My Genealogy Hound

William J. Davis is the clerk of the circuit court of Polk County, Ark., but by birth is a Georgian, born in Dade County, in 1838, to William and Margaret (Cox) Davis, who were born in North Carolina, in 1787 and 1804, respectively, their marriage being consummated in Alabama, from which State they afterward moved to Georgia, where Mr. Davis died in 1852. His widow survived him until 1873, when she, too, passed away, her death occurring in Dallas, Ark., she as well as her husband, being a member of the Missionary Baptist Church. The maternal grandfather, Richard Cox, was a North Carolinian, who moved to Georgia, and died at his grandson’s home, a brother of the subject of this sketch, in 1848, having been a farmer throughout life, a Revolutionary soldier, and a member of the A. F. & A. M. He was of Scotch descent, was well to do, and reared a large family of children. William Davis, the father of William J., was married twice, and had ten children by his first wife and four by his last, his son, William J., being the next to the youngest by his last wife. He was reared on a farm with the advantages of a good schooling, but upon the death of his father he left school and began to farm for himself. In 1857 he came to Polk County, Ark., where he was married in 1861, to Miss Belle, daughter of John B. and Sarah Vaught, both of whom were born in Northern Alabama, and in 1847 came to Arkansas, the death of the father occurring in Montgomery County, in 1881, and that of the mother in 1885. Mrs. Davis was born in Alabama, and died in 1868 leaving three children, two of whom are living. His second marriage took place in 1874, and was to Miss Alice, daughter of Thomas and Mary Pate, the former born in Alabama and the latter in Connecticut, their marriage being celebrated in Texas, from which State they came to what is now Howard County, Ark., where Mrs. Pate still lives, her husband having passed from life at Pine Bluff, while serving in the Confederate Army during the Rebellion. Mrs. Davis was born in Texas and has borne Mr. Davis five children, all of whom are living. In July, 1861, Mr. Davis joined Company K, Twenty-fourth Arkansas Infantry, in Arkansas, and was in all the engagements in which that army participated, being in the Georgia campaign and in the battles of Franklin, Nashville and down to Mobile, Ala. He was wounded several times, but not severely until the last fight at Bentonville, N. C., when he lost his left arm and right hand. He was captured four times, but made his escape each time with the exception of the time he was captured at Arkansas Post, on December 31, 1862, when he was imprisoned at Camp Chase, Ohio and at Fort Delaware. At the end of about six months he was exchanged at City Point, Va. Although he was commissioned first lieutenant, he commanded his company the most of the time, and was a brave, faithful and intrepid soldier. After the war he taught school in Dallas a short time, then gave some years to merchandising in that place. In 1871 he served as deputy clerk and the following year was elected to that position, serving faithfully until 1874. He was re-elected in 1880, and has held that office with credit to himself and to the general satisfaction of all concerned up to the present time. He owns 240 acres of good land, and is otherwise well fixed financially. His wife is a member of the Methodist Church.