Santa
Clara County
Biographies
SCHYLYER B. DAVIS
Among the
early pioneers of the state should be mentioned the name of Schuyler B. Davis,
who, although his death occurred as long ago as 1883, is still remembered as a
factor in the agricultural development of the country. A native of North Carolina, he was the son of
Peter I Davis, also born in that state, whence he removed to Missouri. During the Mexican war he served with the rank of colonel,
and while in service saw much of the western land. In 1849 he outfitted with ox-teams and
necessary equipment and brought his wife and four sons to California first locating
at the Otter river mines, where he remained two years and there his wife,
Phoebe, died. He then located in Santa
Clara county, remaining for twelve years, when he went
to Humboldt county and passed the last years of his busy life.
Schuyler B. Davis accompanied his father to California, and in 1850 he
sought a home in Santa Clara County, farming here his entire life excepting
while in the mines in 1852. In the town
of Santa Clara his wife conducted a boarding house. In 1857
Mr. Davis was financially able to purchase the property which is now
owned by his wife, this being located two miles west of Santa Clara on the San
Francisco road and consisting of one hundred and sixty acres. For five years preceding his death he
conducted a grain warehouse at Lawrence, and while super-tending some work
there in 1883 accidently fell, dying shortly afterward, at the age of fifty-nine
years. For two years thereafter his wife
retained possession of the warehouse, after which she sold this part of the
property. Mr. Davis was a member of the
Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he officiated as trustee, and politically adhere to the principles advocated in the platform
of the Democratic party. Fraternally he
was identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
In
Missouri, in 1846, Mr. Davis was united in marriage with Lucinda Beatty, a
native of Kentucky. Her father, John
Beatty, was a Native of North Carolina, whence he went to Kentucky, and there
married and earned his livelihood as a farmer. He eventually located in Sheridan county, Mo., where he followed farming until his death. Politically he was a Democrat. To Mr. and Mrs. Davis were born two children,
Charles C., deceased; and Emma, the wife of O.N. Kent, of San Jose. Like her husband, Mrs. Davis is a member of
the Methodist Episcopal church, and is active in the
work of the Ladies Aid Society. Besides
her beautiful home Mrs. Davis is the owner of a large ranch which is devoted
principally to the cultivation of seeds, and which is now rented to other
parties.
Transcribed by
Louise E. Shoemaker, June 4, 2016.
ญญญญSource: History
of the State of California & Biographical Record of Coast Counties,
California by Prof. J. M. Guinn, A. M., Pages 1165-1166. The Chapman
Publishing Co., Chicago, 1904.
ฉ 2016 Louise E. Shoemaker.