Aaron A. Davis (1827 - abt. 1901)

Born 19 Aug 1827 in Hallowell, Kennebec, Maine, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Abigail Chase (Gray) Davis — married 20 Jan 1851 in Hallowell, Kennebec, Maine, United States

Descendants

Died about 26 Dec 1901 at about age 74 in Kennebec Township, Monona, Iowa, United States

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Biography

1827 BIRTH
Aaron A. Davis, son of Aaron Davis and Abigail Pillsbury,
was born 19 August 1827 in Hallowell, Kennebec, Maine. ^[1]

Until he was about fourteen years of age, Aaron Davis attended a district school near his father's house, after which he spent about two years in the Hallowell Academy. ^[2]

Starting in life for himself, he followed the sea for about eight years, his first voyage being to the Pacific Ocean, Australia, and the islands of Oceanica. He was at San Francisco at the time it was taken possession of by Commodore Sloat during the war with Mexico, and has been as far north as latitude 57, twice. ^[2]

Growing tired of a roving life, he finally abandoned a seafaring life, and settled down in his native Maine, where he followed the carpenter's trade until coming west, in 1857.^[2]

1850 MARRIAGE
Aaron Davis of Chelsea and Abigail Chase Gray of Hollowell filed intention of marriage on 17 December 1850, married 20 January 1851 in Kennebec, Maine. ^[3][4]

1851 - Aaron A Davis & Abigail C Gray - Marriage

They had five children: Clarence E., Harry G., May B., Ella A., and Arthur A. Davis.^[2]

1850 US Census
Hallowell, Kennebec, Maine ^[5]

Aaron H Davis, 59, b New Hampshire, farmer

Abigail Davis, 56, b Maine

Lucretia L Davis, 26, b Maine

Aaron A Davis, 22, b Maine

George A Davis, 18, b Maine

Mary E Davis, 12, b Maine

1857 MAINE TO IOWA
He first came to Monona County, Iowa on 29 April 1857 and located on section 8, coming from Hallowell, Maine by way of Mt. Pleasant, Oskaloosa, and Lewis, Iowa. He borrowed money to bring his wife to Iowa in September.^[2]

In the spring of 1858, he moved to section 19 where he made his home until December 1862, having purchased the land of the county, it being in the Swamp Land grant, for $1.25 per acre. ^[2]

1860 US Census
Mapleton Post Office, Mapleton, Monona ,Iowa^[6]

A A Davis, 32, b Maine, carpenter

Adda Davis, 32, b Maine

C E Davis, 6, b Maine

H G Davis, 3, b Maine

On 13 May 1864, he moved from the SE quarter of section 28 to the NW quarter which has since that time been his home. ^[2]

1870 US Census
Onawa City Post Office, Kennebec Township, Monona, Iowa^[7]

Aaron A Davis, 42, b Maine, farmer

Abby Davis, 42, b Maine, keeps house

Clarance E Davis, 16, b Maine, at home

G Robert Davis, 13, b Maine,

Mary B Davis, 10, b Iowa

Ella A Davis, 9, b Iowa

Arthur H Davis, 2, b Iowa

Onawa City was the name of the post office from 1858 to 1883.

1880 US Census
Kennebec Township, Monona, Iowa ^[8]

Aaron A. Davis, 52, b Maine, farmer

Abbie C. Davis, 52, b Maine, keeping house

Clarence E. Davis, 26, b Maine, son

Harry G. Davis, 23, b Maine, Eson

May B. Davis, 19, b Iowa, daughter

Ella A. Davis, 16, b Iowa, daughter

Arthur H. Davis, 13, b Iowa, son

Jesse Faith, 17, b Indiana, servant

1890 "History of Monona County, Iowa
AARON A. DAVIS BIOGRAPHY^[2]

AARON A. DAVIS is one of the old settlers of Monona County who came from their New England home and have so materially aided in the development of this section of the State. He is a resident of Kennebec Township, living on section 28.

He first came to this county April 29, 1857, and located on section 8, coming from Hallowell, Me., by way of Mt. Pleasant, Oskaloosa, and Lewis, Iowa. He remained upon that claim during the winter, but in the spring of 1858 moved to section 19. There he made his home until December 1862, having purchased the land of the county, it being in the Swamp Land grant, for $1.25 per acre. From there he removed to the southeast quarter of section 28, but May 13, 1864, took as his residence on the northwest quarter of section 28, which has since that time been his home. He has now a line farm of five hundred acres of land, and is largely engaged in the cattle business, having commenced in that line about 1859. In 1877 he commenced grading and rearing Shorthorn cattle, and in 1880, Hereford stock, and has now a herd of one hundred and forty head of high grades and thoroughbreds.

Mr. Davis was born in Kennebec County, Me., August 19. 1827, and is the son of Aaron H. and Abby (Pilsbury) Davis. His father was a native of New Hampshire, who removed to Maine with his parents when about twelve years of age, and was a seaman by profession. He was a captain of a vessel during the war of 1812-15, and drew a pension for his services from the Government in his later years. About 1825 he gave up the sea and settled upon a farm near Richmond, Me., where he died in May, 1885. The mother of our subject, a native of Massachusetts, was taken to Hallowell, Me., by her parents when a small child, and died at Richmond, November 29, 1882, at the age of ninety years.

