Richard A. Davis

RICHARD A. DAVIS, for many years a successful farmer, of Labette county, Kansas, has efficiently served in the capacity of postmaster of Altamont since 1897. He is a man of great popularity, and has many friends throughout the county.

Mr. Davis was born in Vermilion county, Indiana, August 30, 1840, and is a son of Samuel and Elizabeth (Hasty) Davis, and a grandson of Absalom Davis. Samuel Davis was born at West Union, Ohio, in 1811, and in 1827 went to Vermilion county, Indiana, where he followed farming until his death, in 1889. He was a Whig, and afterward a Republican in politics. He married Elizabeth Hasty, who was born in Vermilion county, Indiana, in 1813, and died in 1854. They reared the following children: Richard A.; Barbara (Walker), a resident of Vermilion county, Indiana; Robert N., deceased; Joshua N., of Vermilion county, Indiana; and Mary (Clearwater), of Edgar county, Illinois. Samuel Davis' second wife was Catherine Cain, who died at the age of sixty years, leaving one daughter, Emily.

Richard A. Davis was reared in his native county and there received his schooling. He enlisted, as a private in Company I, 14th Reg., Ind. Vol. Inf., in 1861, and was subsequently commissioned sergeant. He was in the Army of the Potomac and participated in all of its important engagements. He was wounded in the leg at the battle of Spottsylvania Court House, and was mustered out of the service in 1864. After the war he returned home and farmed, in Vermilion county, Illinois, until 1883, when he sold his property, went to Kansas, and settled on section 3, Fairview township, in Labette county. He owned a very fine farm, which he successfully cultivated until 1897, when he moved to the city of Altamont, where he has since resided. In the fall of the same year, he was appointed postmaster, - an office he has filled in a most creditable manner.

In 1866 Mr. Davis was joined in wedlock with Sarah Rogers, and they are the parents of eight children, as follows: Flora, deceased; Charles; Frank; Fred, who married Sally Reid; Harry; Sarah B.; Paul; and Samuel. The subject of this sketch is a member of Topping Post, No. 268, G. A. R., of Altamont, and has served in its various offices. In politics he is a firm supporter of the Republican party.