1877 she cannot be the mother of Walter and Malcolm.

Devereaux Riddlebarger, whose wife descends from James Madison (Matt) Davis, has provided me with a computer print-out which lists Matt Davis as the oldest child of Elijah and Laura Davis

 

 

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Details on the above family were provided by Mrs. Gerald Davis.

 

321

Details on the above line were provided by Mrs. Herman Davis.

 

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Additional details on the above line were furnished by Teresa Davis Weaver and Clovis Davis Knight.

 

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             (A) Ashley Brook Vines, born April 29,1990.

         (2) Gregory Scott Davis, born October 11, 1970.
            Married Tammy Yerby in August, 1990.


         (3) Kimbetly Nicole Davis, born September 14,
             1973. Married Randy Morefield on April 19,

             1991.


   b.    Richard Lamar Davis,   second son of Comer and
         Martha E. Davis, was   born August 23, 1943. He
         married first, Sarah   Joanne Lucas in June of
         1964; divorced in 1968. Richard and Joanne
         had one child.

         (1) William Bryant Davis, born in Birming-
             ham on July 13, 1965. Married Marie Vic-
             toria Vargas in Panama on January 19,
             1990.

         Richard married the second time in February
         of 1970, Susan Elaine McDaniels. They have
         two children.

         (2) Tracie Ann Davis, born October 9, 1973.

         (3) Stephanie Elaine Davis, born on December
             11, 1976,

     c.  Alien Leonard Davis, third son of Comer Bry-
         ant Davis and Martha E. Guy, was born in Bir-
         mingham on January 14, 1945. Married Mary
         Elizabeth McDaniel on August 14, 1971. She
         is a sister to Susan  McDaniel who married
         Richard Lamar Davis. Allen and Mary have
         a son.

        (i) Michael Luke Davis,  born in Birmingham
             May 11, 1973.

     d.  Carol Elizabeth Davis, only daughter of Comer
         and Martha E. Davis, was born in Birmingham on
         March 22, 1951.

O. Blanche Davis, fifteenth and last child of Matt
    and Bertha Davis, was born in Clarke County, AL on
    April 9, 1909 and died the same day. She was buried
    in the Mt. Olive Cemetery near Thomasville, AL.

343



Picture Caption:
------------------------------------------------------------
Pictured below are the sons and daughters of Matt and Bertha Moseley, who are in the center on the front row. The picture was made in August of 1936.
Front row, left to right: Comer B. Davis, D. Clifford Davis, James Matt Davis, Bertha Mosely Davis, Grover O. Davis, A, Clay Davis, Hollis B. Davis,
Back row, left to right: B. Olive Haskew, Flossie E. Wilson, Alice H. Bagley, Jessie I. Davis, Sadie E. Owens, Bernice G. Sellers, James E. "Eddie" Davis.

344



           PIONEER RESIDENT OF THOMASVILLE DIES


One of the pioneer citizens of nearby Mt. Olivet Community
passed away late last Friday afternoon. James Madison (Matt)
Davis died immediately after falling from the door-steps of
his home.

Mr. Davis was 89 years old and was active and took a keen in-
terest in life up until the time of his death. His wife, Mrs.
Bertha Moseley Davis, has been critically ill for the past
several months. She suffered a stroke and has been in a coma
from that time.

Mr. and Mrs. Davis had been married for almost sixty six
years Sunday, January 22, 1956; the date of the burial of Mr.
Davis would have been the 66th anniversary of their wedding.
They lived in the Mt. Olivet section during the entire time.

Matt Davis was a Christian who always showed abiding inter-
est in his church, the Mt. Olivet Methodist Church. He also
attended the Thomasville Methodist Church. The funeral ser-
vices were held at the latter church Sunday afternoon, with
burial at the Mt. Olivet Cemetery. The stewards of the Tho-
masville Methodist Church acted as honorary pall-bearers. The
active pall-bearers were six of his grandsons: O. C. Wilson,
Jr., Quinton Davis, Ralph Owens, Elmer Davis, Ray Bagley and
Gerald Davis. He was a lovable character who made many
friends and he worked for the best interest of his community.

The eleven children surviving attest to the fact he was a de-
voted family man. Five of his children preceded him in death.
Those children still living are : Clifford Davis, Severn,
Maryland; Clay Davis of Montgomery, Ala.; Comer, Grover and
Hollis Davis of Birmingham, Ala.; Edd Davis, Margaret, Ala.;
Mrs. Flossie Wilson, Mrs. Alice Bagley, Mrs. Bernice Sellers,
Mrs. Olive Haskew of Thomasville; Mrs. Sadie Owens of Mobile,
Ala.

There is a large family connection, numbering more than one
hundred grandchildren and great grandchildren. The brothers
and sisters now alive are: Mrs. Jeanie Rivers, Winfield, Ala;
Mrs. Josie Neugent and Mrs. Estelle Dement of Birmingham, Ala;
Mrs. Emma Horton and Mrs. Ola Ross, Pensacola,Fla; Mrs. Pat-
ricia Davis, Atlanta, Ga; Mr. Wesley Davis, Valdosta, GA; and
Mr. Walter Davis, Huntsville, Texas.

