A Wilson Family Tree
Notes for William C. Davis
"History of Saline County, Missouri", Missouri Historical Co., St. Louis, 1881, pp. 539-540:
WILLIAM DAVIS, P. O., Marshall. Was born in Augusta county, Virginia, May 21, 1821. When he was still quite young, his parents moved to Howard county, Missouri, where he was raised and educated. At the age of 21, he studied law with Judge Napton, studying at home, and the judge examining him two or three times a week. At the age of 23, he was admitted to the bar in Marshall, and practiced his profession in this county for about five years. February 1, 1844, he was married to Miss Nancy H. Brown, daughter of Judge Bernis Brown. They had seven children, of whom six are living--Bernis B., Wycliff, Walton, Mrs. Mary J. Harvey, Mrs. Willie Odell, and Mrs. Lizzie M. Gregory. William Davis and his wife were divorced in 1864, Mrs. Davis bringing the suit, habitual drunkenness being the alleged cause of action. Mrs. Davis and her children are living on a fine farm of 200 acres of choice land. Her father came to Missouri in 1828, and settled in Saline on what is now known as the E. W. Brown farm. He was a practical surveyor. For several years he was county surveyor, and laid off the town of Marshall.
Middle initial is from the Hillis/Abney/Franklin/Smith web site; also from FindAGrave.com.
A letter from William Davis Jr. to William Van Lear, dated 30 Nov 1838, Howard County, MO (from the Missouri History Collection, Missouri History Museum, St. Louis, MO; transcription obtained from Russell Reed):
Dear Sir
I now take up my pen to write you a few lines so that you may know where I am. I tell you I thought Missouri was the last place in the world but I now begin to think this is the finest place in the known world but you now say I am like Frank as I am here I want more here. I do want you here that is the fact but I do not want to force you here but I wish you would come. The land here is very rich. I never saw such fine corn as is here your gardens would not bring such corn. They leave 4 & 5 stocks in a hill the weeds grow tall as saplins. Tell Shelton I think this country will suit him. I helped these people to get up their corn and got 242 bushels per day. But corn sells at 1$ per Barrel Beef 3 and 3 cents Pork 3$. Game is plenty I went into the woods about 50 yards the other day to shoot at a rabbit and up jumped a deer. I raised up my gun to shoot at him but he was to quick for me. I oucht to have shot because I had in one of Fathers loads which he put in for a deere some thing less than 4gr of powder 2 or 3 dozen buck shot set this down and lie. Father received a letter from Shelton this evening the firs letter that we have received from Virginia. The girls here are very handsome. Lonely likely they would sem well sorrowful powerful dreadful. [MS illegible] got killed [MS illegible] was in one of it a hay stack blew down on them the stack was set up on [MS illegible] when it fell one of the rails fell across [MSillegible] back the same rail fell across [MS illegible] neck but [MS illegible] beings under the same rail it saved [MS illegible] it fell on Sunday night and they lay there until Tuesday. I missed them but thought they were out hunting as they hunt a great deal as game is plenty. But if I had saw it I could not have saved [MS illegible] because he was killed dead Jis let me commensce another side this is a very find country. Apples are very fine. I have a many as I want and will have all the winter. They do not pretend to keep their apples from frosting but they do not show they have no trouble fatning their stock. They get fat in the range. Tell Shelton that everythings come out safe. Tell him that I want to see him here this time next year so that when we move he can preach for us again. He must come out this spring and look at this country again. I think he will be pleased. You would laugh out to see our little hut strung around pictures. Laugh out anyhow at the thought of the thing this is the land of promise. You must come here no don’t come on stay there run here don’t yes do what a fool this a fact you ccan get anything you want here particularly this that and the other and you know what I suppose you would be surprised to hear there was beauties here like myself so would I But there is some much handsomer the people here believe in fun they run horse races I have seen one since I have been here the bet $500 they always tole me that there was no hills in Missouri but however is as rolling as some parts of Augusta. It is all woods but rich. I am a hand to describe a county. I am here but you are not you must come I don’t care come on tell Elizabeth to. To me [MS illegible] is the way to describe a county curs a fool look you here you must write to me tell Sam to do the same Reeves James Caldwell and direct you letters to Fayette Howard County Missouri. Write so soon as you received this letter. I am here tis dark a time now but you do not know that you only have my word for that. You know I am such a lyar you cannot believe me but I don’t care Believe me if you choose and soon and soon come here to Missouri the promise land the bushy land the [MS illegible] pond the dull knife the mean kin Mother has not a partridge net. I did not tell you what sort of times we had comeing out. We had very fine times if I had had that false face I could have had very fine times. Times are hard and money scarce. Money don’t quite grow on trees it will wait till more people get here to get it. I expect you will not get this letter for some time they say the river is frozen. I expect to receive an answer immediately excuse bad writing and mistakes you must put on your specks to read this I must close as it is getting late in the night. Be sure and answer this immediately. Tell Martha Janie that I am expecting a letter from her every day you cannot say that I change my subject suddenly Excuse bad writing and mistakes.
Your cousin most affectionately,
Wm Davis Jr.
[Shelton is presumably Shelton Spillsbury Abney, husband of William's sister Martha Jane (Davis) Abney. William Van Lear was William’s cousin on his mother’s side. The notes in square brackets are from Russell Reed.]
Note: Some of the information in these pages is uncertain. Please let me know of errors or omissions using the email link above. ...Mike Wilson
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