Davis Russer Mims was born Circa 1810 in Richmond, Virginia
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4,5,6,7 He moved to Christian Co., Kentucky, with his parents,
Linah Mims and
Rebeccah Davis, about 1817 or 1818.
11,12 He was probably the male under age 10 listed in the household of his father in the 1820 Federal Census of Hopkinsville, Christian Co., Kentucky
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13 He was named an heir in the will of his grandmother,
Jane Clendenin, dated 10 Jul 1824, to receive "a likey negro girl of eight or ten years of age" who was to be purchased, except that his mother was to receive "the use and benefit of said negro during her natural life" and her first four children are to go to his siblings; he is to receive any children after that.
14 He was probably the male age 15 to 20 listed in the household of his father, in the 1830 Federal Census of Christian Co., Kentucky
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15 Davis moved to Brazoria, Texas
G, apparently after 1830, where he established the firm of Mims & Sharp in partnership with John Sharp. They announced on 1 Nov 1834 that they were dissolving the partnership, and that Sharp would operate the business after that.
16 Davis returned Kentucky, now to Caldwell Co.
G, were his older brother,
John, was living.
15,17 He was appointed a constable in Caldwell Co. on 18 May 1835, replacing Reuben R. Bush who had resigned. He entered a bond of $2,000, with James Clark and Reuben R. OHara as securities, and took the oath of office. He apparently later resigned that office, but no record of that has been found.
18 Davis married
Elizabeth Van Swearingen Cresap, daughter of
Edward Otho Cresap and
Sarah Story Briscoe, on 1 May 1837 in Caldwell Co., Kentucky
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8,9,10 He and Elizabeth have not been found in the 1840 census. They were not living with any of his siblings. One record shows their third son as born in Ballard Co. Since Davis does not appear in the Caldwell tax lists until 1845 it may be they were living elsewhere.
Davis appeared on the tax list of Caldwell Co., in 1845 through 1848, reporting two children ages 5 to 16 but no taxable property in 1845; a horse valued at $20 in 1846; two parcels of land totaling 128 acres and 5 horses with a total value of $2,300 in 1847; and one parcel of 23 acres and four horses with a total values of $1,620 in 1848. Later tax lists have been lost.
19 On 21 Apr 1845 Davis was appointed overseer of that portion of the road from Eddyville to Hamman's ferry from Lick Creek to the one mile tree below Davey Doom's. As was the custom, he, together with a long list of those living along the road, were to keep it "in good repair, clean and smooth 30 feet wide according to law."
20 Davis was appointed constable of Caldwell Co. on 19 Mar 1849, replacing David B. Cassidy who had resigned. He entered a bond of $2,000, with
Gideon Dyer Cobb Jr., C. H. Boyd, and M. Dudley as securities, and took the oath of office.
21 He resigned to that office 20 Aug 1849 by a written order, without appearing in person.
22 His wife apparently died Before 1850.
23,24,25 Davis has not been found in the 1850 census. With his wife apparently dead, their young children were living with other families. Whether he remained in the area or departed and returned is unknown.
Davis was again appointed a constable of Caldwell Co. on 18 Nov 1850, for the town of Eddyville. He entered a bond of $2,000, with Milyon Dudley and A. H. Champion as securities, and took the oath of office. No record of when he left that office has been found, however when new county officers were appointed in Jun 1851 after re-districting he was not among them.
26 Davis moved to Arkansas Before 1860 and was joined there by his five sons. They settled in a community then known as Buckhorn, now called St. James
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27 Davis appeared on the 1860 Federal Census of Franklin Twp., Independence Co., Arkansas
G, enumerated 10 Aug 1860, reporting personal estate valued at $2,000. His sons
Byron,
John,
Linah,
Robert, and
Davis were listed as living with him.
28 Davis was a physician in Arkansas
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29 Davis moved to De Klab, Bowie Co., Texas
G, by 1865 when he appeared on a U.S. tax list there. He was also listed on the next year's list.
30 No further record of Davis has been found.