The Joseph Hardin Davis Family Album

This Davis family was in Randolph County when Arkansas became a state and Randolph County became a County. The first reference I can find was in 1820, when Eliphas Davis came here and started his third family, having lost two other families in other areas. He beget JOSEPH HARDIN DAVIS in 1822. Joseph Hardin Davis most probably got his middle name from the Hardin family of his Mother, Susanna Hardin, of the Hardin family of Col. Joseph Hardin. He left a farm where his son Jesse lived all of his life and died and was buried there. His children were Thomas Monroe Davis, Jacob Franklin Davis and Jesse Ransom Davis (pictured). Jesse R. Davis had always resided in Randolph County, AR where he received his early schooling. At the age of 17, he began for himself, and by good management and industry became the owner of 360 acres of as good a land as there was in Randolph County. He was noted for his liberality, and owing to his many admirable traits won the respect and esteem of all. On October 12, 1871, he married Miss Francis Stump, daughter of George Stump. She was born in Hardin County, KY on Sept. 25, 1850 and died in Randolph County, AR August 28, 1872. Jesse then married Melissa (Thomas) Rider on March 12, 1874. She was born March 31, 1851 in Hardin County, KY and had the following children: Rufus Arthur "Rufe" Davis, Vernie Davis, Jacob T. Davis, Harry Davis, Laura M. Davis, May Davis, Jesse Grover Davis (family resides in Yuma, AZ), and Mary E. who was born Feb. 6, 1875 and died March 19, 1880. The1910 Directory of Randolph County listed him owning 1400 acres, married to Dora McClure and had 6 children. He was age 63 at this time. At his death he owned 1400 acres. There was a Davis School and there still is, a Cemetery, named after him. They are located East of Stokes in the Maynard area. The Randolph County Davis family is older than the County itself and also the State. Jesse was born, raised and died on the old Davis farm. His son Rufe was my GrandFather.

The Joseph Hardin Davis Family

of Randolph County, Arkansas