James P Davis

It would be absolutely wonderful to have some documentation that this is, indeed, the father of Thomas Woodford Davis. All of the circumstantial evidence does seem to add up here, tho.

Notes for BETHIA:

Bethia's name has also been spelled Bether, Bither, Thira and even Mathira. It is " Bthire" on her tombstone. (I choose to use "Bethia" because at least I can pronounce that! <grin>) Both daughter's, Sarah and Lucinda, death certificates state mother's maiden name was Davis.

Bethia is buried at Spokane Cemetery, Christian Co., MO next to William Davis (the one who was married to Elizabeth Harp) which leads one to further wonder at the connection between these Davis families. If James did, in fact, die prior to 1860, how could she have survived without the help of family?

We have been told that Bethia and William have some of the oldest tombstones in Spokane Cemetery.

1. JAMES P.¹ DAVIS was born Abt. 1817 in Tn¹, and died Bef. 1860 in Probably Mo, Possibly Pulaski Co.². He married BITHER/ BETHIA (maiden name unknown, possibly Davis) Abt. 1835.

James was a wagonmaker, according to the 1840 census. In 1840, he was in Miller Co., Richwood Twp., MO . In 1850, the family was in Pulaski Co., MO listed in the census with seven children. James P. Davis is not listed in the 1860 census. By 1868 the mother and children were in Christian Co., MO. In the 1880 census they are in Christian Co., MO. The mother, Bethia, was living with George and Sarah A. (Davis) Hayes." [From Mildred Ambler, 1998]

Children of JAMES DAVIS and BETHIA/BITHER DAVIS? are:

i. NANCY JANE² DAVIS³, b. 1837, Pulaski Co., Mo; d. 1873, Galena, Stone Co., Mo; m. JOHN THOMPSON DAVIS, 19 Jun 1852, Miller Co., Mo³.

ii. THOMAS WOODFORD DAVIS, b. May 1838, Pulaski Co., Mo; d. 23 Jul 1903, Christian Co., Mo⁵; m. MAHALA JANE COOK, 23 Dec 1860, Taney County, Missouri.

iii. JOHN M. DAVIS, b. 1840. John M. is living with his parents in the 1840, 1850 and 1860 census records. Have no information after 1860. There is a marriage in Christian Co., MO: J. M. Davis to Mary E. Melton 14 Dec 1866 Vol. 1 page 35. More research needs to be done. [LMM]

iv. LUCINDA DAVIS, b. 16 Jul 1843, MO; d. 29 May 1924, Montague, Christian Co., MO; m. (1) THEODORE THORNBURG, 08 Sep 1861, Near Forsyth, Taney Co., Mo¹⁰; m. (2) EDWIN S. PENNIMAN, 16 Apr 1885, Home of George W. Hayes Christian Co., MO¹⁰.

v. POLLY T. DAVIS, b. 1845.

vi. ELIZABETH DAVIS, b. 1848; m. THOMAS C. BOHANNAN¹³, 22 Nov 1868, Christian Co., MO.

vii. SARAH ANN DAVIS, b. 10 Apr 1850, MO; d. 01 Oct 1930, Christian Co., Mo; m. GEORGE WILLIAM HAYES, 27 Dec 1868, Christian Co., MO.

Endnotes

1. Assumed.

2. He is in census of Pulaski Co., MO but not 1860 census. Last child was born Apr 1850.

3. Linda Mulkey Melson -- email: [email protected]

4. Written 02 Jul 1883. Heirs: Wife (not named), Mary Elizabeth Davis, Joshaway Davis, James Davis, George Davis. Executor Joshman Ray. (He was John's nephew, the son of his sister Sarah Jane Davis Ray.)

5. Civil War Widow's Pension file for Mahala Davis. Certificate #577815.

6. Judy Young email: [email protected]

7. Marriage and children are listed along with service info. Also attached is the widow's pension file for Mahala

8. Homestead Application of Thomas W. Davis # 13984.

9. Widow's pension file for Salina Davis Sims.

10. Linda Mulkey Melson -- email: [email protected]

11. 1870 Census.

12. Linda Mulkey Melson -- email: [email protected]

13. Wayne Pryor, Nixa MO in letter to Linda Mulkey. (Need to verify this is in fact 'our' Elizabeth. AML)

14. Linda Mulkey Melson -- email: [email protected]

Children:

Linda Mulkey Melson of Bothell WA has quite a bit of info. She is descended from Nancy. In an effort to contact other descendants of James', I have included quite a bit of her information here.

She writes, " I have two birth places but no proof of either Gibson Co., TN or Overton Co., TN. Not sure where I got either. I think the Overton one came from Hazel Lowery, as that is where William Davis (Salina's father) was from and we think James and William are brothers."