A watercolor of the central square of Somerton, Somerset, England - where Henry Davis was born.

Henry Davis' Ancestry
Elizabeth Betterton's Ancestry
Descendants of Henry Davis and Elizabeth Betterton

Henry Davis was born in Somerton, Somersetshire, England, in 1828. He was the fourth of ten children to James Davis and Martha Edwards.

Two of his siblings died as infants. His older brother Samuel emigrated first, in 1846, going to Knox County, Illinois by 1850, later purchasing a farm there, and raising a large family with his wife Lucy Jane Bond. Next, Henry's sister Ann immigrated with her new husband Indoe Barnard, starting in New York City, then Knox County, then Lincoln, Iowa (eventually marrying two more times). Henry's oldest brother William studied law in England, emigrated to Canada in 1847, completed his studies, and became a successful lawyer, first in Canada, and later in Galesburg, Knox County, Illinois. William married Anna Marie Hewson in Toronto, Canada.

Henry immigrated in 1849, and met his brother Samuel in Chicago. Upon his arrival at Chicago he withstood an attack of cholera. After he was well, he went to Knox County, Illinois with his brother. In 1850, Samuel and Henry lived in the home of Eleanor Hammon - Samuel as a mason, and Henry as a laborer. Next door, Alfred Preston was a blacksmith - possibly where Henry learned smithing. Together, Henry and Samuel bought what is now the E. Bond farm. They afterward sold this and each bought a farm of his own.

In 1854, Henry's father brought the rest of the family to Knox County, on the ship "William Tapscott". Nephew Joseph Cox and family came with them. Brother Reuben was married to Angeline Druman, and sister Emily married John Robinson - both in 1862. Maryanne Lucy married Robert Robson in 1866. We don't know what happened to Pamela.

Elizabeth Betterton was born in Martinsville, Clinton County, Ohio, in 1835 - the second of eleven children to Owen Betterton and Nancy Ann Moon. The family moved to Knox County about 1850. All but one of the children married. One of her brothers, john, married Amelia Ellen Barnard - daughter of Indoe and Ann (Davis) Barnard, and Henry's niece.

Henry married Elizabeth Betterton in 1858. He was a farmer, but also had a blacksmith and wagon repair shop on the farm in an old house located near the main farmhouse. The family lived in the old house until the farmhouse was built and it is believed that some of the children were born there.

Henry and Elizabeth had thirteen children in Knox County. (To be completed).

Henry died suddenly at his house west of Hermon in 1896. He was in good health at the time, but suffered from excessive heat and exertion while driving some stock. Other complications set in, with fatal results. He was buried in Abingdon Cemetery, in Abingdon, Illinois.

Elizabeth died at age 81, and is also buried in Abingdon.

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