Home > United States of America > Wisconsin > Ashland County > Ashland > Mount Hope Cemetery > Jackson Allen Davis

Jackson Allen Davis

Birth	:	10 Feb 1847 Marengo, McHenry County, Illinois, USA
Death	:	1 Dec 1927 Davis, Turner County, South Dakota, USA
Burial	:	Mount Hope Cemetery, Ashland, Ashland County, USA
Coordinate	:	46.5621986, -90.9039001
Description	:	Jackson Allen Davis was born on February 10th, 1847 in Marengo, Illinois to Henry C. Davis and Catherine Burt. His father Henry was born in Milton, Vermont and his mother, Catherine in Ste Catherines, Quebec. At the age of seventeen, he left his home and acted as a stewart on a boat on the Mississippi River. Then at the age of 24 in June of 1871, he with his parents and several other families came to Dakota Territory. The following is Jackson's own account of the journey from Illinois to Dakota Territory: "We decided to go to... Read More	Jackson Allen Davis was born on February 10th, 1847 in Marengo, Illinois to Henry C. Davis and Catherine Burt. His father Henry was born in Milton, Vermont and his mother, Catherine in Ste Catherines, Quebec. At the age of seventeen, he left his home and acted as a stewart on a boat on the Mississippi River. Then at the age of 24 in June of 1871, he with his parents and several other families came to Dakota Territory. The following is Jackson's own account of the journey from Illinois to Dakota Territory: "We decided to go to Dakota Territory to procure homes. We packed two covered wagons with the most necessary articles, a horse team to each wagon, and three loose horses, two of them inferior animals; with a very few dollars in our pockets, we journeyed across the states of Illinois and Iowa to the little city of Sioux City, cooking by camp fires and sleeping on the ground or in our wagons. Here we seeked information about the Dakota Territory and were told why go farther? Western and northwestern Iowa is far from being settled, why bid good bye to the railroads and jump off into the great American desert? But we were determined to go to Dakota Territory. The first day out of Sioux City we reached the thrifty French settlement. These neighborly people told us that all desirable claims around there were taken and advised us to go farther. We received the same information when we reached Elk Point. At Vermillion we found the U.S. land office where we received much valuable information from Col. Jolly, who was one of the main men in the office and is now living at Vermillion, regarding vacant land. From Vermillion we journeyed northward and arriving at Baker's Mill, a point 2 1/2 miles south of where Centerville is now located, my father got poisoned with ivy and had to remain there and it was decided that Waterman should stay and care for the horses and camp while I went on to spy out the land. During our travel a young man had fallen in with us and trailed along. He volunteered to go with me. We saddled our horses, put some provision in a sack, buckled on our revolver belts, and were off to the north. There were no trails and no signs of settlers. We reached the high point of land about 2 1/2 miles southwest of now Davis and with wonder and amazement looked out up on the landscape. Here was a view of nearly all of Turner County and within this range of vision only one tree and that lone tree growing near the water edge 8 miles to the north on a farm where L.E. Stoddard now lives. To the north at a point 1/2 mile north of where we are now located a board shanty could be seen and southwest of this shanty about one mile two sod houses and that was all. We traveled to the board shanty and found Cyrus Morris with his family located there who informed us that the land about him was unclaimed and after examination, I selected one-quarter section south of Morris, which has since been known as the old Davis homestead, and two quarters north of Morris, I taking one which is now known as the C.C. DeBoer farm and Waterman the one now known as the DeVries farm." Their first home on the prairie was a one room house measuring 14 feet by 14 feet. It had no chamber or basement and only two small windows. The walls were one inch thick and just plain boards, with tar paper and some bats on the outside and building paper and newspapers tacked on the inside. There was no chimney, but a stove pipe was cut through the roof. The floor was of rough boards laid close enough to keep out the largest of the snakes and reptiles. Water for drinking and cooking came from the Vermillion River, which was a half mile away. He raised the first wheat in Turner County in 1872 and operated the first threshing machine in the fall of the same year. Jackson was a member of the Methodist Church and was a superintendent of the Sunday school for many years. He was an officer in the first Sunday school organized in Turner County in May, 1872. At this time, he was elected as county sheriff and was the first officer who sold the first quarter section of land in Turner County that was sold under foreclosure sale. In 1875 his father was found to suffering from cancer of his lip. On January 23, 1876, Jackson Arthur at the age of 29 was married to Edna Victoria Hill who was 20 in the sod home of her parents by J.W. Spangler, the Methodist Episcopal Minister. Their first child, Ellen C. was born on March 7th, 1877. In the spring of 1881 during the spring breakup there were great floods. Jackson's father was bedridden with cancer, but the waters were so threatening that the sick man was moved on a bed to the home of Thomas R. Negus, where he died on April 23rd, 1881. Jackson related the following story which was published in the local newspaper, The Davis Eagle on January 28, 1926: "In 1981, Mr. Davis's father returned from Ponca, Nebraska, where he had been since April of that year doctoring for cancer. All the money the family had had been spent on doctor bills and his father returned home without any relief from the disease. In December, financial conditions became so bad with the Davis family that he was forced to go to Sioux Falls and try to borrow some money to buy provisions with. Mr. Davis started out one December morning in a bob sled with four feet of snow on the ground. Arriving in Sioux Falls, he with another man, tried all over town to borrow money. There was only one place left and that was in an upper room of a building that was occupied by three lawyers. Mr. Davis told the gentlemen his story. One of the men by the name of Edwin Sage jumped up and said, "That's as hard a situation as I ever saw a man buck. I will raise one half of the amount if you two raise the other half." The other two gentlemen stated that they couldn't do it and Mr. Sage gave Mr. Davis his check for $20 and $20 in cash for which he wrote out a mortgage for $60 at 10% interest for 90 days." He was postmaster in Davis for a short time, a member of the Town Board, and was engaged in the real estate business for many years. He was an Odd Fellow for 36 years. The town of Davis was named after him as well. Their first daughter Ellen C. died on September 7th, 1879. In June of 1887, their second daughter, Nellie Mae was born. And on February 12th, 1898, their first son and last child, Carl Henry was born to them. Jackson and Edna celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on January 23rd, 1926. A crowd of 250 people honored them at the Methodist Church in Davis. His wife Edna died on February 23rd, 1927 at the age of 71, after a two month illness. Jackson's health gradually began to fail after the death of his wife. On October 10th he was confined to his home with an attack of dropsy from which he never recovered and he passed away on December 1st, 1927 at the age of 80.

