DAVIS, JOHN T.

DAVIS, BURGESS

Posted By: Volunteer (email)
Date: 5/31/2005 at 12:30:42

Biography reproduced from page 472 of the History of Kossuth and Humboldt Counties, Iowa published in 1884:

John T. Davis is a son of Charles and Martha Davis, natives of Westchester Co., N. Y. He was born Jan. 9, 1813. At the age of eighteen he learned the carpenter trade and followed it in New York city until 1854, when he went to California. There he worked at his trade and followed mining until 1860. He returned to New York city in 1861, and enlisted as a carpenter’s mate on the bark Arthur, United States Navy, stationed in Corpus Christi bay, Texas, where he remained until some time after the capture of New Orleans. He was sent by steamboat to Boston, on account of sore eyes to a hospital. He was discharged from the United States service Oct. 16, 1862. He worked in the quartermaster department in Hilton Head, thence to Charleston, S. C., then to New York, where he followed his trade until the fall of 1878, when he came with his family to Algona, Kossuth Co., Iowa. In the spring of 1879 he located on his homestead of eighty acres on section 22, township 97, range 30, in Fenton township and has it all cultivated, and a good house and barn on same. He has been twice married. His first marriage was in 1841. His second and present wife is Anna, daughter of John C. and Lucy Burgess, natives of England. They were married Aug. 21, 1868. Mrs. Davis was born in England, Aug. 17, 1840. He had five children by his first wife, who are all dead except Charles A., who is married. He is a member of the Grange, No. 17, Fenton township. Mrs. Davis belongs to the Episcopal Church. Mr. Davis is a republican.