A Wilson Family Tree
Notes for Marvin Middleton Davis
The National Register of Historic Places Registration Form for Walnut Park Farm Historic District (1999; obtained July 2017 from Missouri Department of Natural Resources web site, http://dnr.mo.gov/shpo/nps-nr/99001597.pdf) has some information about him. Walnut Park Farm belonged to Rufus Lee McDonald. It was a combination of land he bought and land that his wife Mary Ann inherited from her father, Robert Wilson. Apparently the main business of the farm was raising race horses, and Marvin was the farm manager. Marvin and Annette moved into the farm house after they were married in 1896. They moved to St. Joseph a few years later, but returned to the farm periodically. The write-up notes that daughter Annette Davis Dabney was born on the farm. Also, it says that Marvin "became ill on a business trip in Kansas and died shortly afterward."
Dearborn Democrat, 5 Jul 1907 (from Find A Grave, listing for Marvin M Davis):
M. M. Davis Dies After Operation For Appendicitis.
Marvin Middleton Davis, 36 years old, a prominent St. Joseph real estate dealer, died at 8 o'clock yesterday morning at St. Joseph's hospital. Death followed an operation for appendicitis, performed the night before. It is not thought to have been the real cause of death, however.
Born in New Market, Platte county, March 20, 1870, Mr. Davis while still an infant, was brought to St. Joseph by his parents, Rev. and Mrs. John C. C. Davis. He resided in St. Joseph continuously until his death.
Mr. Davis attended the public schools of St. Joseph until he was about 15 years old, then entered the employ of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy railroad. He was later, for a number of years, connected with the Turner-Frazer Grocer company. In 1891, with his brothers, F. C. Davis and R. L. Davis, he established the real estate firm of Davis Brothers, with which he was actively interested at the time of his death.
In May, 1896, Mr. Davis married Miss Annie U. [sic] McDonald, daughter of R. L. McDonald. His widow, three children, Marvin M. Davis Jr., Annette and Dorothy Davis, his mother, Mrs. Mary C. Davis, a sister, Mrs. W. F. McMurray, of Louisville, Ky., and three brothers, Dr. W. B. Davis, F. C. Davis and R. L. Davis, survive him. He was a nephew of W. F. Davis, of St. Joseph, and the late R. T. Davis.
His death date is somewhat uncertain. The Mount Mora Cemetery web site shows that he died on 28 Jun 1907. But Find A Grave (listing for Marvin M Davis) shows 30 Jun 1907, and there is a photo of his gravestone with that date on it.
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
Page generated on 14 September 2024