John Davies
John Davies (1839-1918) emigrated to America in between 1853
& 1859 with his father David Davies.
John Davis volunteered for duty during the Civil War. He
enlisted in Company A of the 150th New York Volunteers (The Dutchess Regiment)
30 August 1862. At the time of enlistment John listed his residence as Amenia,
Dutchess Co., New York, occupation farmer, and 23 years of age. His regiment
was at Gettysburg and was with General Sherman at Look Out Mountain, he marched
through Georgia and was at Atlanta. John was mustered out June 1865 near
Washington, D.C.
After the war he traveled to Louisiana where he lived and
raised a family before rejoining the LDS Church in 1899. He was re-baptized
into the LDS Church in February of 1899 (Membership Record for Missouri
District LDS Church 1884-1946, FHL film #0001942, member entry #710 John listed
Robeline, LA as his residence, maybe Rosepine, LA which is in the Vernon
Parish, LA).
In 1910 after the death of his second wife John traveled to
Utah and took a place in Huntington. The Huntington Ward has a record of his
membership (FHL film #26020 record #1021: received 21 August 1910, Priest 5
December 1910, Elder 3 September 1911, HP 7 February 1915 died 20 September
1918). John was listed in the 1910 Census for Huntington, Emery, Utah (pg. 26,
age 70, born Wales, Emigrated 1859, member GAR).
While living in Utah John went to the LDS temple and was
endowed and had the temple work done for his parents, grandparents, brothers,
sisters, uncles & aunts in the Salt Lake and Manti temples between 1911
& 1914. His temple journal is on microfilm in the Salt Lake City Family
History Library (film #673275).
In his Temple Journal and Salt Temple records John indicates
that he married twice Melitha Plummer in July of 1873 who died 8 June 1876 and
Minerva Harvey who he married 22 December of 1876 who died 27 November 1909.
John also indicates that he had a daughter, Mary, born in about 1879 and a
grandson, the son of Mary, John, born in 1899 and died in 1905.
I received a copy of John Davis' Civil War Pension
(#1170700). He states that he was mustered out at Poukeepsie, NY, went to
Pottsville, PA in about 1866, New York City in about 1867, Kansas City in about
1868 and to Vernon Parish, Louisiana in about 1870. He lived in Vernon Parish
(where he was listed as a farmer in the 1880 & 1900 censuses) until after
the death of his second wife in 1910 and then move to Huntington, Utah in 1910.
He gave the marriage date to his first wife, Melitha Plummer, as 2 July 1872
(3rd Ward Vernon Parish) and birth dates for two children William John 30 June
1874 and Mary 8 June 1876. He does not give a marriage date for his second wife
but states she died in November 1910.
I have not been able to find John in the 1860, 1870 or 1890
US censuses but did find him in the 1880 & 1900 censuses for 3rd Ward
Vernon Parish, LA listed as "David J. Davis." In 1880 he was 40 years
old, a farm labor, born England, with his wife Minerea, 32 years, born
Mississippi and his two children William J., 5 years & Mary 4 years. In the
1900 census he was 60 years, a farmer living with wife Manerva, 50 years,
daughter Mary, 23 years and two grandsons William John, 6 years & Henry
Hannh?, 2 years.
Because of the confusing dates and facts I am not sure whether
Mary Davis (1876) is the daughter of John's first wife or second wife. Whereas
I believe that William John (1893) and Henry Hann? (1898) may be the sons of
William John Davis (1874) and his wife Sarah E. Sermons.
I found John's oldest son William John (1874) in the 1910
& 1920 US censuses with his wife Sarah E. Sermons (Maiden name determined
with use of 1880 census CD's) and one son John Riley. In 1910 the family was
living in the 3rd ward (Rosepine) of Vernon Parish, LA. In the same 1910 census
there was an Ona Jones listed living not far from where the Davis family was
living (See 1910 census Vernon Parish ED 147 page 4 & 10).
Both William John Davis and John Riley Davis registered for
the draft in 1918 listing their residence as Rosepine, LA. Both men listed
their wives Sarah E & Ona Davis as next of kin (See draft registration Film
#1685026 for Vernon Parish, LA).
In the 1920 census the family was living in De Ridder,
Beaureguard Parish, LA. In the 1920 census Ona Davis was not listed with her husband
John Riley Davis (Where did she go?). A tombstone at Drake's Fork cemetery in
Vernon Parish, LA indicated that Ona W Perkins' first husband was Riley Davis
(USGenweb.com Internet site).
John Davis died, 20 September 1918 in Huntington, Utah.
John's obit in the Emery County Progress (28 September 1918) states that John
served in the Union Army for three years with a New York Regiment and was with
General Sherman when he marched to the Sea. John was buried in the Hungtington,
Utah cemetery.
