Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Page 1050

JOHN C. DAVIS, who owns a good piece of property on section 7, Wichita Township, came to Kansas in 1874, and purchased over 235 acres of bottom land lying between the two Arkansas Rivers, and adjacent to the city limits. He has laid off fifty-two acres of this in town lots which are now valued at $2,000 per acre. His course has been fully in keeping with that of the other men of enterprise to whom the city of Wichita is so greatly indebted for its growth and prosperity.

             A native of Jennings County, Ind., Mr. Davis was born Nov. 15, 1827, and is the son of Phanuel and Jane (Woods) Davis, natives respectively of Virginia and Tennessee. The father was an Elder of the Presbyterian Church, a farmer by occupation, and spent his last days in his old home, his death taking place on the 17th of March, 1864, at the age of seventy-three years. The mother was connected with the same church as her husband. Theirs was the third family in the county. Their eleven children were named respectively: Ruth, Joseph, Mary, Sarah, Nathan, Eben, Jane, Phanuel, John C., Harriet and Martin L.

             Our subject was the ninth child of his parents, and continued a resident of his native State until coming to Missouri. Upon the outbreak of the Rebellion he enlisted in Company E, 116th Indiana Infantry, in which he served eighteen months and until the regiment was disbanded. Upon returning home he joined the State Militia, in which he received a Captain's commission, and held himself ready for duty until the close of the war. On the 23d of October, 1865, he was united in marriage with Mrs. Louisa Kenningham, Squire Culbertson, of Troy, Ohio, officiating.  

            Mrs. Davis was born in Claybourne County, Tenn., May 20, 1831, and is the daughter of Daniel and Glorvina (Doobs) Markham, who were also natives of Tennessee, and the father a blacksmith and wagon-maker by trade. He was born Dec. 15, 1802, and died in Knox County, Ky., Nov. 16, 1857. The mother was born June 1, 1809. Their eight children were: Louisa;  Nancy, Mrs. J. J. Wilson; Lucy, Mrs. Haskett; Mildred, Mrs. Craig; Eliza, Mrs. Dyer; Sarah, Mrs. O. M. Davis; Mary, who died at the age of eleven months; and Margaret, Mrs. W. W. Elliott. Six are living.

             Mr. and Mrs. Davis became the parents of the following living children: Walter B., Edmund S. and George L. The family residence is pleasantly located, and Mr. Davis is a prominent man in his township, where he has served as Trustee, and occupied other positions of responsibility. He is a strong Republican, politically, and with his estimable wife a member in good standing of the Christian Church, in which be has held the office of Deacon for a number of years.

             Mr. Davis is naturally a very industrious and energetic man, and since coming to Kansas has fully shared with his brother pioneers the conflict with grasshoppers, gophers and wild sunflowers. His large and well-cultivated farm is the result of years of labor and good management. He is now breeding and feeding swine extensively, but has lost considerably by the cholera. He keeps blooded horses and high-grade cattle, and realizes from the proceeds annually a handsome income. The Motor Line runs through the Davis Addition to Wichita.

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