Caleb Davis, b. 1820 - Boone Co. Indiana to Linn Co. Oregon ca 1850s
Caleb Davis, my great-great-grandfather, was born in Ohio about 1820 and moved to Boone County, Indiana with his parents, James Davis and Rhoda (Codington) when Caleb was a child. Caleb married Ann Maria Chrisman (b. Virginia 1822) in Boone County about 1842, and they had 11 children, one of whom was George Cass Davis, my great-grandfather (b. 1849 in Boone County). Caleb and Ann Maria moved to Linn County, Oregon after 1850. Ann Maria died in 1865.
The 1880 census finds Caleb married to "Winnie" [found elsewhere as "Winia"]in Lane County, Oregon, and living with his youngest child, Leander J. (b. 1862 in Oregon) and 3 stepchildren with the surname of Cummings. Ergo, it is assumed that his second wife was a widow whose married name was Cummings and that she brought to this marriage at least three dependent children ranging in age from 9 to 17.I've found one other record that suggests Caleb had yet another wife, Mary Elliot, whom he married in July 1865.This record clearly refers to "my" Caleb Davis, but so far I have not seen any corrobroating evidence for the marriage to Mary Elliot.
Most of the records that contain burial information have Anna Maria and Caleb buried together at Pine Grove Cemetery near Peoria, Linn Co., Oregon.I'm going there soon to find the graves if I can.
I am trying to find more about Caleb's parents, James Davis and Rhoda Codington. He was born in Delaware about 1794, and she was born in New Jersey about 1797. They were married in Wayne County, Indiana in 1818 -- but curiously, everything I have indicates that Caleb was born in Ohio in 1820; so perhaps they went to Ohio from Wayne County Indiana, and then back to Boone County, Indiana some time after Caleb's birth.I do not know if James and Rhoda traveled west with Caleb, nor do I have any information about Caleb's siblings, if any.
Any further information on this line of the Davis family in Boone County, Indiana or in and around Linn County, Oregon will be gratefully received.
Howard E. (Gene) Davis, Bellevue, WA