Davis Family History
by Mary Davis

 

 

The first history of the Davis Family is in the name of Carter.  The 1870 U.S. Census for Georgia revealed the following information:

 

Name                          Household Status       Age     Occupation

 

Carter, Gilbert              Husband                       33        Farm Worker

Carter, Sarah Ann        Wife                             30        House Keeper

Carter, Coleman           Son                              14        Farm Worker

Carter, Melvinia            Daug                            12        Farm Worker

Carter, Aaron               Son                              8         

Carter, James               Son                              6

Carter, Milly                 Daug                            9/12

 

The Carter Family lived in Gordon County Georgia.  The census indicated they were all born in Georgia  and that they were farmer.  Coleman was the oldest child born in 1865.

 

 

The 1880 U.S. Census for Georgia reveals a very interesting details about the Carter Family.  They have now moved to a neighboring county Murray and have changed their name to Davis. 

 

Name                          Household Status       Age     Occupation                 *BP

Davis, Gilbert               Husband                       50        Farmer                         GA

Davis, Sarah Ann          Wife                             48        House Keeper              GA

Davis, Malvinia Daug                            22        Farm Laborer               GA

Davis, Aaron                Son                              17        Farm Laborer               GA

Davis, James                Son                              14        Farm Laborer               GA

Davis, Sarah Ann          Daug                            10        At Home                      GA

Davis, Henry Wm         Grandson                     3          At Home                      GA

*BP - means birth place

 

Coleman is no longer in the household and the family lived in the Military District #825 Ball Ground area.  Malvinia has a son now listed in the household, Henry William whose race is listed as mulatto.  Which was a term used to describe persons of mixed races.  Oral history provided by Matthew Davis tells us his William Henry (Will) father was the former white slave owner named Carter’s son.

 

The 1880 U.S. Census indicated that Coleman was married and now lived in Troup County, Georgia.  He had started a family and his occupation was farming.  His household consisted of:

 

 

Name                                      Age     Household  Status      Occupation     BP

 

Davis, Coleman                        25        Husband                       Farmer             GA

Davis , Georgia             22        Wife                             Housekeeper    GA

Davis, Ella                                5          Daug                            At Home          GA

Davis, Nettie                            3          Daug                            At Home          GA

Davis,   Mosie                           1          Daug                            At Home          GA

 

Both Coleman and Georgia could read and write. 

 

 

*  There is no U.S. Census for 1890 it burned in a fire and no copies were made. 

 

Sometime between 1890 and 1900 oral history reported by Matthew Davis stated that Coleman came to Arkansas with his nephew Will Davis, niece and nephew Lula  and her brother Jupiter(?) Wiley to Ashley County, Arkansas.  The story goes that Will’s  father gave him land in Arkansas to settle but Will didn’t like Arkansas, the work of clearing the land and establishing a homestead was too difficult for him so he gave the land to Coleman and his other relatives and he returned to Georgia.

 

The 1900 U.S. Census for Murray County Georgia indicates that Gilbert and his family still reside there.  He is still farming.

 

                                                                        Birth            Married

Name              Household Status     Age       MO/YR         # of Yrs             Occupation           

Davis, Gilbert               Husband           68        3/1832           45            Farmer          

Davis, Sarah Ann          Wife                 64        10/1835         45            House Keeper           

Davis, Malvinia Daug                41        8/1858                           Farm Laborer            

Davis, Aaron                Son                  37        9/1862                           Farm Laborer            

Davis, Willie                 Grandson         21        4/1879                          Farm Laborer

 

James and Sarah Ann are out of the household.  This census also gives the number of years in marriage and the month and year of birth.  Gilbert and Sarah Ann had been married for approximately forty-five years which gives them a year of marriage as 1855.

 

The 1900 U.S. Census also revealed that James had started his own family and had moved to Bartow County, Georgia.  His household consisted of the following individuals:

 

Name                          Age       Household  Status                Occupation     BP

 

Davis, James                35                    Husband                       4/1865             GA

Davis, Mattie                30                    Wife                             4/1870             GA

Davis, Maude               10                    Daug                            1/1890             GA

Name                          Age     Household  Status      Occupation        Birth Place

 

Davis,   Alva                 8                      Daug                7/1891                         GA

Davis, Willard               6                      Son                  7/1893                         GA

Davis, James                4                      Son                  1/1896                         GA

Davis, Mary                 2                      Daug                1/1898                         GA

Obey, Eliza                   54        Mother-in law               3/1846                         GA

Davis, George              28        Brother-in-law              1/1872                         GA

 

 

This family is living in Cartersville, Georgia in the Militia Army District #822.

