USA > Missouri > Ray County > History of Ray county, Mo. > Part 91
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B. FRANK DAVIS.
B. Frank Davis was born May 15, 1834, in Hart county, Kentucky. He received his education in the private schools of the neighborhood in which he lived. While his literary training is not extensive, he has a good English education, which is greatly strengthened by strong, prac- tical common-sense, and improved by intercourse with men, close obser- vation, a faculty for learning from passing events, and a retentive mem- ory that stores whatever of useful knowledge is to be garnered from sources of general information. He was raised on a farm in his native county, in the cultivation and management of which, he, in common with his brother, T. J. Davis, assisted his father. He moved with his parents to Ray county, Missouri, in 1853, and on the 29th day of October of that year, settled in Ray county, near the present village of Morton, within one-fourth of a mile of where he now resides, conducting a farm, which, with the exception of a period of interruption from the begin- ning to the ending of the civil war, has been his life-long vocation. His father was an esteemed and honored citizen of Kentucky. He lost his life by accident, about a year after his arrival in Ray county. He was at work at a carpenter's bench, at the end of which and supported by it, stood a loaded shot-gun. The continued jostling of the bench, finally caused the gun to slip backward and fall on the hammer, discharging it. The contents entered the calf of one of Mr. Davis' legs, severing an artery, and causing his death by hemorrhage-medical assistance arriving too late to save his life. June 20, 1861, in response to the call of Gov. Jackson, Mr. Davis enlisted in the Missouri state guards, and partici- patedin the engagements at Lexington, Carthage, Oak Hill, Elkhorn, and other places. When in Arkansas the troops were ordered east of the
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HISTORY OF RAY COUNTY.
Mississippi, to go thence to Memphis. But a company of sixty men, of which our subject was one, was placed in charge of the stock, equip- ments, and various munitions of war, and ordered to take them to Texas. Finding, however, a fine country in the Choctaw nation, with an abundance of grass, grain and water, they remained three months near Doaksville, Indian Territory, and did not cross the Red river into Texas. They were then ordered by Governor Jackson to report to him at Fort Smith, Arkansas, but Governor Jackson dying, December 6, 1862, they reported to Colonel George.
On the 20th of June following, exactly one year after he joined the Missouri state guards, Mr. Davis enlisted in the regular service of the Confederate states army, where he fought with uncomplaining bravery for principles he had cherished from childhood, till the close of the war. There was never a camp made, nor a single engagement, in which his company took part, but that he was present, like the true soldier that he was, ready and willing to share the dangers or hardships of his comrades. He was with his command in its every movement, from the day he enlisted- till the final surrender, Among others, he participated in the battles of Prairie Grove, December 7, 1862; Helena, Arkansas, July 4, 1863, and Little Rock, in the fall of 1863. While charging on the enemy at the battle of Helena, a shell burst immediately over the company of which Mr. Davis had command, and wounded thirteen men. From Little Rock, Captain Davis and his comrades went to Camden, Arkansas, and there went into winter quarters; and the following spring fought General Banks, at Mansfield and Pleasant Hill, Louisiana, all the forces of the opposing commanders on either side, being concentrated. Turning north after these engagements, they found Steele at Camden, and pursued him to Jenkins' Ferry, Saline river, where a general engagement took place. Subsequent to this battle he took part in numerous skirmishes and engage- ments of minor importance, and finally, in June, 1865, surrendered at Alexandria, Louisiana, and returned to his home in Ray county, where he was cordially welcomed by his friends. B. Frank Davis was married, January 24, 1871, to Miss Mary Bohannon, daughter of Colonel Louis C. Bohannon, of Ray county. She is a lady of intelligence and refinement, and by her amiable, affectionate disposition contributes to the happiness of her husband. They have four promising children, as follows: James L., Clay, Elliott, and Tom Frank. Mr. Davis is a successful, a worthy citizen, and an obliging gentleman.
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HISTORY OF RAY COUNTY.
CHARLES W. DAWSON.
Charles W. Dawson was born at Lawrenceburg, Anderson county, Kentucky, twelve miles east of Frankfort, on the 9th day of September, in the year 1855. He received his education in the schools of Lawrence- burg. His parents immigrated to Missouri in the spring of 1869, and pur- chasing a large farm one and a half miles north of Hardin, Ray county, settled there, and our subject was trained to the business of farming. In 1875, Mr. Dawson engaged with Spurlock & Wood, millers, of Hardin, again with Burton & Hanna in the dry goods business at the same place. Afterwards, for the benefit of his failing health, he visited Colorado Springs and Leadville, Colorado. Returning to Ray county in the fall of 1879, he again entered the dry goods trade, this time with Hughes & Son, where he still remains. Mr. Dawson was married on the 10th day of March, 1881, to Miss Maria S. Summerman, of Ray county. He is an enterprising, industrious young man, and highly regarded by his neigh- bors.
JOHN D. REYBURN.
