Samuel Harvey Davis (1842 - 1911)

Born 19 Jul 1842 in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Emma (McComb) Davis — married 6 Jan 1889 in Allen County, Indiana

Descendants

Died 23 Feb 1911 at age 68 in Saint Joseph Township, Allen, Indiana, United States

Biography

Samuel Davis migrated from Pennsylvania to Indiana.

This profile is part of the Davis Name Study.

Samuel H. Davis was born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania on July 19, 1842. He was the son of Walter Davis and Elizabeth Funk. At the age of fourteen years came to Allen County, Indiana. ^[1]

Civil War Notes: Name: Samuel H Davis, Residence: Kosciusko County, Indiana Enlistment Date: 24 September 1861, Distinguished Service: DISTINGUISHED SERVICE; Side Served: Union; State Served: Indiana; Unit Numbers: 581 September 13, 1861: Enlisted in Company I, 30th Indiana Infantry Regiment in Fort Wayne, Allen County, Ind. September 24, 1861: Mustered in as a Private for three years military service in Warsaw, Kosciusko County, Indiana Jan. 1862: Sick in hospital, Louisville, Ky. Mar.-April 1862: Sick in hospital, Louisville, Ky. April 30-Aug.31: Sick at Nashville Sept-Oct. 1862: Sick at Lewisville, Ky. Oct.-Nov. 1862: Sick at Nashville Dec. 1862: Sick at Nashville Jan.-Feb. 1863: Sick at Nashville Feb. 24, 1863: Discharged, with disability after being in the hospital three months due to Rubeola - German measles, Pericarditis - Inflammation of heart, and loss of one half of his left foot. Sept. 29, 1864: Mustered out of the Union Army, Indianapolis, Ind. by order of Gen. Buell.

For twenty years he taught school and later resided on a farm. He was well known for his good work in the United Brethren church. In 1889 he was united in marriage to Emma McComb.^[2] They had six children: Harvey, Zoa, Esther, Blanche, Orpha and Dwight. He was a resident of Allen County, Indiana for over fifty years. He attended Mayhew Chapel - United Brethren Church. According to Quarterly Conference Records Samuel was a Trustee for Wesley Church in Spencerville, IN 1908-1913.

He was buried in Parker Cemetery, St. Joseph Township, Fort Wayne, Allen County, Indiana ^[3]

Samuel's father Walter died in 1871. He stayed at home with his mother until she died in 1887. This probably was because he was the only son and stayed home to work the family farm. He married at age 46 in 1889. His wife Emma was only 24. This is similar to James Harvey's working the family farm after Samuel's death. Samuel was an alcoholic at some point of his life, so the deed to the family farm was put in Emma's name so he couldn't conduct any transactions that would jeopardize the farm. On the Sunday before he died, Samuel had a premonition that he would die by the next Sunday. He told his family about the premonition. That week he came down with a cold, developed pneumonia and died as he predicted. ^[4]

The Fort Wayne Daily News, Monday, February 27, 1911 had this story on page 14: Total Abstinence Enjoined on Legatee, No Tobacco or Drinks

Samuel Dwight Davis must forfeit $200 if he smokes, chews, or takes a drink before he is twenty-one years of age according to the provisions of the will of Samuel H. Davis, filed for probate Monday. The estate is left to the widow during her lifetime, but at her death it is to be divided among the children. James H. Davis is to get $1000, and he and Samuel Dwight Davis, the youngest child will receive $500 between them, the last named to forfeit $200 of his share in case he violates the abstinence injunction. The residue of the estate is to be divided among the children, share and share alike.

Sources

1. ↑ The Fort Wayne Daily News, Friday, February 24, 1911, p. 16
2. ↑ Indiana, Marriages, 1811-1959
3. ↑ The Fort Wayne Daily News, Friday, February 24, 1911, p. 16
4. ↑ These are stories about Samuel H. Davis that I remember being told to me by my mother Orpha M. Davis Smith. I also have a daily diary book from Samuel for 1887? - Victor L. Smith, July 7, 2007

• "United States Census, 1860." Index. FamilySearch. http://FamilySearch.org : accessed 2014. Citing "1860 U.S. Federal Census - Population." Fold3.com. http://www.fold3.com : n.d.; NARA microfilm publication M653. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.
• 1870 Federal Census, St. Joseph Township, Allen County, Indiana p. 21/666, August 25, 1870, Dwelling # 165 Family # 165
• 1880 Federal Census, St Joseph, Allen, Indiana; Roll: 264; Family History Film: 1254264; Page: 279A; Enumeration District: 107; Image: 0380.
• 1900 Federal Census, Indiana, Allen County, St. Joseph Township, Enum. Dist. #17, Sheet # 12, Dwelling # 205, Family # 209, June 22, 1900
• 1910 Federal Census, St Joseph, Allen, Indiana; Roll: T624_338; Page: 4A; Enumeration District: 0022; FHL microfilm: 1374351.