Thomas Freeman Davis (abt. 1823 - 1871)

Born about 1823 in Horton, Kings, Nova Scotia, Canada

Ancestors

Husband of Sarah Anne (Vigus) Davis — married 21 Dec 1856 in Avoca, Pottawattamie, Iowa, USA

Descendants

Died May 1871 at about age 48 in Avoca, Pottawattamie, Iowa, USA

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Terri Davis [send private message]

Biography

1851 Census of Canada East, Canada West, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia; 1851; Census Place: Lower Horton, Kings County, Nova Scotia; Roll: M_3139; Page: 1; Line: 20 Name: Thomas Davis Province: Nova Scotia District: Kings County Sub-District: Lower Horton Household Members: Name Age Thomas Davis

U.S., Civil War Draft Registrations Records, 1863-1865 Record for Thomas F Davis Birth Year: abt 1823 Place of Birth: Nova Scotia Age on 1 July 1863: 40 Race: White Residence: Knox, Pottawattamie, Iowa Congressional District: 5th Class: 2

Louise Gallup Walker, Family genealogies. : Alcott, Beall, Cooke, Ford, Gallop, Scarburgh: William Gallop: Revolutionary Soldier (Illinois, Illinois D.A.R., 1955, 223 pgs), HeratigeQuest.com, Section 6 Page 22 and 23. William Gallop: Revolutionary Soldier Her mother, Clarissa Anne Davis born in Maine, Aug 27, 1826, was the only daughter of James Valentine Davis and Mercy Anne, (Bennett) Davis. She had three brothers, Denson, Thomas Freeman Davis and Joseph Davis. Thomas Freeman moved to Iowa in 1853, and was living in the town of Pottawattamie County in 1857 when William and Clarissa Hale moved there from Boston where they resided from about 1860. In 1857, William and Clarissa Hale were living in Jewell County Kansas. Shortly before 1900 they moved to Belle Fourche South Dakota, where they were living at the time of their death.

AVOCA.IOWA Celebrating 125 years (, July 1994), AVOCA.IOWA Celebrating 125 years page 32-33 BRIGGS Thomas Freeman Davis was born on Christmas day, 1818, on a ship coming to the United States from Scotland. In the 1860 census, he gave Halifax, Nova Scotia as his birth place. His father was Scottish, his mother was Dutch. He lived in Hagarstown, Maryland, Pennsylvania and Indiana before coming to Iowa, overland by way of covered wagon. Thomas Freeman Davis was one of the first settlers in the Newtown, IA area, arriving in 1853. correction- doubtful that he was born on 25 Dec 1818 (Ships did not sail across the Atlantic in December). He came from Horton, Nova Scotia - not Scotland. Civil War draft records say he was born in 1823.

Sarah Vigus, was born April 18, 1840 to Valentine (correction- her father's name was "Sylvanus") Vigus and Sarah Smoots of East Virginia. She was brought to Iowa by her uncle and aunt, John and Rebecca Krutzinger who had raised her from infancy. John Krutzinger is mentioned as the owner of a saw mill and grist mill in local history books. Krutzinger died of mysterious origin in Glenwood, IA, in 1856. Sarah married Thomas Freeman Davis on December 21, 1 856. Rebecca Krutzinger was a member of their household and helped to raise their three children: Rebecca Mercedes, Marcus Valentine, and Clara Bell. Marcus settled in Oklahoma. Clara Bell married in Illinois and later settled in Oklahoma. Rebecca married Frank Clement Briggs, son of Dexter Briggs of Avoca.

According to a letter written by Rebecca Davis, on January 30, 1937, postmarked Des Moines: "My father was a miller. He had the first mill on the Nishnabotna River 2 miles south of Avoca & sold it when I was 10 years old. His health failed & the doctors told him he would have to move from the water. He had diabetes & only lasted two years after he bought the 160 acre farm on the hill south of Avoca 2 miles & the Newtown School House is still there. I saw in the Journal Herald of Avoca they called the Cemetery in the woods east of the School House Newtown. The town of Newtown is east of here (Des Moines). The Grove's name where my Dear Father lies was named Highland Grove. My Father owned 20 acres where the Cemetery is - Mrs. Peterson bought - fenced it because so many of her family are buried there. I also have a Baby Cousin Florence Hale there. The little tombstone is there yet."

Family history tells of a grist mill owned by Thomas Davis. His great granddaughter, Viola Henry, took me to an area, where, as a child, she had been told that it was the location of the old mill. At that time there were only a few pilings left of the building. In the late 1860's, Davis purchased land south of Avoca and lived there until his death in 1871. He is buried in Newtown Cemetery in an unmarked grave. Sarah Vigus Davis died Feb. 10,1892, and is buried in Mt. Pleasant, IA.

