A B Davis

Submitted by Jeri Fultz http://home.earthlink.net/~jerifultz/davisltr.htm

From the TIMES DISPATCH Newspaper of Walnut Ridge, Lawrence County, ARK. "Frankly Speaking" Column- no date given {1962}

Mrs. John G. Penn of Black Rock, whose maiden name was Addie Davis, brought a most interesting letter to the TD office this week...The letter is ll0 Years old and in an excellent State of preservation... . It was handed down to her in the White Family Bible of her father George Davis, the son of Sarah Ann White Davis.

The letter was written by A. B. Davis to his cousin, John Davis ... The latter was Mrs. Penn's grandfather ... He left Tennessee in 1852 headed for Van Buren County but only made it as far as Denton, where he settled.

I have a copy of this original letter which was given to me in kindness by Pauline Clements, daughter of Mrs. Addie Davis Penn. Mrs. Penn's father George Davis, was a brother to my grandmother Martha Davis Helms.

Jeri Helms Fultz

The Letter reads:

December 26, 1852 State of Arkansas Van Buren County

"Deer cousin:

I received yours on the first December, 1852 which found me and family well. Hoping that when this comes to hand that it may find you enjoying the same like blessing. You state you started for my country and for fear of starving concluded to stop before you got any nier. I will admit that times was hard hear and some folks was cut short of porke and corn, but as my part I fatend 40 head expecting James and Resurell Davis on every day and I did not now wether to look for you or not, but I think I could of furnished you all in parte. I would of bin glad that you all had come on but I expect you are in good country."

"You wanted to know about health in this section. Health is tolerably good times is good corn is plenty, is only worth from 10 cents to 20 cents per bushel: porke $5 per hundred; cows $10; beef $2 and 2 1\2. Horses hie. I made 1,000 bushels of corn this year and got me a wife in the bargain and I think that is doing verry well for one year and I did not half try."

"I will inform you about the rest of the connections. Captain Davis is living in Conway about 25 miles from me. He is got a wife and one child and was well the last time I had of him. Farther and family is well. Sister Catharine is living with me. Selia Potts is marred and doing well. Sister Polly is Fulton county near you. Aunt Caty Linn is well and is doing well. Thomas Bradley is in bad health but the rest of the family is well."

"John and James Bradley is keeping batchelor's halfs, but James will marry in a few days. As hard as the times is people will marry and I glory in thire spunk. Daniel Martin is well and is doing right sharp, still he takes his tea every now and then."

"Thomas Bradley's father dide a few months back so no more at present but I remain your affectinate cosin untill death."

"A few lines to James & Roswell Davis. I would like to see you all & it is not so far but what you could come over most any time. If you do not come to see me I will be obliged to come to see you. I want you to write as soon as you get this letter. Direct your letter to Clinton. "


The handwritting in the letter is beautiful, and in the script style of the times.... In spite of the mis-spelled words, it is likely that Mr. Davis was one of the best educated men of his area and times.

I recently bought an 1850 Census record from Arkansas Research for several counties in Arkansas and while looking up another family, I ran across the Davis name, remembered the above letter and started looking up the people mentioned in it. This is what I found..... Jeri Helms Fultz.


Family # 385 Griggs twsp Andrew B. Davis 60, Rufus Allen 22, Sary 25, Almeda 2, Nancy 2/12, Thomas Mahana 30, Elizabeth 29, Crawford 5, Paul 2, TN-TN

Family # 388 Griggs twsp Jesse Davis 60, Katharine 49, Katharine 17, Selah E. Potts 14, Elizabeth 11, Wm. Frazier 25, Wm. Durham 24, NC-NC

Family #381 Griggs twsp Daniel Martin 42, Rebecca 36, John W. 17, Wm. W. 15, Elizabeth 13, Jesse 9, James 7, Brice 4, Newton 2, TN- TN

Family #373 Griggs twsp Thomas Bradley 50, Roda 48, James 20, John 18, Wm. T, Anselin 13, Smith H. 7, Sary E. 6, NC--NC

Conway County - Union twsp Family # 547 George H. Davis 35, Nancy 25, James 5, TN-AR

It appears that there are a lot more Davis Cousins than we were aware of ...