(Note: died 1-20-56)

348


AGED THOMASVILLE LADY SUCCUMBS IN 91st YEAR Mrs. Matt Davis, who for the past five years has been bed- ridden and helpless as a result of a stroke, died Thursday, December 8. She was nearing her 91st birthday at the time of her death. Mrs, Davis was the mother of five daughters, Olive, Alice, Flossie, Bernice and Sadie, and four sons, Grover, Clay, Coma and Hollis. She is survived by 51 grandchildren and 97 great grandchildren. Funeral services were held Saturday from the Thomasville Meth- odist Church. Note: The original newspaper clippings were too faint to be reproduced. (text of clipping follows below:) 
Mrs. Dovis Succumbs
   To Long Illness

 An aged resident of the Thomas-
ville area, Mrs. Bertha Isabell
Moseley Davis, died Thursday, De-
cember 8, 1960, following a long
illness. She had been bedridden
and helpless for the past five years
as the result of a stroke. She was
nearing her 91st birthtlay at the
time of her death.
 Funeral servires were held st
Thomasville Methodist Church on
Saturday. December 10, the Rev.
Loyd Tubb and the Rev. Roy Tim-
berlake officiating Knmbrough
was in charge of arrangements.
 Survivors include five daughters,
Mrs. Flossie Wilson, Mrs. Alice
Bagley, Mrs. Bernice Sellers, Mrs.
Ollie Haskew, all of Thomasville,
and Mrs. Sallie Owen of Mobile;
four sons, Grover Davis, Hollis
Davis, and Coma Davis, all of Mo-
bile, and Clay Davis of Montgom-
ery; 51 grandchildren; and 97;
great-grandchildren.
  Mrs. Davis was born in the
Thomasville area January 10. 1870,
the daughter of Andrew Jackson
Moseley and Catherine Worl Mose-
ley. She was a member of the Mt. 
Olivet Methodist Church, near 
Thomasville. The widow of the late 
Matt Davis, she was well known in 
this area.
 Pallbearers were O. C. Wilson,
Jr., Lynn Owen, Laurel Davis,
Elma Davis, Jerald Davis, and
Clinton Davis.

349

Note: There were several pages missing here (343-349) which have been added thanks to the work of Dave Barnes.

 

Information regarding the children of Elijah S. Davis and his two wives has come to me from several sources. Devereaux Riddlebarger, Pensacola, FL provided me with a computer print-out on this line, which has been added to and updated by various family members.

However, the Family Record of Births and Deaths which Miss Adele Rivers of Birmingham has sent me, appears to have come from a Family Bible. Miss Rivers is the daughter of Virginia May Davis, second daughter of Elijah Samuel Davis and his first wife, Laura Ann Philen.

349-A

 

Note: there were several pages missing here (350 & 351); again thanks to Dave Barnes they have been added

Elijah married second, Sarah Jane Slaughter. The exact date
is unknown but it must have been in 1877, as their first
child was born in 1878.  In those days, if a man's wife
died and he was left with young children to care for, he
usually married very soon. When Laura Ann died, she left
a three-day old infant, a two year old son, a four year
old daughter, a six year old son, a seven year old daughter
and a nine year old daughter.

Sarah Jane Slaughter was born October 25, 1856 and was proba-
bly 21 years old when she married Elijah S. Davis.

8.  Henry W.    (Waiter written above W) Davis, eighth child
    of Elijah   but first of Elijah and Sarah Jane, was born
    June 3, 1878. No further information.

9.  Louis M.    (Malcolm written above M) Davis, ninth child
    of Elijah   but second of Elijah and Sarah Jane, was born
    April 28, 1880. Died in 1912.

10. Alice A. Davis, tenth child of Elijah but third of Elijah
    and Sarah Jane, was born July 8, 1882. She married
    a Maxwell and died March 2, 1909. No further information.

11. Sarah Aureola "Ola" Davis, eleventh child of Elijah but
    fourth of Elijah and Sarah Jane, was born February 17,
    1884. No further information.

12. Josephine Ursulah Davis, twelfth child of Elijah but his
    fifth by Sarah Jane, was born July 13, 1886; died Janu-
    ary 23, 1981; buried in Forest Hill Cemetery, Birmingham
    AL. Married on December 25, 1905 to William Washington
    Neugent, born in Clarke County on August 19, 1882. He
    died July 27, 1931 and is also buried in Forest Hills.
    Josephine and William had five children.

    A,   Ruby Mae Neugent, born in Birminghan September 17,
         1906. Married Walter P. Wilkey on March 15, 1935.
         She married second, Carl F. McCool January 6, 1950.
         No issue.