Was born in Columbia, Boone county, Missouri, in 1825. He was edu- cated in the common schools. Came to Richmond, Ray county, in the year 1844, and worked at the business of a wool carder. In 1846 he enlisted for the war with Mexico, in Captain Henly's company. Was mustered into service at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, company G, of Colo- nel Willock's battalion. They were ordered to New Mexico for duty, and there at the battle of Moro, Captain Henly was killed, Captain Jacobs suc- ceeding to the command of the company to which Mr. Reyburn belonged. At the close of the war he was discharged at Fort Leavenworth, and returned to Ray county, Missouri. After a time he removed to Lafayette county, where he remained several years working at the carpentering trade. Again he came back to Ray county, locating at Hardin, where he yet lives. His marriage to Miss Margaret A. Thornton, of Boone county, Missouri, took place in the year 1849. They are the parents of five chil- dren: Alice, Ella, Lee, Florence and John I. Mr. Reyburn joined Gen- eral Joe Shelby's command of the Confederate army in the spring of 1861. He was in the battles of Lexington, Wilson's Creek, and several other minor engagements. When the war ended he returned to Ray county and resumed his work as a carpenter, at which business he has had an experience of nearly thirty years, having built the first house in the town of Hardin. Mr. Reyburn is an excellent carpenter, a substantial man, and a good citizen.
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HISTORY OF RAY COUNTY.
THOMAS J. DAVIS.
Thomas J. Davis is a native of Hart county, Kentucky, and was born April 12, 1836. He was educated in the common schools, and lived in the county of his birth till the fall of 1853, when he accompanied his parents to Missouri, and with them settled in Crooked River township, Ray county, not far from his present residence. After leaving school, Mr. Davis engaged in farming, an occupation he has followed ever since. In June, 1861, responding to the call of Governor Claiborne F. Jackson, he enlisted in the Missouri state guards, and while in this service, under Captain Bohannon, he started south to join General Sterling Price, whom they met a few miles from Carthage, Missouri, on the morning of the engagement at that place. He then went south with his comrades in arms, and remained till his return to participate in the battle of Oak Hill, against Generai Lyon. He was also in the battle of Lexington. Thence went to Pineville, and afterward took part in the battle of Elkhorn. From Van Buren, Arkansas, the soldiers were ordered east of the Mis- sissippi, to go thence to Memphis. Mr. Davis, however, was one of a company of sixty, or dered to remain at Des Ark, Arkansas, in charge of the stock, equipments, and other munitions of war belonging to the com- mand, and to take the same, for protection, into the state of Texas. This, however, they did not do, as they found an excellent country, abounding in grass and water, near Doaksville, Indian Territory. After remaining in Doaksville three months, they were ordered by Governor Jackson to report to him at Fort Smith, Arkansas, where he expected to meet them. Governor Jackson died, however, at a farm house, on the Arkansas river, opposite Little Rock, before reaching Fort Smith, and Mr. Davis and his comrades, on reaching Fort Smith; reported to Colonel George. Novem- ber 28, 1862, he enlisted as a soldier in the regular Confederate army, and served gallantly till the close of the war. He was in all the engagements mentioned in the biographical sketch of his brother, B. Frank Davis. He was never absent at roll-call, and never shirked a duty, nor faltered in any undertaking, however hazardous. In October, 1863, he was on detached service in the Confederate laboratory at Marshall, Texas. He rejoined his command at Shreveport, Louisiana. He surrendered at Alexandria, that state, in June, 1865, and, with his brother, returned home to Ray county, after an absence of four years, fighting for principles which have passed into history as the "lost cause." May 7, 1874, Thomas J. Davis married Miss Nannie Bohannon, of Ray county, daughter of Colonel Louis C. Bohannon, whose biography may be found elsewhere in this work. She is an intelligent, attractive lady, and, with her husband, is the recipient of the respect and esteem of all who know them.
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HISTORY OF RAY COUNTY.
THOMAS McINTOSH.
Born May the 10th, 1830, in Sullivan county, Indiana, is of Scotch descent, his grandfather coming from Scotland to America at a very early day. He was educated in the common schools of Indiana. Leaving school he chose blacksmithing for his calling, and served an apprentice- ship under one Hartley, at Lockport, Indiana. He then went into busi- ness for himself at Sullivan, in the same state remaining there until 1865. While there he was occupied in manufacturing buggies, wagons and agri- cultural implements. At competitive exhibitions, he many times carried off the premiums for the excellence of his work. In June, 1851, he was married to Miss Catherine Maxwell, of Sullivan county, Indiana, by whom he is the father of seven children, four of whom: Hiram M., Levy, William and Aaron W., yet survive. During the civil war Mr. McIntosh served two years in the Union army. He was deputy provost marshal under Richard W. Thompson, late secretary of the navy, under President Hayes' administration. He also held the commission of a second lieu- tenant in the 156th regiment of Indiana volunteers. Mr. McIntosh immi- grated to Chillicothe, Missouri, in 1865, remaining about two years ;. thence he came to Ray county, locating at Hardin, where he has been for fourteen years the "village blacksmith," receiving a large custom,. and by his excellent workmanship and fair dealing, the good will of all. He also owns a good farm, one and a half miles east of Hardin, of which place, he is a most substantial and useful resident.
ROBERT R. SIMMERMAN.
A native of Virginia, was born in May, 1830. His father removed in the year 1839, to Boone county, Missouri, and from there to Clinton county, in the same state, coming to Ray county in 1856, where our sub- ject has, ever since had his home. Robert R. Simmerman received his education in the common schools of Missouri. His occupation is farming, and he has spent all his life in that pursuit, excepting about four years in California, and the time he was in the army. He enlisted in the Confed- erate army, and went south with General Jo. Shelby. At the close of the war he was discharged at Shreveport, Louisiana, in 1865. He was married to Miss Elizabeth Snowdin, in January, 1858. Seven children, now living, bless their union: Maria, Minnie, Robert, Estella, Mary M., Dora and Eliza. After his return from California, Mr. Simmerman pur- chased the fine farm, of five hundred acres, whereon he now lives happily, respected and honored by all who know him.
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