Charles L. Davis
Contributed by: Christi Scovel
Src #1
Charles L. Davis is a native son of Oregon County soil born July 16, 1869 on the farm of his father, four miles east of Thayer.
His father John Henderson Davis was born in 1845 in Randolph Co Ark, the son of Eliphas Davis and Permelia Edwards Davis. Johns parents were married May 2, 1844 in Randolph Co. Ark, but later moved to Oregon Co., MO. and died in 1890 and Permelia died in 1863, and both are buried in the Davis Cemetery. John Henderson Davis was married Oct 10, 1867 to Margaret Annd Wasson and became a prominent citizen of Oregon Co. Charles L. Davis lived on the farm of his father until he reached manhood. He attended public schools until the death of his father and mother, in 1883 and 1865 respectively, causing him to have to leave school to help support the family consisting of three boys and a girl. Charles married Nov 23, 1890 to Miss Etta M. Atterbury at the home of Loerwood Davis, a cousin in Thayer. About a year afterwards he moved with his family to Jonesboro, Ark., where he secured a position in the round house of the Cotton Belt Railroad Co. He remained there 7 months then moved back to Oregon Co., where he was born and raised. He was appointed road overseer of his district in 1896 and filled the position well for 5 years. In Nov 1897, he was appointed deputy sheriff under J. Cal Taylor and he made a good deputy for the next 4 years. He then decided he would like to be sheriff and ran for the office. He was successful in his efforts and was elected and served 4 years from 1900-1904.He was again elected to the office and served from 1909-1913. During the time of his service he attended Oregon Co. schools to give lectures to influence the young toward a life of justice. HE was a politically minded person and had he not been stricken with tuberculosis at an early age in life, would have gone far in politics. A short time before his death, he deeded an acre of ground adjoining the Davis cemetery for church purposes and requested that the neighborhood get together and erect a house of worship on it and that is should be used by
various denominations. While he was not active in church during his life he was a Christian in belief and on Sun. June 11, 1916 he joined the church and had them take him to a near by place and baptize him and owing to his weekend condition, he was placed on a cot and was immerse in that way, after he was perfectly satisfied with his condition and died triumphantly in the faith of his master. Charles and Etta Davis' children were: Clyde Davis of Jefferson City, MO., Mrs. C.S. Eckard of El Paso, TX, Lena M. Davis , Floyd M. Davis, Haze I. Davis, Frank O. Davis and Wayne L. Davis all living at home at the time of their father's death June 23, 1916. Etta his wife died 28 May 1920 and both are buried in the Davis Cemetery. Ex-Sheriff's Jubilee
(Oregon County, Missouri- In the News & Cemeteries)