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is Jackson Allen Davis's memorial?
Jackson Allen Davis's memorial is located at: Mount Hope Cemetery, Ashland, Ashland County, USA.
When did Jackson Allen Davis death?
Jackson Allen Davis death on 1 Dec 1927 in Davis, Turner County, South Dakota, USA
Where are the coordinates of the Jackson Allen Davis's memorial?
Latitude: 46.5621986
Longitude: -90.9039001

Family Members:

Parent

Henry C. Davis

(1821 - 1881)

Catherine Burt Davis Chase

(1828 - 1914)

Spouse

Edna Victoria Hill Davis

(1855 - 1926)

Siblings

Sarah G. Davis Bates

(1852 - 1915)

Children

Ella C. Davis

(1877 - 1879)

Nellie Mae Davis Reetz

(1887 - 1954)

Carl Henry Davis

(1898 - 1967)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Mount Hope Cemetery
Ashland, Ashland County, USA
Coordinate: 46.5621986, -90.9039001

2. Saint Agnes Cemetery
Ashland, Ashland County, USA
Coordinate: 46.5614014, -90.9075012

3. B'Nai Israel Cemetery
Ashland, Ashland County, USA
Coordinate: 46.5600014, -90.9116974

4. Heitsch Family Burial Plot
Barksdale, Bayfield County, USA
Coordinate: 46.6315661, -90.9560996

5. Church Corner Cemetery
Washburn, Bayfield County, USA
Coordinate: 46.6595000, -90.9889000

6. Moquah National Cemetery
Moquah, Bayfield County, USA
Coordinate: 46.5702860, -91.0718390

7. Moquah Cemetery
Moquah, Bayfield County, USA
Coordinate: 46.5701980, -91.0731530

8. Woodland Cemetery
Washburn, Bayfield County, USA
Coordinate: 46.6845100, -90.9049800

9. Calvary Cemetery
Washburn, Bayfield County, USA
Coordinate: 46.6852989, -90.9008026

10. Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Cemetery
Moquah, Bayfield County, USA
Coordinate: 46.5698013, -91.0842972

11. Saint Peters Cemetery
Benoit, Bayfield County, USA
Coordinate: 46.5236015, -91.0781021

12. Old Apostolic Lutheran Cemetery
Marengo, Ashland County, USA
Coordinate: 46.4408640, -90.8473530

13. Bad River Cemetery
Odanah, Ashland County, USA
Coordinate: 46.5992100, -90.7208900

14. Saint Anne Catholic Cemetery
Sanborn, Ashland County, USA
Coordinate: 46.4294281, -90.9071426

15. Benoit Cemetery
Benoit, Bayfield County, USA
Coordinate: 46.5026016, -91.0794983

16. Old Calvary Cemetery
Washburn, Bayfield County, USA
Coordinate: 46.7072906, -90.8947830

17. Fish Creek Cemetery
Ino, Bayfield County, USA
Coordinate: 46.5241165, -91.1252823

18. Moland Lutheran Church Cemetery
Mason, Bayfield County, USA
Coordinate: 46.4131012, -90.9897995

19. Mason Cemetery
Mason, Bayfield County, USA
Coordinate: 46.4401800, -91.0555800

20. Maple Grove Cemetery
Marengo, Ashland County, USA
Coordinate: 46.3852997, -90.8606033

21. Moe Cemetery
Mason, Bayfield County, USA
Coordinate: 46.3789200, -90.9498900

22. Saint Florians Cemetery
Ino, Bayfield County, USA
Coordinate: 46.5161438, -91.1750412

23. Birch Lake Cemetery
Mason, Bayfield County, USA
Coordinate: 46.3569603, -90.9666595

24. Mount Hope Cemetery
High Bridge, Ashland County, USA
Coordinate: 46.3859700, -90.7353300