 

 

The 1910 U.S. Census indicates that Gilbert Davis and his family were still in Murray county, Georgia.  The family consisted of the following individuals:

 

Name                          Household Status       Age     Occupation         Birth Place

 

Davis, Gilbert               Husband                       78        Farmer                         GA

Davis, Sarah Ann          Wife                             77        House Keeper              GA

Davis, Malvinia Daug                            51        Farm Laborer               GA

 

Their occupation is still listed as farming.

 

The 1910 U.S. Census indicates that Aaron lives down the  road from his father and has started his owned family.  He and his family are engaged in farming also.  His household consisted of the following individuals:

 

Name                          Household Status       Age     Occupation         Birth Place

 

Davis, Aaron                Husband                       47        Farming                        GA

Davis, Mahalia  Wife                             43        House keeper               GA

Davis, Walter               Son                              19        Farming                        GA

Davis, Jasper                Son                              17        Farming                        GA

Davis, Charley              Son                              13        Farming                        GA

Davis, Gilbert               Son                              4          At Home                      GA

White, Easter                Granddaughter              9          At Home                      GA

White, Susan                Granddaughter              9          At Home                      GA

 

James and his family did not appear on the 1910 U.S. Census.  Their location is unknown at this time.

 

 

 

 

The 1920 U.S. Census for Murray County Georgia indicated that the Davis Family was still residing in the same location.  Gilbert is now deceased and Melvinia is the head of household.    Aaron’s  son Charley is now living with his aunt and grandmother Melvinia and her mother Sarah Ann. 

 

Name                          Household Status                 Age       Occupation         Birth Place

 

Davis, Melvinia Head of Household/Single         56        Farming                        GA

Davis, Sarah Ann          Wife/Wd                                  85        House Keeper              GA

Davis, Charley              Nephew/Single             22        Farm Laborer               GA

 

It appears Melvinia never married and has always lived with her parents.  They are still farming rented land.

 

Aaron Davis and family still live in the same community and several of their children have moved out of the household.   Aaron’s household consisted of the following individuals:

 

Name                          Household Status                 Age       Occupation         Birth Place

 

Davis, Aaron                Husband                                   47        Farming                        GA

Davis, Mahalia  Wife                                         43        House keeper               GA

Davis, Gilbert               Son                                          15        Farming                        GA

Davis, Sryna                 Granddaughter                          19        Keeping house              GA

 

Everyone in the household could read and write.  The community in which they lived is Carters, Georgia.  They are farming rented land.  His son Charley was living with his sister and mother during this time.

 

Also, on the 1920 U.S. Census Will Davis appears with his family.  They are living in Carters Community and farming rented land also.  The household consisted of the following individuals:

 

Name                          Household Status                 Age       Occupation         Birth Place

 

Davis, Will                    Husband                                   44        Farming                        GA

Davis, Caroline Wife                                         42        Keeping House GA

Davis, Assie                 Daug                                        12        At Home                      GA

Davis    Pauline Daug                                        10        At Home                      GA

Davis, Laura                 Daug                                        8          At Home                      GA

Davis, Hugh                  Son                                          6          At Home                      GA

Davis, William  Son                                          2          At. Home                     GA

 

Everyone in the household could read and write. 

 

Coleman Davis and his family did not appear on the any other Gerogia Census since the 1880.

Arkansas Heritage

Coleman Davis appears on the 1900 U.S. Census in Arkansas.  He is living in the Bastrop Township in Ashley County. His household consisted of the following individuals”

 

Name                          Household Status       Age     DOB       Occupation     Birth Place

 

Davis, Coleman            Husband                       43        12/1856    Farmer                    GA

Davis, Mattie                Wife                             34        12/1865    At Home                 AR

Davis, Joseph               Son                              8          1/1892      At Home                 AR

Davis, Gilbert               Son                              4          8/1895      At Home                 AR

Davis, Emma                Daug                            3          1/1897      At Home                 AR

Wiley, Lula                   Niece                           11        2/1889      At Home                 GA

 

They were living in the small community named Wilmot, Arkansas.  Both of Mattie’s parents were born in Alabama.  The Davis Family was engaged in farming rented land in Ashley County, Arkansas.  *Coleman married Mattie Allen on March 3, 1887 according to the Davis Family Bible.          

 

This was Coleman’s second marriage and Mattie’s first.  Mattie had had four children only three were living at the time of the census.  Coleman’s niece from Georgia was also in the household.

