Jonathan S. Davis is one of the well known farmers and land owners of
Macoupin county, who by his thorough knowledge of agriculture and
stock-raising and sound business methods has taken an advanced place among
the men of the county. He was born in Shaws Point township March 7, 1868,
being the eldest of two sons of James F. and Laura M. (Morrison) Davis. The
father was a native of Loami, Illinois, and the mother of Tiffin, Ohio.
James F. Davis was brought to Macoupin county in his infancy by his parents
and spent his entire life in this county, becoming the owner of a fine farm
of four hundred acres in Shaws Point township. He died June 8, 1896, at the
age of sixty-two years, but Mrs. Davis is still living and makes her home
with her youngest son James Henry, a physician of Carlinville, a record of
whom appears elsewhere in this work. She has for many years been an earnest
member of the Christian church, as was also her husband.
The
paternal grandfather of our subject was Elijah Davis, who was born in
Kentucky, June 23, 1787. He married Catherine Miller, also a native of
Kentucky, born in October, 1790. Mr. Davis was opposed to slavery, and he
and his wife were among the early settlers of Carlinville, Macoupin county,
Illinois. In 1834 he entered land in Shaws Point township, which has ever
since been in possession of the family. This land he cleared and improved,
developing it into one of the productive farms of the township. He died
December 14, 1843, being survived by his wife until July 10, 1859. They were
worthy representatives of the fearless spirits that braved the hardships of
the frontier, and here established homes in what is now one of the most
prosperous sections of the state. After the death of its original owner the
farm was purchased by Jonathan Davis, an uncle of our subject. In 1890 it
was willed to Jonathan S. and James Henry Davis.
Mr. Davis of this
review has from his earliest recollection been identified with agricultural
pursuits. He received his preliminary education in the public schools and
later attended the University of Illinois and the college at Eureka,
Illinois. He and his brother have been in charge of the home place
continuously for many years, except for five years, when the former was
engaged in settling up estates, and they are now the owners of over one
thousand acres in this county. Mr. Davis raises two hundred head of hogs
yearly, keeps from fifteen to thirty head of horses and also is extensively
engaged in the cattle business. He has shown special aptitude for the
calling to which he has devoted his best thought and energy, and ranks as
one of the leading farmers and stock-raisers of this section of the state.
On January 15, 1901, Mr. Davis was married to Miss Ida Pease, of
Waverly, Illinois, a daughter of Epaphras and Abbigo (Perrime) Pease, the
former of whom was born in Ohio and the latter in New Jersey. Mr. and Mrs.
Davis are the parents of four children, namely: Elizabeth Helen, who was
born October 23, 1901; Jonathan E., born March 22, 1903; May C., born August
27, 1905; and Henry Franklin, born January 22, 1909.
Mr. Pease, the
father of Mrs. Davis, was a son of Abram and Phoebe Pease. He came with his
parents to Morgan county, Illinois, in the pioneer days. The father entered
land, which he cleared and improved, spending the remainder of his life upon
the farm. He died in 1878. Epaphras Pease purchased land at an early day
when it was cheap and actively engaged in farming until 1901. He moved to
Waverly, Illinois, however, in 1880, and still resides at that place, having
arrived at the age of eighty-three years. The mother died July 12, 1880.
Politically Mr. Davis gives his allegiance to the republican party and
in religious belief he and his family are affiliated with the Christian
church. He is a strong advocate of education, having been for many years a
close observer of its benefits, and he is now serving as member of the
school board. He has for many years been actively connected with the Masonic
order. He is abreast of the times in the latest ideas relating to his
calling, and brings to his work a careful and well trained mind. These
qualifications have contributed in a marked degree to the gratifying success
he has attained.
Extracted 18 May 2018 by Norma Hass from History of Macoupin County, Illinois: Biographical and Pictorial, by Charles A. Walker, published in 1911, Volume 2, pages 75-76.
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