The Family of Samuel Robert Davis and Ora Elizabeth McKinney

Husband:

Samuel Robert Davis

Born:	4 July 1844 in Hickory County, Missouri
Died:	22 December 1905 in Lebanon, Collin County, Texas
Father:	Thomas Davis
Mother:	Jane Donnell

Wife:

Ora Elizabeth McKinney

Born:	11 November 1852 in Alexandria, Louisiana
Died:	1 January 1931 in Bethel Cemetery, Frisco, Collin County, Texas
Father:	Matthew McKinney
Mother:	Mary

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Married:

1 October 1872 in Texas

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Child	Sex	Birth	Death
Thomas Eli Davis	M	10 July 1874	31 March 1907
Mary Robert "Robbie" Davis	F	27 November 1875	4 June 1966
Frank C. Davis	M	January 1878
Nat Davis	M	18 April 1882	20 December 1882
Matt McKinney Davis	M	24 June 1884	14 January 1944
Ginney Ora Davis	M	28 June 1887	11 October 1918
Twin Daughters	F	28 September 1889	28 September 1889

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Samuel R. Davis made a good life in stock farming and many called him wealthy, but he must have gained most of his true wealth with the friendships he made in his lifetime. Samuel Davis was a generous man who often shared his home. Not long after Samuel came to Denton County. he met Miss Ora E. McKinney and her sister Emma, they were from Alexandria, Louisiana. It was October 1, 1872 when Samuel married Ora Elizabeth McKinney, a former school teacher in Denton County. It is said that Miss Ora rode a horse 60 miles to Gainesville to buy her new wedding dress. Thankfully, the day she was to marry Mr. Davis, Henry Hill loaned them his new buggy and horse to go to the wedding. Samuel brought his new bride back to his farm about one-half mile southeast of Little Elm. They were blessed with nine children though only 5 lived to be adults.**

It was, Samuel's son, Matt McKinney Davis, that told the story of why his father came to Texas. As Matt recalled, seems that Samuel had been a spy for the Confederacy under John Morgan and that he had been all but "run out of town" for aiding the South, so Samuel's father, Thomas Davis and their families left Hermitage, Missouri.

While there seems to be some question as to exactly where Samuel Davis' land was located in Denton County, it appears to be in an area known as Rector, he is also listed as an earlier settler to the Teel Settlement which may have been further east. The Davis family was said to have had a large home that housed many visitors and ranch hands. It was on one 'bitter' cold February morning in 1905 that their home was sadly destroyed by a fire. Only a very few months later Samuel's death came as a surprise. On that December day, just before Christmas, Samuel had gone to visit his sister, Sarah Quisenberry, and as he sat talking to her son, Will, he became ill and keeled over and died.

It was noted that Samuel Davis was the Vice President of the National Bank of Denton and a prominent Odd Fellow. Samuel was buried at Bethel Cemetery in Collin County. His large shining black stone speaks of his strength. He is buried beside his wife, Ora Elizabeth McKinney Davis. Ora Davis is well remembered for her contributions to the Rebekkah's and she was a member of the DAR.

** (While the recorded memory is that there were 9 children, I have only found the these listed children) Currently, my study of 2006 shows Thomas Eli who married Mattie; Robbie who married a Dr. John William Matlock of Frost, Navarro County, Texas; Frank C. who married Ruth Taylor and Matt McKinney Davis who married Olive Mae Hill; Ginney Ora who married Martha; and the twin baby girls and Nat Davis all buried at Bethel as infants.)

Sources: 112 years in Little Elm, Harris pages 144-146; US Federal Census Records: Obituary of Samuel R. Davis (currently posted on Collin County Genealogical Society site); History and Reminiscences of Denton County by Ed. F. Bates; Texas Death Index; Navarro County History-Vol II-page 300; Frost Cemetery Records, Navarro County, Texas (RW-OL)

Compiled and written by Claudia Fields Kraemer (2006)