Wesley T. Davis (abt. 1817 - 1890)

Born about 1817 in Frederick, Virginia, United States

Husband of Amanda (Griffis) Davis — married 18 Dec 1838 in Lewis, Kentucky, United States

Died 6 Jun 1890 at about age 73 in Jasper, Iowa, United States

Biography

Family lore knows Wesley as the brother of Eleanor Matheny, but research shows he was her younger half brother, child of David's 2d wife Betsy.

The first mention of Wesley in the records is his 1838 Lewis Co KY marriage record. In 1840 Wesley appears on the Lewis Co tax roll. He has 1 horse and 1 cow, no land. He is listed after Joseph H. Davis, the only Joseph H. Davis listed in Lewis Co. This is the man who acted as surety for Eleanor and Elijah's marriage. Wesley and Joseph H. are on the tax lists through 1843, then both disappear. Neither is on the 1840 census for Lewis Co or Adams Co OH. Both may be living in a Lewis co. household where someone else is listed as head.

Wesley is moving north. In 1850 he and his family are in Van Buren Twp, Clay Co IN. By 1854 Wesley has made the first of several land purchases in Jasper Co Iowa where they have moved to Des Moines Twp. He appears there on the 1860-1880 Federal censuses, and on the 1885 Iowa State census. There is a death date on the web of 6 June 1890, Prairie City Iowa, and an alternate place of burial of Paulina, O'Brien Co IA.

The 1860 census shows Harvey J. Griffis, 31 farmer, b. KY and family two doors down, dwelling # 459.

The "Prairie City News" in 1883 printed the following: "M. H. Davis reports that on the Davis ranch in O'Brien County they raised 1900 bushels of wheat and 1500 bushels of oats."

His tombstone was found by the WPA transcribers in Prairie View cemetery in Paulina.

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"Wesley Davis died June 6, 1890 at his home in Union Township. He was born in Virginia in 1817; in 1845 he moved to Indiana and in 1854 he came to Jasper county. In 1886 he moved to Union twp. He was married in Kentucky, in 1838, to Amanda Griffis. His wife and children survive, five boys and three girls. Three of the children live here, one in Kansas, one in Missouri, one in Sioux City, and two in Cass county. He has been a member of the M.E. Church for 40 years."

Sources

1850 Fed census, Indiana, Clay Co., Van Buren Twp p 297B. (This schedule is vitrually illegible) Wesley Davis 35,; Amanda 32; Manuel 6; Augustus 4; Albert 3; Louisa 1

1860 Federal census; Iowa, Des Moines Twp Jasper Co., 69; Dwelling 456; household 429. (post office Vandalia) Wesley 43 b VA; Amanda 44 b KY; Manuel 19 b. IN; Augustus 14 b IN; Albert 13 b IN; Louiza A. 11 b. IN; Victoria 9 b IN; Brunett (female) 7 b IN; William 5 b. IA; Sidney 3 (male) b IA

1870 Fed census, Iowa, Des MoinesTwp Jasper Co., p 226. Wesley 53 b. VA; Amanda 53 b. KY; Louisa 21 b. IN; Brunett (female) 17 b. IN; Wm 15 b IA; Sidney 13 b IA; John 9 b IA

1880 Federal census, Iowa, Des Moines Twp Jasper Co. 394-402; Wesley Davis 63, farmer, b. VA SC SC; Amanda 63 b KY MD VA; John 19 b. IA VA KY

1885 Iowa State census Des Moines Twp Jasper Co, l 19 #134. Wesley Davis 67; Amanda Davis 68, John Davis, 24

Iowa Cemetery Records Name: Wesley T. Davis Death Date: 6 Jun 1890 Page #: 33 Birth Date: 1817 Cemetery: Prairie View Town: Paulina Level Info: Tombstone Records of O'brien County, Iowa

Obituaries 1880-1890 taken from the files of the Prairie City News. Prairie City, Iowa.