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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Cleveland County, Arkansas published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1890.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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Jonathan C. Davis. Within the limits of Cleveland County, Ark., there is no man of a more enterprising disposition, energy or honesty than Mr. Davis, who was born in York District, S. C., on December 13, 1829. His parents, Lusk and Margaret (Hart) Davis, were natives of South Carolina, and both died in Tipton County, Tenn., in 1868 and 1876, respectively, both being about fifty-seven years of age. They were married in South Carolina, and there made their home until the subject of this sketch was about five years of age, at which time they settled in Tipton County, Tenn., where they spent the remainder of their days in farming. They were members of the Seceder Church, and their union resulted in the birth of five daughters and two sons, of whom Jonathan C. is the eldest. He and Thomas, who is a Presbyterian minister residing in Kansas, are the only ones now living. Jonathan C. Davis received a fair education in Tipton County, Tenn., and at the age of twenty-two years began farming for himself, but gave up this work in 1862 to join the Twelfth Tennessee Confederate Cavalry, and served with that regiment until the close of the war, and being under Gen. Forrest was in many battles and skirmishes, and was wounded at Harrisburg, Miss., but was never taken prisoner. After his long term of service had expired he again turned his attention to farming, but unlike the great majority he had enough to begin house-keeping in a comfortable manner. In 1867 he came to Drew County, Ark., and in 1870 settled in Bradley County, and three years later on his present farm, which consists of 320 acres, of which 100 are under cultivation. In September, 1854, William and Catherine Simonton’s daughter, Martha, became his wife, their union taking place in Tipton County, Tenn., and in time the following children clustered about their hearthstone: William T. (a farmer of the county), Robert T. (a farmer and apiarist of the county), John P. (also following the same occupation here), Ellen C. (wife of John Goodman (who resides with Mr. Davis engaged in tilling the soil), Anna L., Mary C. and Emma J. Charles C. died at the age of three years. The family attend the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, Mr. and Mrs. Davis being members of the same, and the former is a member of the Agricultural Wheel, and in his political views a stanch Democrat, but was the first man to vote the Prohibition ticket in Lee Township.

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This family biography is one of 75 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Cleveland County, Arkansas published in 1890.  For the complete description, click here: Cleveland County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

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