M[artin] V. DAVIS, farmer, section 20, Athens Township, was born in Clinton County, Ohio, July 19, 1835, son of John and Sarah (SCOTT) DAVIS, who had a family of seven children – John L., Vincent H., Elihu, Frederick, John, Nelson, and Martin V., the subject of this notice. When fifteen years of age he removed to Lafayette, Indiana, where he resided until he reached maturity. His youth was spent in assisting on the farm, and in getting his education in the common schools.

He was married December 4, 1861, to Miss Sarah J. ARMSTRONG, born in Sandusky County, Ohio, December 3, 1843, daughter of William and Leah (SHOOP) ARMSTRONG, natives of Pennsylvania, who had a family of nine children – Mary Ann, Henry E., Elizabeth, Susan, William, John, Frances, Sarah J., and George W.

During the late [Civil] war Mr. DAVIS enlisted, August 12, 1862, in Company C, Seventy-second Indiana Infantry. He was in the battle of Chickamauga, Atlanta campaign with General WILSON’s cavalry raid; was on provost guard at Macon, Georgia, at the time Jeff DAVIS was captured. He was honorably discharged at Indianapolis, July 6, 1865, and returned home.

In 1866 he removed to Jasper County, Iowa, where he resided until 1871, when he came to Athens Township, and purchased 120 acres of wild land, which is his present home. He has since added to his original purchase until he has a farm of 420 acres, in a good state of cultivation. He has a good story-and-a-half residence surrounded with shade and ornamental trees, an orchard of one and a half acres, and a grove of about two acres. Everything about the farm shows the thrift of its owner. It is divided into ten fields besides feed lots. He is engaged in stock-raising, feeding, and dealing in stock.

Mr. and Mrs. DAVIS have five children – Orville V., George N., John William, Charles E., and Daisy Snowflake.

Politically Mr. DAVIS is a Republican. He is a member of Ellis C. Miller Post, No. 96 G.A.R., Mount Ayr. He was a bound boy, and consequently commenced life without any means except strong and willing hands. By industry, economy and good management he has acquired a good property, and is classed among the leading men of the county. Postoffice, Kellerton, Ringgold County, Iowa.

NOTE: Martin V. DAVIS was residing in Transitville, Indiana when he enlisted as a Private on August 12, 1862, and was assigned to Company C of the 72nd Indiana Infantry. He was mustered out of service at Nashville, Tennessee on July 24, 1865.

Martin V. DAVIS died at the age of 62 years on November 29, 1897. Sarah J. (ARMSTRONG) DAVIS died at the age of 62 years, 2 months and 3 days on February 6, 1918. Martin and Sarah were interred at Maple Row Cemetery, Kellerton, Ringgold County, Iowa.

John William DAVIS, son of Martin V. and Sarah J. (ARMSTRONG), was born in Jasper County, Iowa, and died at the age of nineteen on November 18, 1887. He was interred at Maple Row Cemetery, Kellerton, Ringgold County, Iowa. Orville V. DAVIS, son of Martin V. and Sarah J. (ARMSTRONG), was born in 1862, and died in 1942 with interment at Maple Row Cemetery, Kellerton. Charles E. DAVIS, son of Martin V. and Sarah J. (ARMSTRONG), was born in 1870, and died in 1958 with interment at Maple Row Cemetery, Kellerton.

SOURCES:
Biography & Historical Record of Ringgold County, Iowa, p. 270, 1887.

Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System Database

American Civil War Soldiers, ancestry.com

WPA Graves Survey

Transcription and note by Sharon R. Becker, January of 2009

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