 

The 1910 U.S. Census for Ashley County Arkansas indicated several changes had taken place in the Davis household.  Mattie died on June 7, 1908 and Coleman had remarried.  Lula Wiley had married Jeff Watkins in 1906 and started her own family.  The family is still farming on renting farm land.  The following individuals were listed in the household:

 

Name                          Household Status       Age     DOB       Occupation     Birth Place

 

Davis, Coleman            Husband                       54        12/1856    Farmer                    GA

Davis, Cassie                Wife                             52        12/1854    At Home                 AR

Davis, Joseph               Son                              18        1/1892      Farming                   AR

Davis, Gilbert               Son                              14        8/1895      Farming                   AR

Davis, Emma                Daug                            13        1/1897      Framing                   AR

Davis, Matthew            Son                              9          12/12/00   Farming                   AR

Davis, Bob                   Son                              6          10/13/03   At Home                 AR

Davis, Mattie                Daug                            3          05/13/06   At Home                 AR

 

 

The 1910 U. S. Census for Ashley County indicated that Lula and Jeff Watkins were married and had two daughters.  They were also living in Wilmot, AR.  The household consisted of the following individuals:

 

Name                          Household Status       Age     Occupation         Birth Place

 

Watkins, Jeff                Husband                       32        Farming            AR

Watkins, Lula               Wife                             20        At Home          GA

Watkins, Aterbell          Daug                            1                                  AR

Watkins, Georgia          Daug                            2/12                             AR

 

Jeff Watkins had been married previously and this was the first marriage for Lula.  Both of Jeff Watkins’s parents were born in Louisiana.

 

The 1920 U.S. Census indicated that the Davis Family has now moved to Lincoln County, Arkansas, they are located in the Wells Bayou community.  Coleman has four children still at home.  His third wife Cassie Allen has died.  The household consisted of the following individuals:

 

Name                          Household Status       Age     DOB       Occupation     Birth Place

 

Davis, Coleman            Husband                       54        12/1856    Farmer                    GA

Davis, Emma                Daug                            13        1/1897      Framing                   AR

Davis, Matthew            Son                              9          12/12/00   Farming                   AR

Davis, Bob                   Son                              6          10/13/03   At Home                 AR

Davis, Mattie                Daug                            3          05/13/06   At Home                 AR

 

Everyone in the household could read and write.  They were engaged in farming and they were renting the land.

 

 

Joseph Davis, Coleman’s oldest son also appears on the 1920 U.S. Census living next door to his father.  He is married to Maggie Thurman from Louisiana. They were also farming rented land also.  The household consisted of the following individuals:

 

Name                          Household Status       Age                 Occupation     Birth Place

 

Davis, Joseph               Husband                       31                    Farmer                         AR

Davis, Maggie              Wife                             32                    At Home                      LA

Davis, Emma                Stepdaughter                12                    At Home                      AR

 

Everyone in the household could read and write.

 

Gilbert Davis was living next door to Joseph Davis who lived next door to Coleman Davis.  He was also involved in farming.  Everyone of age of the household could read and write.  The household consisted of the following: 

 

 

Name                          Household Status       Age                 Occupation     Birth Place

 

Davis, Gilbert               Husband                       24                    Farmer             AR

Davis, Lillie                   Wife                             23                    At Home          GA

Davis, Earnest              Son                              6                      At Home          AR

Davis, Ola                    Daug                            2                      At Home          AR

 

 

Lillie was born in Georgia and both of both parents were both in Georgia.

 

 

The 1920 U.S. Census for Lincoln County indicated that Lula Watkins was now married to Charles Price.  She is now living in the Cane Creek Community.  Everyone in the household could read and write.  Mr. Price owned his land and was engaged in farming.  The following individuals were listed as household members:

 

Price, Charles               Husband                       50                    Farming            AR

Price, Lula                    Wife                             31                    At Home          GA

Watkins, Ollie B           Step Daug                    11                    At Home          AR

Watkins, Thelma           Step Daug                    10                    At Home          AR

Watkins, Jeff                Step Son                      7                      At Home          AR

Watkins, Susie  Step Daug                    4                      At Home          AR

Watkins, Tommie         Step Son                      1                      At Home          AR

 

Oral history provided by Matthew Davis of Gould, Arkansas indicated that Lula is the daughter of Sarah Ann Davis, Coleman’s Baby sister in Georgia.  She also had a brother Jupiter Wiley who also lived in Wilmot, AR.  Lula had one more child, Charles Price Jr. born around 1922.  Lula died in childbirth on April 6, 1925.  She is buried in Liberty Cemetery in Coal Spur, AR.

 

 

The 1930 U.S. Census indicates the Davis were still a close family.  They all resided in Wells Bayou in Lincoln County

 

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cMary Davis, 2004