Sutter-Yuba County Biographies

GRANT DAVIS

Transcribed by: Kathy Sedler

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives 
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm
 
A prominent rancher and sheep-raiser of Sutter County, Grant Davis was born near 
South Butte, now called Sutter City, May 5, 1866, a son of Eli and Sophie 
(Hindman) Davis.  The former was born March 20, 1830, in Columbiana County, 
Ohio, a descendant of one of two brothers who immigrated from Wales to the 
United States in Colonial times; while from the other brother was lineally 
descended Jefferson Davis, president of the Southern Confederacy from 1861 to 
1865.  Eli Davis went to Iowa in 1840 and lived there until 1852, when he 
crossed the plains, working his passage by driving an ox team and prairie 
schooner.  He went directly to the mines at Seventy-six and was engaged in 
mining and prospecting for himself for several years, but with indifferent luck. 
 On going to Marysville, he engaged in teaming for a while and opened a livery 
stable, which he conducted tor two or three years, being in company with a 
friend.  He sold his share to his partner and then located near the present 
home, buying a squatter�s right at first; and then, when the land came into the 
market, he purchased it.  Embarking in farming and stock-raising, he was quite 
successful, and from time to time purchased additional land until he owned about 
3000 acres, one-half of which he planted to grain, and the remainder was used 
for pasture land and for raising hay.  He raised sheep and cattle quite 
extensively until his death, which occurred in 1909.  Eli Davis served in the 
California State Militia and for several years was captain of the Butte Mountain 
Rangers, a company organized in Sutter County.  For twelve years he served as 
supervisor of District No. 3, also of Sutter County.  With Theodore Hull, B. F. 
Walton, Captain Wilbur, George O�Lear and George Wilson, he was interested in 
the fight made against hydraulic mining, being one of the first to agitate the 
question in Sutter County. Mr. and Mrs. Davis were the parents of eight 
children:  Wallace, Clara, Sophia, Edith, Ruth, Ella Virginia, Florence and 
Grant, the fourth child and the subject of this sketch.  Mrs. Davis resides in 
Alameda, holding title to about 700 acres of tule land and 730 acres in the 
Sutter Buttes.
Grant Davis attended the Washington district school and Napa College.  Before 
his father�s death, he was foreman on the ranch, and after his death he received 
160 acres of the old home place by inheritance.  He also leases 850 acres from 
his mother and runs sheep on this tract, having about 1400 to 1500 head of ewes. 
 He purchased, besides, 800 acres of butte land in the vicinity of his mother�s 
tract, which he also uses for sheep-raising.
On April 27, 1899, at Sutter, Grant Davis was united in marriage with Emma 
Forderhase, a native of Warren County, Mo., and a daughter of W. H. and Louise 
(Whisbrock) Forderhase.  Her parents� sketch is given on another page in this 
volume.  Emma Forderhase came to California about 1888; but she attended the 
Missouri schools, where she received a good education.  Mr. and Mrs. Davis are 
the parents of two sons, Cecil and Percy, both associated with their father.  A 
Republican in his political views, Mr. Davis is a stanch supporter of that 
party�s principles, casting his ballot for the movements that tend toward the 
betterment of his community.
 
History of Yuba and Sutter Counties, Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, 1924
p 668