    B.   William Cleon Neugent, born in Birmingham October 30,
         1908; died November 11, 1990.

    C.   Carlton Brice Neugent, born in Birmingham August 8,
         1913. Married Margaret Rebecca Sturkle on September
         16, 1938. She was born June 19, 1918, daughter of
         Elmer Omer Sturkie and Clementine Salome Jolly,

350


         Carlton and Margaret had four children, all born in
         Birmingham.

         a.   Sandra Kay Neugent, born November 4, 1941.
              Married Gary Lee Kinney on June 15, 1962.

              (1) Kyle Kinney
              (2) Kim Kinney
         b.   Richard Carlton Neugent, born June 28, 1943. He
              married Janet Glaze in June of 1963

            (1) Scott Neugent
              (2) Lori Kay Neugent
         C.   Carolyn Rebecca Neugent, born August 16, 1944.
              Married Sammy J. Cantavespre.

              (1) Mark Cantavespre
              (2) Michael Cantavespre
         d.   Samuel Frederick Neugent, born July 28, 1954. He
              married Sheila Rice.

              (1) Chris Neugent
              (2) Jennifer Neugent
     D.  Jack Neugent, born in Tulsa, Oklahoma on February 2
         1919; died February 10, 1975.

     E.  Robert Neugent, born in Tulsa January 24, 1922. He
         died November 26, 1987.


13. Emma Cornelia Davis, born April 1, 1890 in Thomasville;

    died April 5 1985 in Pensacola, where she is buried.
    She married in Birmingham on June 29, 1910, Robert Bell

    Horton, born April 17, 1890 in Montgomery, AL, the son
    of John Henry Horton. Robert died in Birmingham in 1961
    and was buried in Bethel Cemetery, Odenville, AL. They
    had two children, both born in Birmingham, Jefferson Co.
    Alabama,

    A. Evelyn Aleta Horton, born November 1, 1911. Married
        Thomas Lewis Patete on March 3, 1936 in New York, NY.
        Thomas was born October 27, 1912 in Elizabeth, New
        Jersey, the son of Thomas Lewis Patete, Sr. and
        Concetta Perry. Aleta and Thomas have three children.

351


 

Note; Aleta Horton Patete, above, is the one who provided Elijah S. Davis' middle name.

 

352 

Sarah Jane Slaughter Davis died September 5, 1906 and Elijah
died approximately four Years later. They are buried at Mt.
Olive Cemetery, Clarke County. Their tombstones read:

  Elijah S. Davis          Sarah Jane Slaughter Davis
  Born March 20, 1843      Born October 25, 1856
  Died May 10, 1910        Died September 4, 1906

(pictures are xeroxed too dark to scan)

The above picture may be of Elijah S. Davis and his second
wife, Sarah Jane Slaughter. Teresa Davis Weaver said her
grandmother, Bertha Davis, wrote on the back of the original
picture, "Mr. and Mrs. Davis."

353

------------------------------------------------------------

Last page in Davis section -- Sources for Samuel G. Davis

------------------------------------------------------------
                    SOURCES FOR SAMUEL G. DAVIS


Clarke County Census Records

Estate Papers of Enoch Davis, Sr.
Records of Mrs. J. W. Philen
Wilcox County Census Records
Wilcox County Marriage Records
Monroe County Marriage Records
Tombstones and Cemetery Records

Kirk Journal


Records of Devereaux Riddlebarger

Family Group Sheets completed by family members
----------------------------------------------------------


                         MARGARET JANE DAVIS

Margaret Jane was listed by Arthur M. Davis as the oldest of
Samuel G. Davis' children by his second wife, Mary E. Kirk.
Also, she was listed in the 1860 Wilcox County Census with
parents as being ten years old, so was probably born in 1850.
Margaret was not in the home with her mother at the time of
the 1870 Census and was at least twenty years old by then, so
may have been married.


                        CELESTIA OPHELIA DAVIS

Celetia Ophelia Davis was listed by Arthur M. Davis as being
the second child of Samuel G. Davis and his second wife, Mary
E. Kirk. At the time of the 1860 Wilcox Census, Celestia was
nine years old and in the home of her parents. In 1870 she
was 18 years old and still at home with her mother, her father
having died beteen 1860 and 1870.


                         JULIA ALICE DAVIS

Julia Alice Davis was listed by Arthur M.Davis as the third
of Samuel and Mary's children. In 1860 she was listed as six
years old and in the home with her parents. By 1870, Samuel
was deceased and Julia, age 16, was listed in the home with
her mother.


                         JAMES ROBERT DAVIS

James Robert Davis, the only son of Samuel G, Davis and Mary
Kirk, was named by Arthur M. Davis when Enoch Davis, Sr.'s
Estate was settled. At the time of the 1860 Wilcox County
Census, James, 5 years old, was in the home with his parents.
In the 1870 Census he was 14 years old and his mother was
head of the household.


                         SARAH CORNELIA DAVIS

Sarah Cornelia Davis was the youngest child of Samuel G. Dav-
is and his second wife, Mary E. Kirk. She was three years old
at the time of the 1860 Census and in the 1870 Census, she
was listed as eleven years old.

354

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