Benton Co., AR - Biographies - Andrew Baker Davis

***********************************************************
Submitted by:
        Date: 20 Jun 1998
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/ar/benton/bentonco.html
***********************************************************

----------------------------------------------------------------------
SOURCE:  Goodspeed Publishers, 1890.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Andrew Baker Davis, a farmer and stock raiser of Benton County, Ark., and a native of Nashville,
Tenn., was born on the 14th of January, 1838, and is a son of Elijah and Rebecca (Fletcher)
Davis, and grandson of Eli Davis. The latter was born in the "Old Dominion." and was an eminent
educator of that State, and also of Tennessee, whither he had moved at an early day. His death
occurred in the State of his adoption. His son Elijah was born in Hancock County, Tenn., May 14,
1807, and received his education under the able instruction of his father. He was an eminent
mathematician, and his name became well known in the colleges and educated communities of the
United States. He attained a very high degree of excellence as a teacher, and followed his
profession at different times in Virginia, Tennessee, Indiana, Missouri and Arkansas. He was
always a strong anti-slavery man, a Whig in politics, a firm believer in the teachings of the
Bible, and temperate and consistent in his habits. In fact, he may be said to belong to the great
army of self-made men for which America is famous. He became a resident of Arkansas in 1841, and
for many years was one of the progressive, energetic and prominent citizens and educators of
Benton County. Many of the leading citizens of Benton, Washington and adjoining counties tell
with pride of having been under his instruction. His death occurred on the 19th of October, 1884.
He was a consistent member of the Baptist Church, and was of Welsh descent. His wife was born in
Hancock County, Tenn., in 1814, and died in Montague County, Tex., in 1867. She was a member of
an old American family and the daughter of James Fletcher. Andrew Baker Davis, whose name heads
this sketch, grew to manhood in Washington and Madison Counties, Ark., and received an excellent
education under his father's instruction. His youthful days were spent in farming and stock
raising, and he has made that his chief calling through life. At the early age of nineteen years
he was married to Miss Evaline Hock, who was born in Madison County, Ark., March 25, 1837, a
daughter of Jesse and Elizabeth (Homsley) Hock, who were originally from Tennessee, and of German
and Welsh descent, and by her became the father of twelve children, ten of whom are living: James
O., a lawyer of Johnson County. Tex.; William J., a stockman of Washington Territory; John C., a
farmer residing in the Cherokee Nation; Abraham Lincoln, residing in Benton County; Cleopatra
Anne Bolyn, Mary Elizabeth, Martha Albertine, Rebecca Druscilla, Ben Frank and Sydney Emmet. At
the breaking out of the war Mr. Davis enlisted in the Eighteenth Regiment Arkansas Volunteers,
United States Army, and served until the cessation of hostilities. He escaped without receiving
any wounds, but was captured by the enemy at Cherokee City; was soon after paroled and sent back
to Barry County, Mo., with about twenty of his comrades. He soon after went to Montague County,
Tex., where his only brother, Charles O. Davis, had raised a company of 100 men, and had with
great difficulty made his way to the Union army, and afterward served as chief of scouts in Gen.
Blount's army. Charles O. Davis was a lawyer by profession, and died in Montague County, Tex., in
1867. Andrew B. Davis returned to Madison County, Ark., after the war, and has since lived in
that and Benton Counties. His labors through life have met with a fair degree of success, and he
is now the owner of a good farm and a pleasant and comfortable home. He has been enabled to
educate his children, and is himself a man of good education and sound judgment. He is a member
of the Masonic fraternity, and is one of the few men who had the courage to assert his
principles, living as he did in a disloyal section.