John W. Davison (1837 - 1884)

Born 22 Mar 1837 in Oswego, New York, United States

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Died 29 Mar 1884 at age 47 in Waterville, Marshall, Kansas, United States

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Biography

John W. Davison, son of Samuel Stennett Davison and Leah Robinson, was born on the 22 Mar 1837 in Oswego, New York.^[1]

John married Clara Marie Durant. To this union were born at least eight children; Arthur, Edward, Herbert, George, Nellie, John, Keisey and Clayton.

John passed away on the 29 Mar 1884 in Waterville, Marshall, Kansas.^[1]

^[1]

US Census Collection

PLAT Map Woods County, Oklahoma 1906

Civil War History

Camp Benton (Subscription Required)

Camp Benton

Civil War Overview

Civil War Letters from John Davison

Civil War Letters sent to Mrs. Leah Davison, Farmington, Ill in care of Rev. Samuel Davison

Camp Benton, Mo
Sept 23, 1961

I write to you to tell you where I am and what I am doing. I am well and in a good camp just back of Saint Louis where we arrived yesterday. Orders were read at Camp Lyon on the 20th at 5 ½ o’clock P.M. to be ready to march by 7 o’clock next morning, which was the first that we knew about moving, although there had been rumors in the camp that we should march for days before.

We march according to orders. p.2 leaving Peoria at 10 o’clock N, MO, on the cars, reaching Shenou at 1 o’clock P.M. where the sealed orders were opened, which turned us south, we reached Alton at 5 o’clock A.M. Then we took a train for St. Louis, arrived there at 10 A.M. and then marched through the city and by Gen Fremont’s head quarters, to this Camp which is about 5 miles from the landing.

Camp Benton lies close to the Fair Grounds and contains good wooden quarters sufficient for 7 or 10 regiments and more buildings. I can’t tell how many regiments there are here, some say that there is 14, some say more. * The no. S.steamer City of Alton p.3 I think that there is not less than 7. They are not all armed our reg, is not uniformed yet, but we expect to be in a day or two.

We have about 1 or acres of grass land to drill on, our quarters are built with berths like a ship, with good roof and floors and plenty of fresh air, in fact we have everything as good as could be expected, I have seen one battery of rifled cannon they were brass and fine looking guns, 13 pounders.

We know nothing about how long we shall stay here or where we shall go p.4 Tell James that I sent the buffalo robe to Geo Lucas, a shop in Elmwood. When you write direct to me in Camp my C. 47 regiment of Illinois volunteers Camp Benton Mo,

Your affectionate son

John Davison

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Mrs. Leah Davison
Farmington, Ill,

P.S. Tell the neighbors that there is so much to see that I can hardly sit still long enough to write, but will try to write to some of them soon.

J.D.

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Otterville, MO
Jan. 15th, 1862

Dear Mother

Your letter of the 15th was received last night. I am well as usual and as satisfied as could be expected, and much more comfortable than anyone could think who had not tried living in a tent through the winter. Our Co is one of the healthiest Co in the Reg. Last Sunday our repro was one sick in tent quarters and three sick in the hospital, since then some have taken cold or something serious. I think that, that is about the best report of any Co. since we left St. Louis.

There is not and ?? Co. by ?? of Buller. Reached their destination We do not have any arms but muskets and bayonets, given to us but if we a mind to buy we can carry a pistol or revolver or knife. There is some talk of getting rifle muskets in the place of the ones we have. We haven’t had any battles of any kind and I don’t think we will.

Your brother John,

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Will Birch we are still at Otterville and likely to be here. If you take James’ place I would like to know something about the agreement you made and what the days I would ??? ocasionaly You and the rest of the folks write and tell all that you can that is interesting. Excuse this short ?/ as I am tired of writing.

Yours as ever,

John Davison

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Camp Benton, St. Louis
Camp 1 ½ miles west of Commerce, Mo,
Feb. 24th, 1862

Dear Mother,

Your letter of the 3rd was received five days ago. You most likely know before this time that our Rey, has left Otterville and would like to know where we are. We left Otterville on the 2nd of Feb. and marched on foot through Boonville. Franklin, Columbia, Fulton, Williamsburg, Danville, High hill, Warrenton, to St. Charles where we arrived on the 17th having marched every day but two, the last day was the longest march we made being 28 miles. The roads were very rough, or very mudy, the weater

P.S. Tell the neighbors that there is so much to see that I can hardly sit still long enough to write, but will try to write to some of them soon.

J.D.

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I have just received a letter from C. M. Hill that says that you thought of writing the next week to join us. I do not wish to discourage you but my advice is this if you want to come. Come and see us, but do not be persuaded by any officer (or anyone else) that you may (meet or get a pass from to be sworn in to the army until you get here and have seen how things are. When you get here you can tell something about how you will like it.

If you allow yourself to be sworn, before you get here they may try to send you into another Reg. Perhaps you may have some trouble in getting a pass to come here. Come by way of Cairo, and then if the river is not cleared down to this point take the R.R. from Birds Point to Saxton, from there you will have to come through with the army train to New Madrid and then to Point Pleasant, but if you get this before you start I that the river will cleared, If you ? and have any money to spare bring us some postage stamps, as it is all more impossible to buy them, writing paper is also hard to get but not so bad as stamps.

As I told you before don’t bring any more clothing than you can help, for you can’t carry it on a march, bring boots if you want to wear them. If you can, bring some of Dr. Clarks anti bilious pills too, for drinking coffee, and eating hard bread and salt meat mess up us very bilious and our surgeon gives to much calomel, quinine and blue mass to suit me.

I got a box of Jaynes pills and have used them instead of giving to the surgeon for medicine. I think that biliousness has killed more men in the Reg. than anything else. Perhaps you remember seeing A.R. Johnson, he was in our mess at Peoria. He said in our mess all the time and was the best friend that I had in the Co. he was left sick at Boonville, he died there, his cousin E. Phelps, a son of Esq. Phelps of Elmwood was with him when he died, he took him home.

Joe is down on the river in a rifle pit (get C.W. Hills letter for explanation) I have not seen him for three days. I am as well as usual.

Enclosed I send a letter for C. Hill sent it to him. I have written ten letters home and have not had one since I left St. Louis, Feb. 19.

From your brother John Davison

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2} Find a Grave, database and images (www.findagrave.com/memorial/111136180/john-w.-davison : accessed 13 July 2021), memorial page for John W. Davison (22 Mar 1837–29 Mar 1884), Find a Grave Memorial ID 111136180, citing Keefover Cemetery, Waterville, Marshall County, Kansas, USA ; Maintained by Mike (contributor 47959536)

Acknowledgements

• WikiTree profile created through the import of Thomas Sheffield Descendants.ged on Dec 21, 2011 by Michael Sheffield