ASAHEL BRADLEY DAVIS

Sacramento County

Biographies

ASAHEL BRADLEY DAVIS

SAHEL BRADLEY DAVIS was born January 27, 1836, in St. Thomas (county seat), Elgin County, Canada, his parents being Joel and Amy (Lewis) Davis. The former was a native of Montgomery County, New York, and the latter was a native of Vermont, born at a place not far from Whitehall, being near the New York State line. When a mere child her father, Barnabas Lewis, emigrated to Canada with his family, which consists of six sons and two daughters; all of whom were the heads of prominent families in that locality. One son, Joel Lewis, was very enterprising in the establishment of public schools; Asahel, another son, was the first to establish a liberal or reform paper in St. Thomas during the exciting times of the rebellion of 1836-’37. Joel Davis, the father, died in July, 1836, when the subject of this sketch was but six months old. His widow afterward married Lindley Moore, who figured very prominently in the history of that country. His father, Elias Moore, was a member of Parliament during or just after the Rebellion. Mrs. Moore made her home in Canada until her death, which occurred about twelve years ago. By her first marriage there were three children, Lewis and Adelia, both of whom are residents of Canada, living at the old homestead, and A. B. By her second marriage there was one daughter, who is now dead; she was married and left one child at her death. The subject of this sketch was reared in Canada, and there received his education in the public schools. In October, 1859, he left his native country and started for California. He went by way of New York, thence to Panama, and arrived in San Francisco about the middle of November. He went directly to Sacramento and from there to the mines at the town of Rough and Ready in Nevada County. The first few months he worked for wages, but after that he mined for himself; he worked, off and on, at mining for about fifteen years. In 1868 he went on a visit to Canada and remained until the spring of 1870, when he returned to this valley and stayed until the spring of 1871; then went to work on the Amador Canal, being in charge of a division of men, and remained in that capacity for about seven months, when the company “busted,” and work was suspended. Mr. Davis was cheated out of his wages to the amount of $400. A new company was afterward organized and Mr. Davis again sought to take charge of a gang of men; he served this company until the completion of the canal in 1875. Mr. Davis again came to this valley and has made his home here ever since. Mr. Davis’ career in this community has been such as to elevate him to the highest degree of esteem, as he has been a useful citizen, a man of deliberate judgment, and one who desires the best welfare of the people; he therefore has principles for all his conduct as a citizen and neighbor, etc., and deserves all he has attained, and even more. In the year 1860 he bought a squatter’s right to 160 acres of land situated in Brighton Township; and afterward got the title from the Government. The land is still in his possession. He also owns 270 acres of improved land in Brighton Township, and 110 acres in Sutter Township.

Transcribed by: Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.

Davis, Hon. Win. J., An Illustrated History of Sacramento County, California. Pages 692-693. Lewis Publishing Company. 1890.