Davis Russer Mims1,2,3

Family Chart
ID# 13349, (abt 1810 - )
FatherLinah Mims4,5 (14 Nov 1772 - btn 1847 - 1850)
MotherRebeccah Davis4 (abt 1786 - btn 1828 - Jun 1830)

Key Events:

Birth: about 1810, Richmond, Virginia6,7,8,9
Marriage: 1 May 1837, Caldwell Co., Kentucky, Elizabeth Van Swearingen Cresap (1817 - before 1850)10,11,12
ChartsDescendants of Linah and Rebeccah (Davis) Mims
AncestryThe Linah Mims - Rebecca Davis Family

Copyright Notice

Narrative:

     Davis Russer Mims was born about 1810 in Richmond, Virginia.6,7,8,9
     He moved to Christian Co., Kentucky, with his parents, Linah Mims and Rebeccah Davis, about 1817 or 1818.13,14 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.15
     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.16
     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.17
     Davis moved to Caldwell Co., were his older brother, John, was living. He had moved there before 1830, and had prospered there. It seems likely that all their surviving siblings moved to brother John's household not long after 1830, perhaps after he married in the fall of 1831. Davis did moved there about that time, whether or not he actually lived with John and his wife.17,18
     Davis 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.19
     Davis married Elizabeth Van Swearingen Cresap, daughter of Edward Otho Cresap and Sarah Story Briscoe, on 1 May 1837 in Caldwell Co., Kentucky.10,11,12
     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.20
     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."21
     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.22 He resigned to that office 20 Aug 1849 by a written order, without appearing in person.23
     His wife apparently died before 1850.24,25,26 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.27
     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.28 Davis appeared on the 1860 Federal Census of Franklin Twp., Independence Co., Arkansas, enumerated 10 Aug 1860, reporting personal estate valued at $2000. His sons Byron, John, Linah, Robert and Davis were listed as living with him.29
     Davis was a physician in Arkansas.30
     No further record of Davis has been found.

Children:
     Children with Elizabeth Van Swearingen Cresap:

Citations

  1. [S5089] Robert Marsellas Mims, Standard Certificate of Death, shows name as Davis Russer Mims.
  2. [S732] Caldwell Co. Marriage Records, loose papers, bond of Davis R. Mims and John M. Cresap, 1 May 1837, and license for Davis R. Mims and Elizabeth Cresap, same date.
  3. [S726] Caldwell Co. Marriage Bonds, Book A, Davis R. Mims to Miss Elizabeth Cresap, 1 May 1837.
  4. [S2021] Christian Co. Wills D:181-3, names a grandson Davis Mims as heir.
  5. [S2030] Perrin, County of Christian, Kentucky, vol 1, pg 281, shows Mr. Mimms was the father of David Mimms.
  6. [S980] Davis R. Mims household, 1860 U.S. Census, Independence Co., Arkansas, shows age 50 and state, as Kentucky (which is very unlikely, since his parents did not leave Greenbrier until years later).
  7. [S584] Linah Mimms household, 1820 U.S. Census, Christian Co., Kentucky, shows one male under age 10, and two aged 10 to 16.
  8. [S585] Linah Mims household, 1830 U.S. Census, Christian Co., Kentucky, shows one male aged 5 to 10, and one aged 15 to 20.
  9. [S5089] Robert Marsellas Mims, Standard Certificate of Death, shows city and state.
  10. [S732] Caldwell Co. Marriage Records, loose papers, license for Davis R. Mims and Elizabeth Cresap, 1 May 1837, return shows married May 1837.
  11. [S726] Caldwell Co. Marriage Bonds, Book A, Davis N. Mims to Miss Elizabeth Cresap, 1 May 1837, shows date.
  12. [S374] Manley, "RE: The Logan Material," e-mail to author, 20 Feb 2000, citing Scott Haun, email 12 Jul 1998, citing Ila Earle Fowler, compiler, Kentucky Pioneers and Their Descendants (Kentucky Society, Daughters of Colonial Wars, 1998) reporting the marriage of Davis and Elizabeth, shows date and state.
  13. [S2532] Christian Co. tax lists,, 1817, Linah not found; 1818, book not found; 1819, pg 67 Linah Mims; he also shown on may following years.
  14. [S2030] Perrin, County of Christian, Kentucky, vol 1, pg 281, shows Mr. Mimms came from Virginia about 1816-17, and settled about one mile west of Means' Spring; pp 277-8 describe location and settlement of that place.
  15. [S584] Linah Mimms household, 1820 U.S. Census, Christian Co., Kentucky.
  16. [S2021] Christian Co. Wills D:181-3.
  17. [S585] Linah Mims household, 1830 U.S. Census, Christian Co., Kentucky.
  18. [S4057] Caldwell Co. tax lists,, 1830, pg 39, shows John in Caldwell Co.
  19. [S1971] Caldwell Co. Order Book, E:374.
  20. [S4057] Caldwell Co. tax lists,, 1845, pg 3:12; 1846, pg 3:11; 1847, pg 57; and 1848, pg 12.
  21. [S1971] Caldwell Co. Order Book, G:22.
  22. [S1971] Caldwell Co. Order Book, G:358.
  23. [S1971] Caldwell Co. Order Book, G:387.
  24. [S569] M. M. Tyler household, 1850 U.S. Census, Trigg Co., Kentucky, shows Bryon, John, and Linah in the household.
  25. [S1971] Caldwell Co. Order Book, G:358, shows her husband appointed constable 19 Mar 18949; and G:387, shows him resigned as constable 20 Aug 1849.
  26. [S1822] Lawson Cash household, 1850 U.S. Census, Caldwell Co., Kentucky, shows Robert and Davis in the household.
  27. [S1971] Caldwell Co. Order Book, G:471; H:44-6.
  28. [S7498] Hardison, "Re: Mims - LaFerry Family in your Ancestry tree," e-mail to author, 1 Jul 2017, shows location they lived, citing interview with man now age 105 whose family lived next to them. In email same subject 2 Jul 2017 explains present name of community.
  29. [S980] Davis R. Mims household, 1860 U.S. Census, Independence Co., Arkansas.
  30. [S980] Davis R. Mims household, 1860 U.S. Census, Independence Co., Arkansas, shows occupation as M.D.
  31. [S980] Davis R. Mims household, 1860 U.S. Census, Independence Co., Arkansas, shows them apparently living as parent and child.
  32. [S4057] Caldwell Co. tax lists,, 1845, pg 3:12, shows Davis had two children age 5 to 16.
  33. [S5089] Robert Marsellas Mims, Standard Certificate of Death.