DAVID DAVIS, SON OF MORGAN DAVIS AND JOHNANNA WILLIAMS DAVIS
"Mr. Davis was born August 19, 1857 in Wales, England and spent the first 10 years of his life
there. In 1867 he emmigrated with his parents to the United States and lived at Joliet, Ill. for two
years, his parents being converts to he Latter-Day Saints church in England. In 1869 Mr. Davis'
mother and he came to Utah on the first emmigrant train into Utah, arriving at Taylor's Switch,
about five miles from Ogden. He was present when the Golden Spike was laid joining the
railroad from east to west. His mother stayed in Utah only a few years but Mr. Davis liked the
west so well that he stayed here. He lived at Willard, Utah and on Jan. 5, 1882 he married
Lovisa Harris, a daughter of Martin Harris, the founder of Harrisville, Utah in the Endowment
House in Salt Lake City.
Three years later in the summer of 1885, Mr. Davis came to Idaho and erected a home on Egin
bench which was make of logs and had a dirt floor. The land that he settled on was taken up
under the preemption act. In the fall he returned to Willard and the following spring moved his
wife and small son to Egin Bench. That year he homesteaded on the ground where he has lived
since.
Mr. Davis was civic and community minded during his entire life. Just after arriving on Egin
bench he helped to build the Independent and Egin canals by using his teams and scraper. He
also hauled lumber by team from Market Lake, now Roberts, to build the first bridge across
Snake river on Egins bench, known as the Carter bridge at the lower end of Plano farming
community.
In 1899 he was ordained a member of the high priest quorum and served as a counselor of the
LDS Egin ward for several years. While he was serving in this capacity he donated 10 acres of
land to the church and helped to build the present ward chapel of the Egin ward.
He was a member of the first ball team of St. Anthony and helped to make the early pioneer
celebration of the community a success.
Also during the early part of the century he donated generously towards the construction of the
first academy at Rexburg and also helped to maintain it, the Yellowstone stake tabernacle at St.
Anthony, and the brick hospital by the side of the river which is now known as the Quinn
apartments.
At the time that Fremont county was divided, he was influential in having the county seat
established at St. Anthony.
Besides his widow he is survived by one son, six daughters, 55 grandchildren, 40 great
grandchildren, and one great great grandchild."
[From "David Davis, 89, Fremont Pioneer, Dies at Home", Special to the Post-Register, St.
Anthony, Id, April 1, 1947.]