The subject of this narrative, until he was about fourteen years of age, attended a district school near his father's house, after which he spent about two years in the Hallowell Academy. Starting in life for himself, he followed the sea for about eight years, his first voyage being to the Pacific Ocean, Australia, and the islands of Oceanica. He was at San Francisco at the time it was taken possession of by Commodore Sloat during the war with Mexico, and has been as far north as latitude 57, twice. He holds an American Seaman's Protection, which is numbered 214 and dated May 30, 1845. This serves a sailor in foreign ports from impressment as an English seaman, and officially testifies to his American birth. Growing tired of a roving life, he finally abandoned a seafaring life, and settled down in his native county, where he followed the carpenter's trade until coming west, in 1857.

When Mr. Davis first came to this county he was in very limited circumstances, having been compelled to borrow the money with which to bring his wife to their new home, where she came in September, 1857. For several years they endured many hardships. The first cow that Mr. Davis ever owned he earned by building a bridge over the Soldier River, in St. Clair Township, whither he went to work, leaving his wife at home with Indians camped all about. He followed bridge carpentering for the county for some time, taking his pay in Swamp Land certificates, but finally settled down to farm life. The elegant residence which adorns his place is, for the most part, the work of his own hands, the finer portion of the carpentering being entirely so. This is one of the finest farm residences in the county.

Mr. Davis was married, January 20, 1850, to Miss Abbie Gray, a native of Lincoln County Me., who was born September 28, 1827, and is the daughter of Henry and Abbie (Chase) Gray, both whom were natives of Lincoln County. Her mother, who was born in 1807, went to the island of Hayti [Haiti] with her husband, who was also a sea captain, and there died on the 6th of May 1867. Capt Gray returned to this country, and his next voyage took out a metallic casket in which to bring home the body of his wife, but, owing to the Rebellion then raging, was unable to do so, and left the coffin until his next trip. The insurrection continuing, he was never able to obtain the corpse, and finally died in that island, at the port of Petite Gonaive.

...Mr. and Mrs. Davis are the parents of five children, whose births took place on the following dates: Clarence E., January 14, 1853; Harry G., October 18, 1856; May B., December 20,1800; Ella A., June 5, 1863; and Arthur A.. August 10, 1867.

1900 US Census
Kennebec Township, Monona, Iowa ^[9]

Aaron A Davis, 72, b Maine Aug 1827, farmer

Abbie Davis, 72, b Maine Sep 1827, keeping house

Arthur H Davis, 32, b Iowa Aug 1867

Owen Boye, 21, b Iowa Feb 1879

Lela Devoss, 21, b Iowa Mar 1879

Neighbors

Clarence Davis, 46,, b Maine Jan 1854, farmer

Martha Davis, 44, b Kentucky Dec 1853, 1 child, 1 living

1901 DEATH AND BURIAL
Aaron Davis died 26 December 1901 in Kennebec Township, Monona County, Iowa;^[10]
burial with his wife in Kennebec Cemetery, Castana, Monona County, Iowa^[11]

Sources

1. ↑ "Maine Vital Records, 1670-1921," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2HJY-7NC : 4 November 2017), Aaron Davis, 19 Aug 1827; citing Hallowell, , Maine, United States, Division of Vital Statistics, State Board of Health, Augusta; FHL microfilm.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7} "History of Monona County, Iowa; containing full-page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, together with portraits and biographies of all the Governors of Iowa, and of the Presidents of the United States"; Chicago, National Pub. Co; 1890, Aaron Davis Biography , page 437-438 [1]
3. ↑ "Maine Marriages, 1771-1907," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F46H-BZS : 10 February 2018), Aaron A Davis and Abby C Gray, 17 Dec 1850; citing Maine, reference ; FHL microfilm 9,774.
4. ↑ "Maine Vital Records, 1670-1921," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q28Q-WSTW : 22 July 2021), Aaron A Davis and Abby C Gray, 20 Jan 1851; citing Kennebec, Maine, United States, multiple sources, Maine; FHL microfilm.
5. ↑ "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M6JT-8ZK : 22 December 2020), Abigail C Gray in household of Henry Gray, Hallowell, Kennebec, Maine, United States; citing family , NARA microfilm publication (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
6. ↑ "United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M8LQ-85Z : 13 December 2017), A A Davis, 1860.
7. ↑ "United States Census, 1870", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MDV2-T5D : 11 June 2019), Aaron A Davis, 1870.
8. ↑ "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MDLQ-BYG : 7 September 2017), Aaron A Davis, 1880; citing enumeration district ED 151, sheet 26C, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d), roll 0357; FHL microfilm 1,254,357.
9. ↑ "United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M921-SF7 : accessed 26 July 2019), Aaron A Davis, Kennebec Township Castana town, Monona, Iowa, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 69, sheet 6B, family 119, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1972.); FHL microfilm 1,240,449.
10. ↑ "Iowa Deaths and Burials, 1850-1990," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XVQZ-G3K : 11 March 2018), A. A. Davis, 26 Dec 1901; citing Kennebec Twp., reference ; FHL microfilm 1,443,720.
11. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/112899216/aaron-a-davis: accessed 08 November 2022), memorial page for Aaron A Davis (19 Aug 1827–26 Dec 1901), Find a Grave Memorial ID 112899216, citing Kennebec Cemetery, Castana, Monona County, Iowa, USA; Maintained by Marilyn Andersen (contributor 47381791) .

• David B. Pillsbury and Emily Getchell, The Pillsbury Family in America, Everett, Mass., Massachusetts Publishing Company, 1898, family #180.
• Find A Grave: Memorial #112899216
• CITE THIS PAGE
  WikiTree contributors, "Aaron A. Davis" WikiTree,
  https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Davis-53623 (date accessed ____).