Biography of

                                                            AARON DAVIS

                                                    (transcribed by: L. Johnson)

 

     The subject of this review is a prosperous farmer and belongs to the once great, but now rapid-

ly diminishing, army which during the five years our nation was in the throes of the most terrible

civil war known to history, defeated the hosts of treason, restored the Union and rendered any

further attempts at rebellion forever impossible.  Aaron Davis, third son and fifth child of John R.

and Rebecca (Claypool) Davis, was born in Licking county, Ohio, on the 30^th day of July, 1844.

His father and mother, both natives of Licking county, were born in 1809 and 1811, respectively,

and their marriage, which also took place there, was solemnized on March 14, 1830.  Their child-

ren, in order of birth, were:  James, William, Elizabeth, Nancy and Aaron, all except the subject

deceased.

     Aaron Davis was reared after the manner of most country lads and spent the early part of his

life at work in the fields during the spring and summer months and in the winter time attended

the schools of his neighborhood.  He remained at home until twenty-two years old and then

married a young lady who was born October 22, 1845, in the same locality and with whom he

had been well acquainted since childhood.  The ceremony by which they were made husband and

wife was solemnized on the 21^st day of October, 1866, and from that time until his removal to

Michigan, eight years later, he followed agricultural pursuits in his native county and met with fair

Success at his vocation.

     Shortly after the breaking out of the Civil war, Mr. Davis enlisted in the Sixth Ohio Volun-

teers, a regiment composed of sharpshooters who were selected by reason of their skill as marks-

men, each being obliged to pass a rigid test before he was accepted.  His regiment was attached

to the Army of the North and saw much active service during the campaigns in Tennessee,

Georgia and other states, taking part in some of the bloodiest battles of the war, including Chick-

amauga and Chattanooga, going from the latter place to Atlanta and becoming a part of the force

under General Sherman.  After the reduction of that stronghold, Mr. Davis did not take part in

the celebrated “march to the sea,” but went with his regiment to Nashville to help check the Con-

federate force under Hood which suffered a crushing defeat at that place by General Thomas.

When Lee surrendered, Mr. Davis was at Eastport, Mississippi.  Later he took part in the review

at Nashville and at the close of the war was present at the funeral of President Lincoln.  Receiv-

ing his discharge at Camp Chase, Ohio, at the expiration of his term of service, he returned home,

where he was married in due time, as already stated, and where he continued to reside until 1874,

when he came to Isabella county, Michigan, and rented one hundred acres of land a half mile south

of Dushville, where he lived until his removal to his present farm in Fremont township the

following year.

     Mr. Davis purchased forty acres in the above township and at once began improving the same. 

In due time all of the timber was removed and the soil reduced to tillage and at intervals good

buildings were erected and the farm put in splendid condition.  He now has a beautiful and attrac-

tive dwelling equipped with many of the comforts and conveniences which lighten the house-

wife’s duty and make rural life desirable, also a substantial barn and the necessary outbuildings,

together with good fences, a successful system of drainage and various other improvements

which add materially to the appearance and value of the farm.

     Mr. Davis is a member of Cedar ridge Lodge No. 540, Independent Order of Odd Fellows,

in which he has held the offices of chaplain, vice-president and vice-supporter, and also belongs

to the Grange, in which he has long been an active an influential worker.  He is a Democrat in

politics and as such has been zealous in promoting the success of his party, though not an office

seeker nor aspirant for any kind of public preferment.  He served twelve years as justice of the

peace, however, and proved very capable in the discharge of his duties;  much important busi-

ness was brought to his court during his term of office, and such were the impartial nature of his

rulings and the justness of his decisions that few if any appeals were taken from the latter to high-

er tribunals.

     Mr. and Mrs. Davis are the parents of seven children, whose names are as follows:  Robert

married Flora Hetherington and lives in Fremont township;  Ola, wife of Ed Bellinger, lives in

Lincoln township;  Lydia, who married L. Hetherington, moved to Mexico some years ago, where

her death subsequently occurred;  Smith, whose wife was formerly Clara Gerry, is a farmer of

Fremont township;  James, who is unmarried, lives at home and helps cultivate the farm;  Mary,

Now Mrs. Clinton Root, lives at Hope, Idaho, and Olive the youngest of the number is deceased.