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47

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*   DAVID'S DEATH IN 1860   *
*   SARAH'S DEATH IN 1861   *
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Very shortly after he had made his Will, David died. The Oregon Weekly Union dated for the week of September 14, 1860 reported his passing on August 3lst. It reported that he died from Consumption and that his age was 54 years old.

It seems that this disease was often listed as the cause of death for many of people that had been covered wagon pioneers especially the women and children. Some have also said that the term "Consumption" may have been given as cause of death for a number of ailments of which causes were not certain. But, the fact remains, David died less than two weeks after making his Will. Then it was the following year that Sarah died. She was about 48 years of age. This left the little Davis girls as orphans. But there were friends and family that could help out.

Sarah's daughter, Talitha you will recall, had married James A. O'Neal and it was Talitha and O'Neal that took care of the children. James O'Neal was appointed the legal guardian. Talitha was actually the little girls' half sister and so it is conceivable that she had special love and a good concern for little Hannah and Mary Jane. The girls remained with the 0'Neal's until 1870 or later.

Soon after Sarah's death, the property of her personal estate, which included much that had been David's personal estate, was listed, appraised and sold at an estate sale. The proceeds derived from the sale went into an account to pay for the support of Hannah and Mary Jane. Arrangements were also made for renting out part of the farm, which produced other money. A portion of the land, which was not rented out, was used for a grain and hay crop. Evidently, Thomas and Meshach contributed time to the harvest of the crops, which benefited the cause also. Among the guardianship papers for Hannah and Mary Jane, we found this letter from Thomas Davis to James O'Neal written from Corvallis, August 20, 1868.

"I write you a few lines to let you know that we are well at present whoping you are enjoying the same. I have the crop taken care off your part is in the granery it contains one hundred and thirty bushels of oats and thirty five of wheat. and about three tun of hey. I am going a way and canot see to it any longer. I fastened the doors up good and fast. Mack Davis is going to move there in a short time and he can tend to things then. So no more at present. But remain

Your obedient servent,

Thos. Davis "

From the marriage records of Polk County, we found that Hannah Davis married D. A. Allen on July 16, 1870. On November 27, 1875, also in Polk County was the marriage of Thomas Morris and Mary J. Davis. Then in 1880, the Census Report from Polk County, Monmouth Precinct listed the Morris Family with two children - a daughter Maud, age 3 and a son Clarence, age 1.

We never continued a search of these lines but perhaps in or around Polk County and Monmouth might be found some more of our relatives in the Morris or Allen Families.

As we close the report on the intimate life of David D. Davis, our very important forebear, let us consider his individual quality, strength and character. He could be thought of as a strong oak tree able to meet

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