Arthur
Jefferson Davis
An Early Yoakum County
Pioneer
By
Shirley D. Webb
(Sources: Sallye Ruth Davis
Shoemaker; “History of Floyd County, Texas” “Yoakum County From Sod to
1986”; “Family History & Memories” by Ethel Davis Perkins Lytle;
genealogy database of James R. Webb)
Eva Lena Farnsworth’s
family settled in Limestone County, Texas, after their move to Texas from
Tennessee. The
Farnsworth family had its roots in Loudoun County, Virginia, where Lena’s
ancestor, Henry Farnsworth, served
in the Revolutionary War.
George Washington Farnsworth, Lena’s father, moved to Floyd County in
the Texas Panhandle but he had an interest in the newly formed Yoakum County and
bought land there when the county was first being settled.
Arthur Jefferson Davis’
ancestry also comes from the southern part of the United States.
His father, Caleb Johnson Davis was born in Arkansas and his mother,
Sarah Elizabeth Williams, came from Mississippi.
Arthur’s paternal grandparents were John Alvin Davis and Lucy Caroline
Duvall and his Great Grandparents were Capt. Caleb Davis and Elizabeth Tacket.
On March 1, 1906, Arthur J
Davis married Eva Lena Farnsworth in Floyd County Texas. Arthur and Lena hitched
up their horses to the wagon with all their belongings and towed their buggy
behind the wagon. They
headed for the land that was given to them by Lena's father, G W
Farnsworth, located about seven miles southwest of Plains. They lived in
a half dugout for awhile. Arthur did freighting from Canyon,
Seagraves and Big Spring, hauling lumber and other supplies for ranchers
and business places in town. He spread his roll of bedding at night under the
stars in heaven and this was his bedroom. He carried his cooking supplies in his
chuck box.
Arthur was born March 27,
1881, in Erath County Texas. Lena was born May 11, 1884, at Armour, Limestone
County Texas. They were stock
farmers and like most all the families in the area were in the same boat, poor,
but with a loving family life and enough to eat, since they raised most of their
food. The kids were happy for Saturday to come because they could take eggs,
milk and butter to Plains and exchange it for flour, sugar or whatever was
needed, and the treat of an ice cream cone, "sody" pop or a lemon
stick candy.
The name of Arthur
Jefferson Davis is found on the 1917-1918 Civilian Registration Cards for Yoakum
County. Many young men of the county
registered for this draft. As
a family man, Arthur registered but was not called to go to war.
He served as a county commissioner for Precinct No. 2 for one term and
supervised construction of roads and a water works system.
Lena and Arthur were the
proud parents of three children: George
Wilburn Davis who was born 6 Dec 1909 in Yoakum County and died in Clovis, New
Mexico, in 1986. He married
Frances Dickson. Vera
Estelle Davis was born 2 Jan 1913 in Yoakum County and died 28 Mar 1980.
She was a lifetime resident of the county and married Leonard Orville
Smith on May 31, 1935. Sallye
Ruth Davis was born 2 Oct 1916 in Yoakum County and married Lynn Shoemaker on 19
Sep 1938. She and Lynn lived
on the West Coast until about 1980 when they returned to West Texas.
Lynn died in 1987. Sallye
Ruth is a resident of Plains and one who remembers well the history of the
county which her parents called home from the earliest years.
Arthur and Lena died in 1948 within 6 weeks of each other.
They had a full life working and raising their family.
Copyright
2003 © Shirley D. Webb