From the
Biographical Record of the Counties of Rock, Green, Grant, Iowa and Lafayette, Wisconsin, publ. 1901- page 682-683
JOHN DAVIS, deceased, was a farmer and stock raiser of the town of Lima, Grant county, and was born in North Wales, England, in 1807, where he grew up, and married Miss Sarah A. KENT, born in the same country in 1817. In 1845 they came to this country by way of New Orleans and the Mississippi river to Galena, settling at Smelser, Grant county, where he was engaged in mining for some time. In 1848 he bought a tract of wild land consisting of 360 acres, in the town of Lima, where his daughter now resides. A good log house was the family abode during his life. In 1849 Mr. DAVIS crossed the plains to the gold fields of California, where he met with rather good success. Coming back to his wife and family in their Wisconsin home, he remained here the rest of his life, dying in April 1875, while on a visit to his sisters near Holywell, England. Mrs. Sarah A. DAVIS survived her husband's loss some twelve years, and died Nov. 22, 1887, at her home in Lima.
(1) Emma DAVIS, the oldest child of this worthy couple, was born in Wales in July, 1844, and married Thomas DAY, of Grant county. Mrs. DAY is now a widow, and lives in Lancaster, with a family of eight children: Etta, Nettie, John, Delia, Bertha, Oscar, Fred, and Flossie.
(2) Catherine M. DAVIS, born in Wisconsin in 1845, married Pleasant PRICHETT, a farmer in the town of Lima, where she died on Christmas Day 1875, leaving three children: Hugh is married and living in Lima; John, deceased in young manhood; and Curtis, who died in childhood.
(3) Mrs. BEVAN, the youngest of the DAVIS family, was born in Smelser, Sept. 30, 1846, and had her education in the public schools of Grant county. In September 1870 she married Johnson BEVAN, who was born in Clinton county, Ohio, Feb. 16, 1845. His parents died when he was a mere child, and he grew up in the home of his uncle, Joshua FAWCETT, who came to Wisconsin in the fall of 1859. Mr. and Mrs. BEVAN settled at Little Platte, where he owned a farm which he sold in 1876, and moved to the DAVIS homestead, the childhood home of his wife, and here they have lived to the present time. Soon after settling on the place he built a new and modern house, and in 1888 put up barns and other farm buildings, and by his assiduous labors he has made it one of the fine farms of the county. It consisted at the time of his purchase of 140 acres.
Mr. and Mrs. BEVAN are the parents of five children who are now living: Luella, born May 23, 1872, had her education in the public schools and in the State Normal at Platteville, and for ten years has been a popular and successful school teacher; Sartoris, born in June 27, 1875, lives at home, and assists in the farm work; Georgie, born Nov. 2, 1877, died in childhood; Virgil, born Sept. 4, 1879, is at home; Celia, born March 27, 1883, is now attending the State Normal at Platteville, and is preparing herself for teaching; and Hurus, born June 4, 1887, is the youngest of this family.
During the Civil war Mr. BEVAN enlisted in Company A, 33d Wis. V.I. and served in the Western Army, under Gen. Banks, and then under Gen. Thomas, participating in a number of fiercely contested battles on the Mississippi, and in front of Nashville. From that city the 33d Wisconsin went to Mobile, and assisted in the capture of that city and its protecting forts. It remained in the service until September, 1865, and had many difficulty experiences. After the war Mr. BEVAN went back to his old home in Ohio, where he remained for a time. His political views coincide with the principles of the Republican party, and he has held the office of justice of the peace some eight years. As one might expect from his military record, he takes an interest in his old comrades of the tented camp and battlefield, and belongs to Sherman Post, No. 66, G.A.R., at Platteville. In religion Mr. and Mrs. BEVAN are associated with the Baptist Church, though his own people are Quakers. Mr. BEVAN is a man highly respected for his many good qualities, and is esteemed for his sterling worth and genuine character. Mrs. BEVAN is a worthy companion of her honorable and upright husband, and is highly regarded for her womanly character and estimable spirit.
The parents of Mr. BEVAN were John and Nancy (FAWCETT) BEVAN, natives of Virginia, and settlers in Ohio at an early day, where they both died. There are three sisters and one brother living. Lydia is the wife of James ELLIS, of Clinton county, Ohio; Lucinda is the wife of Hugh JOHNSON, of the same county; Sarah J. is the wife of Joseph ARNOLD, of the same county; and Samuel married and settled at Bloomington, Illinois.
This biography generously submitted by
Carol Holmbeck