From Proud Heritage, Vol. 1 by DCPA, not currently in print.
John Wesley Davis, son of Henson Cole Davis, came to Texas from Laporte, Indiana July 14, 1846, settling near White Rock. He came by boat to Shreveport and then walked to Dallas, making preparations for his father and other members of the family who came a few months later in 1846.
John Wesley (23 December 1826 – 14 June 1919) enlisted in Colonel Hawpe’s regiment and served as forage master for the entire term of enlistment. He participated in the battles of Prairie Grove, Carrion Crow, Mansfield and many other skirmishes. He was never taken prisoner nor wounded and received his discharge from the Confederate States Army. Due to the effects of the war, he became hard of hearing. He and his brother, Benjamin T., were successful business partners selling hedge seed for $21 per bushel.
On June 25, 1855, John married Jeanette Chenault (1839 – 1926), the daughter of Wesley Chenault, who was a native of Indiana. John W. and Jeanette were parents of fourteen children. Only ten survived. They were married sixty-three years and lived in Dallas County.
Children:
1) Elizabeth C. Davis born 1856 married Taylor N. Wallace. 2) Mary C. (Kate) Davis born 1860, married Tom Brandenburg. 3) John W. Davis, Jr. born 1869 married Margaret. 4) Ben Davis born 1870 married Mattie Bayless. 5) James M. Davis born 1872 married Ellen Bayless. 6) Martha L. (Mattie) Davis born 1873 married Edwin Derring. 7) Jeanette (Jenny) Davis born 1874 married H. H. Ramsey. 8) Caleb Davis born 1878 married Cora V. Morris. 9) Annie Davis married John M. Trotter. 10) Dan D. Davis born 1882 married first Elizabeth, married second Daisy Duckworth.
The couple moved to Seagoville and while living there they were attacked by about forty Indians. They had barricaded the house to protect themselves, but the Indians proceeded to climb down the chimney. Jeanette threw two feather pillows, which were prize possessions she had received from Indiana, into the fire place. The smoke from the feathers proved to be more than the Indians could take, so they gave up, remaining in the vicinity but never bothering the Davis family again.
John was a successful farmer, merchant, and owner of Centerville Grocery Store. He voted for the first governor of Texas and every governor since then as long as he could go the the polls to vote. He was a staunch Democrat and very active in all the elections.
Mr. Davis was one of the oldest Masons of the community, being in the same group with Uncle Ratio Leonard. He assisted in organizing the Scyene Masonic Lodge, attending there many years until the Garland Lodge was organized.
He did a lot of surveying and helped to make Dallas County one of the leading agricultural counties of the state. He always had a huge garden and took pride in his pecan and fruit orchards. When they had bad weather and poor crops and it was difficult to get bread stuff and supplies for days, he would go fishing to forget his problems. In the community he was always known as “Uncle Johnnie Davis.”
By Mary Jackson Sutherland, Garland
