ev. Robert Macklin Davis, son of Rev. William and Polly (Sebastian) Davis, was born in White County, Ill., Mary 5, 1824. His parents were natives of North Carolina and Tennessee, respectively, and of English descent. They came to Illinois in 1811. Both his grandfathers were wounded in the war of the Revolution. His father, Rev. William Davis, dying when he was thirteen years old, he was thrown upon his own resources and was compelled to work upon the farm and obtain the of his education by hard study at home, though he attended school two winters after he was married.
He was received into the Cumberland Presbyterian Church October 21, 1839, and became a candidate for the ministry Oct. 29, 1843. He was licensed to preach September 28, 1844, and ordained to the whole work of the ministry March 31, 1849. Rev. Mr. Davis was sent as a home missionary to preach at several places within the limits of the Ewing Presbytery, and received many members into the church at Eagle Creek, Equality, Galatia, McLeansboro, New Haven and other places.
He organized the Palestine church near his own home in 1852, and has been its only pastor. He took charge of the village church in 1851, and preached there about twenty-six years. In 1855, he took charge of the Union Ridge Church, and has continued to be its pastor to the present time. He organized Oak Grove Church in 1860, and the New Haven Church in 1868. Assisted by Rev. J. M. Miller he organized the church at McLeansboro, became its pastor in 1876, and resigned the position in 1883. In 1879 he took charge of the Norris City Church, continuing its pastor until 1884. He organized the Hazel Ridge Church in 1883, assisted by Rev. William E. Davis, who afterward became its pastor. Since beginning his ministerial career he has not until recently had less than four churches under his charge and now he has three. He devotes nearly all of his time to reading, preaching and other church work, in which he has met with remarkable sucess, having received more than 2,000 into the church.
One of the most notable incidents in his career was the reunion of hte Cumberland Presbyteiran Churches at hte "Old Village Church," September 19, 1886, from which have strung thirteen other churches. At this reunion about 1,200 people were present, all "seeiming to realize that this was the annual gathering at Jerusalem to worship the God of their fathers and to covent anew that they would continue in the good work" Rev. Mr. Davis officiated on that memorable occasion, reading Psalm lxxxiv, and taking for this text Isa. xxxii:20, upon the theme presented therein delivereing an eloquent and thrilling discourse.
Rev. Mr. Davis was married to Miss Mary Sharp February 27, 1844, by whom he has four children: Prof. William Isaac Davis, a classical graduate of Lincoln University; was president of Hamilton College five years, of the main seminary at Tallequa, Cherokee Nation, three years, and while here engaged was appointed by the Government to organize an Indian school at Grand Junction, Colo., where he is still engaged; M. M. and S. M. Davis are in the dry-goods business in Omaha, Ill., and Jennie, the only daughter, is at home, studying and teaching music, and is also a very zealous worker in the W.C.T.U. has attended Hamilton College, and is now attending school in Omaha and teaching music.
Submitted by Jon Musgrave
[Author unknown] 1887. History of Gallatin, Saline, Hamilton, Franklin and Williamson Counties, Illinois. 534-535.
Note: Compare this biography to the one in the 1883 History of White County. There are subtle differences in the two versions written just a few years apart.
