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John Davis, farmer, sec. 27, Mecosta Tp., was born May 8, 1826, at Belfast, Ireland. His parents, William and Mary (Laverty) Davis, were born in Ireland; the father died in 1852, the mother in 1851. When he was ten years old, Mr. Davis ran away to sea, shipping as a cabin boy on a sailing vessel. His career as a sailor continued 22 years, and during the time he passed several promotions; and at last, in 1844, became first mate, which post he held until 1848, when he abandoned a seafaring life. The recital of his adventures sounds like a romance. He traversed the Atlantic Ocean under all circumstances, and in every possible direction, and visited all the seaboard towns of Europe, and the countries lying on the Mediterranean, as well as the ports open to commerce on the Asiatic shores and Africa, and the islands of the East Indies. He was at Alexandria during the Turkish War, at Canton, China, while the Chinese war with England was in progress, and at Calcutta, India. While the Kaffir war of 1842 was going on in Southern Africa, his vessel was at Cape Town. One of his reminiscences is a visit to what was the home of Napoleon while an exile at St. Helena.
In 1850, Mr. Davis came to America, and passed a season on the lakes. In 1851 he came to Michigan and purchased 160 acres of land in what is now Mecosta Tp., locating on sec. 27, where he has since resided. He was one of the two white men who first came to this county and settled permanently. He built the first barn -- a frame building -- in the county in 1856, and afterward erected a residence, at the time the largest in the county. He has bought considerable land since he made his original purchase, his estate now aggregating 385 acres, 225 of which are in cultivation. The reminiscences of Mr. Davis contain a complete history of the growth of Mecosta County. About the time of his settlement, JOhn Parish located a mile below the point where the "Lower Bridge" at Big Rapids spans the river, and until the following year they had no other "neighbors>" Mr. Parish left his first location, and to Mr. Davis belongs the credit not only of being the first settler in this county, but also of still holding his original tenure of land.
He was married at Rockford, Kent Co., Mich., Nov. 8, 1867, to Sarah Jane, daughter of John and Rosanna (Blancha) Probasco, born April 2, 1842, in Huron Co., O. The parents were natives of New Jersey, and are both deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Davis have three children: Ada M. J., born Oct. 2, 1868; John William, March 6, 1870; and Frank E.B., June 20, 1872. In politics Mr. Davis is a Democrat.
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