My Genealogy Hound

H. C. Davis. This respected citizen of Mississippi County, Ark., has been a resident of this locality since 1874, and has been associated with its mercantile and farming interests, and not without substantial results. His birth occurred in Madison County, Tenn., in 1847, but his parents, Henry W. and Martha M. (Holmes) Davis, were born in North Carolina, but were taken to the State of Tennessee when young, and were there reared and married. The father was quite an extensive planter of that State, which occupation he continued to pursue until his death, in 1863. H. C. Davis passed the most important years of his life (the days of his youth) on the old homestead in Madison County, in the meantime acquiring a fair knowledge of the common branches; and after his father’s death he continued to remain at home and assist in supporting his widowed mother and the remainder of the family, which consisted of four children, until 1874, when, as stated above, he came to Mississippi County, Ark. He rented a farm on Crooked Lake and made a crop that year, continuing thus until 1877. Prior to this, in 1878, in partnership with his brother and brother-in-law, he had started a mercantile establishment in Blythesville, but, in the fall of 1882, the firm was dissolved, and three years later Mr. Davis resumed in the same business alone at that point, selling out a year later. Since 1888 he and his brother have conducted a general store in Blythesville, and being a man of keen business foresight, he has been able to meet the wants of his customers in every instance, and has built up a large patronage by his thoroughly honest and reliable dealing. In 1880 he purchased eighty-five acres of land in Chickasawba Township, on which he built two houses, and cleared forty acres from timber and brush, and put it under cultivation. Two years later he purchased property in town, and on one lot built a commodious and substantial store-house, and on another his residence. In 1885 he purchased several tracts of land in the vicinity, on all of which he made improvements, and now has very nearly 100 acres under cultivation. Since locating in Mississippi County Mr. Davis has seen many changes for the better take place, and has helped in the organization of the school districts, the education of the rising generation being one in which he takes an active interest. He has served as school director, and although not an active politician, he has always voted with the Democratic party, and was elected on that ticket to the office of deputy sheriff for a number of years. He is a member of Chickasawba Lodge No. 134, of the A. F. & A. M. During the overflow of August, 1875, Mr. Davis lost over 115 acres of growing crops, which crippled him considerably, but with his usual energy and perseverance he began again the next year, and has retrieved his losses in a great measure. He is constantly engaged in speculating and trading, his enterprises in this direction being attended with excellent results. Mrs. Sarah A. Eskridge, nee Rose, a native of the “Hawkeye State,” became his wife June 24, 1880, and to their marriage has been given the following family of children: Martha Ann, Thomas W., Mildred Frances and Hillary C. The family worship in the Methodist Episcopal Church, South.