By this time he had grown tired of the monotony of farm life and de-
sired something more stirring in the way of occupation. So, in r866, he
moved to Pontiac, where he was engaged in the lumber business for tViree
years. During our sanguinary Civil war he was recruiting officer for Avon
township, and by his influence aided greatly in swelling the ranks of the
Union's defenders from this part of Michigan, in this work, as in every-
thing else he ever undertook, being true to the highest sense of duty and
alive with energy and ^eal in performing what he had to do.
The elder Mr. Davis and his wife were the parents of eleven children;
Hamilton, who was killed in the Civil war; William, Eugene, George,
Rowland and John, who have died; Arthur, who is living in Orion village,
this county; James S., the immediate subject of this writing; Francis,
whose home is in Portland, Oregon ; William, who resides at Waterville,
state of Washington; and Emma, who is the wife of William Knapp, of
Portland, in the state of Oregon.
James S. Davis remained at home with his parents until he reached the
age of twenty-five years. He then bought eighty acres of land in Orion
township, which he cultivated from 1869 until 1908, being all the time
extensively and intelligently engaged in breeding fine cattle in connection
with his farming operations. Shorthorns being his specialty, and his prod-
ucts attaining a high rank in the markets because of their superior qualities
and general excellence.
On February 27, 1867, Mr. Davis was joined in wedlock with Miss
Emily Geddings, a daughter of Albert and Clarissa (Kelly) Geddings, the
former a native of Connecticut and the latter of the state of New York.
