For some years past a high rank among the agriculturists of Pike County has been held by the gentleman above named, who is now prosecuting his calling on section 13, Derry Township. He is one of those who has risen from poverty to affluence by dint of assiduity, tact and enterprise in business affairs, and the exercise of sterling principles and prudent habits. His home, though not so pretentious perhaps as some in the county, is extremely comfortable, well built, and set in midst of attractive surroundings. It is a commodious frame house, erected in 1875 at a cost of $2,000 and is surrounded by one hundred fertile acres, whose appearance at every point indicates the neatness and good judgement of the manager.

The natal day of Stephen M. Davis was January 18, 1823, and his birthplace what is now the province of Ontario, Canada. His schooling was obtained in the old fashioned log schoolhouse whose construction and furnishings are a matter of history and whose teachers “boarded around” and were paid by subscription. At the early age of eighteen years the young man married and began life for himself. He busied himself as a shingle-maker, in this way earning money with which to remove to this State in 1846. He left Kingston, Canada, October 23, went by boat to Buffalo and then took passage for Chicago. On the way a severe storm was encountered during the prevalence of which Mr. Davis stood for four hours one night in his berth with the water over his boot tops and the wind and water raging about.

Eleven days after leaving Buffalo the passengers landed in Chicago and Mr. Davis paid the last twenty-five cents he had for wharfage, and was left without means and with a wife and two children to support. He went to a hotel and gave the landlord his few household goods as security for board for himself and his family until he could get work. He spent a few days in fruitless search for work, then leaving his wife and children in a cottage he had rented, struck out for Pike County on foot, carrying an ax and a little bundle containing a clean shirt. He walked 300 miles, reaching this County December 1st.

Mr. Davis struck the Illinois River at Peru where there was a little hotel into which he walked and called for the landlord. Telling that gentleman of his penniless condition and the fact that his feet had become too sore for him to continue his journey, he asked for work to pay for his lodging until he could rest. His request was granted and for three days he sawed wood for his board. He then fell in with three men and a boy who were going on foot to New Orleans and started on with them, walking with the boy. By nightfall our subject was tired out, and telling his companions to go on, he lay down in the fence corner and fell asleep. He would doubtless have perished in the cold had not his companions roused him in a short time and succeeded in getting him to a town at midnight where they secured a bed.

After this effort, Mr. Davis worked his passage on a boat down the Illinois River, but before they reached Peoria the vessel was ice bound and he and others broke the ice with cordwood until they reached that city. He landed at Florence, receiving from the captain a silver half dollar which was all the money he had. He had relatives in this vicinity and was able to send a nephew with a team to Chicago after his family, who reached here January 16, 1844.

During the remainder of the winter Mr. Davis worked in Detroit Township and in the spring rented a farm, continuing to operate rented land until 1849. He then purchased the farm he now occupies and on December 1, moved to a log cabin with a stick chimney which he was proud to call home. At one time Mr. Davis owned two hundred and forty acres but has reduced his estate to the size before mentioned. In former years he has carried on farming quite extensively, putting in as much as one hundred acres of wheat in a year and he has also raised considerable stock.

Having labored long and arduously, Mr. Davis feels that he is entitled to more ease and leisure and is therefore withdrawing somewhat from the active life which has raised him to his present financial position, although he is too energetic to entirely give over the business of life as long as his strength will permit him to bear a hand. His duties as a private citizen have been all that he desired, but he served two terms as Township Collector very acceptably. His first Presidential ballot was cast for James K. Polk, and he has always voted the straight Democratic ticket. He is a man of intelligence, keeping himself well informed regarding the world`s events and particularly those which have a special bearing upon National affairs. He is interested in every idea which is promulgated for the benefit and growth of civilization. He has therefore risen to a prominent position in social circles, as well as among the members of the agricultural community.

On March 16, 1841, Mr. Davis led to the hymneal alter Miss Harriet Young, a native of Canada, who was spared to him but a few years. She bore him three children, named respectively, John L., Julia A, and James P. The daughter is now Mrs. Kesterson.

July 2, 1848, Mr. Davis was united in marriage with Miss Lucinda M. Foreman, who was born in Ohio, March 16, 1824. This lady was an enterprising Christian, to whom Mr. Davis owes much for encouragement, good council, and the joys of home; she died July 20, 1886, strong in the faith of the Christian Church. She was the mother on nine children, eight of whom grew to maturity, namely: Sidney W., Sarah E., Louis M., Mary J., Flora E., Henry E., Ella F., and Charles W.H..

Contributed by Rosemary Reeves from Portrait & Biographical Album of Pike & Calhoun Counties, IL, V.2 1891
(Stephen Davis was the father of Julia Davis, wife of Berry A. Kesterson son of Peter & Betsy (Cherry) Kesterson)