Dexter M. Briggs was born February 3, 1822, in Hinesburg, Vermont, the son of Royal Briggs and Fanny Dow Briggs. Dexter married Emily Brown, daughter of John and Betsy Grow Brown of Vermont. Emily gave birth to one son, Frank Clement Briggs, in 1850 and died one year later in Brattloboro, Vermont. Sometime between 1851 and 1865, Dexter and his son Frank came to Avoca. Dexter married a second time, to Alma Tracy. From that union came two more sons, Charles, born in 1865, and William B., born in 1867. Family history tells of the large greenhouse operated by Dexter west of Avoca. The 1880 census states Dexter was a gardner and florist. Alma died March 13, 1886, and Dexter died July 8, 1891. They are buried in the Avoca Cemetary. Frank Clement Briggs married Rebecca Mercedes Vigus Davis on July 5, 1874, as recorded in the Pottawattamie Co. Marriage Book, 1874-1878. Frank Clement Briggs was born in 1850 in Brattleboro, VT. He came to Iowa with his father, Dexter M. Briggs. Frank and Rebecca farmed south of Avoca until they moved to Colfax, IA, with their youngest child, Louise, in 1908. Frank died in Colfax in 1914. His widow Rebecca moved to Des Moines and married again in 1915 to Samuel Haskett (Heskett). She made her home with Mr. Haskett, a furniture maker for Davidson's Furniture Store in Des Moines, and with her daughter Louise, and later her granddaughter Anita. Mr. Haskett died in 1927. Rebecca died in Des Moines at the age of 83 on January 14, 1941. Frank and Rebecca are buried in the Laurel Hill Cemetery in Des Moines, IA. Frank and Rebecca had 7 children: Zena, Emily Bray, Ethel Alpen, Frank Marcus, Dale, Rebecca Alvina Weston, Hazel Louise McLaren, and Ida Mae who died in infancy. Frank Marcus Briggs was born on September 20, 1880 in the Hancock area. Frank and Ethel Fry were married on Dec. 5, 1902 at the Methodist Church in Hancock and made their home in Avoca. Frank was an employee of the Rock Island Railroad for many years before retiring and living out his years in Avoca. He was a great story teller of old times, cattle rustlers and horse theives. He died Jan. 31,1958. His wife Ethel died in July, 1 970. They are both buried in the Avoca Cemetery. Their children were: Lolita Parker (deceased), Frank Clement (deceased), Viola Henry, Macon, MO, Blanche Johnson, Walnut, IA, Zella Johnson (deceased), Beatrice Stevens, Council Bluffs, IA, Edwin "Ted" (deceased), Dorothy (deceased), and Darrell, Salt Lake City, UT. Living today in Avoca is one grandchild, Ruby Ackart, and her husband Levi. Ruby is a daughter of Blanche Johnson of Walnut. Also living in Avoca is Viola Briggs, widow of Frank Clement Briggs. Frank Clement Briggs was born in Avoca on July 28 1905. He died December 18,1986, and is buried in Avoca Cemetery. Frank attended the Southside School. He married Viola Mae Sorenson of Corley, IA, (daughter of William 0. Sorenson and Rachel Ellen Cushing Sorenson). They lived in the Shelby/Avoca area until 1941 when the Frank took a job in the ordinance plant in Des Moines, IA. After living in Norwalk, IA, for one year, the family moved to Des Moines, IA, where they lived until 1963. In that year, Frank and Viola moved to Whittier, CA, later living in Corona, CA, for a few years before returning to Avoca in 1975. Viola Briggs remains a resident of Avoca. Their children are: Pauline Nutter (Des Moines), Donald (Williams, AZ), Frank Marcus (Des Moines), Mary Scheel (Des Moines), Bonnie Porter (Johnston), Edwin (Des Moines), James (Altoona), and Jerry (Norwalk).

Sources

1851 Census of Canada East, Canada West, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia; 1851; Census Place: Lower Horton, Kings County, Nova Scotia; Roll: M_3139; Page: 1; Line: 20

• U.S., Civil War Draft Registrations Records, 1863-1865
• Louise Gallup Walker, Family genealogies. : Alcott, Beall, Cooke, Ford, Gallop, Scarburgh: William Gallop: Revolutionary Soldier (Illinois, Illinois D.A.R., 1955, 223 pgs), HeratigeQuest.com, http://0-persi.heritagequestonline.com.sccl.santaclaraca.gov/hqoweb/library/do/books/results/image?urn=urn%3Aproquest%3AUS%3Bglhbooks%3BGenealogy-glh47067307%3B-1%3B-1%3B
• AVOCA.IOWA Celebrating 125 years (, July 1994), AVOCA.IOWA Celebrating 125 years

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