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*    PART 7	                                                                      *
*	         CHESTER DAVIS AND HIS FAMILY	                                      *
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Chester Davis spent his youth on a farm owned by his maternal grandmother, Lucinda Hall. The Hall place was in the area where the present town of Saginaw is located. It was said that a part of their land was taken when this town was established. Saginaw is there today, a few business places on the west side of the highway and a sawmill on the east side.

At the time Chester lived there, his grandmother's farmhouse set back some distance from the road but she could see most everything that passed by from the front of her house. Lucinda was able to see the folks coming and going by her place and she liked that. There was a spring near by and the Halls had provided a watering trough so that travelers could stop and water their horses. This served a need for many years.

Thomas and Lucinda Hall had been early pioneers to Oregon. They had traveled by way of the Oregon Trail (Northern Route) and arrived at Oregon City in 1847. Their daughter that they named Missouri after their home state was born in Oregon City shortly after their arrival. They moved on and settled for awhile in Brownsville but eventually took land at the location of Saginaw. This was their final home and the place they raised their eight children. Missouri met Thomas W. Davis and married him in 1867 and from this union were born Elmer and Chester Davis.

Lucinda was a hearty person and a good Christian woman. She lived a long life, outliving her husband by about twenty-five years as well as most of her children. She worked hard for her family to take care of their needs. Part of this twenty-five year period, she was the guiding hand, teacher and councilor to young Chester Davis, her grandson.

When Chester became of age, he was still somewhat uncertain of what he wanted to do with his future and for awhile did not wish to settle down. As it happened though, he met a fine young woman who was teaching school nearby and she began to give him a concern that influenced the direction of the rest of his life. She was Ida Burch. Ida and Chester were married on June 7, 1893 and they made their first home in Cottage Grove. Now, the insurance money that Tom Davis had left Chester proved useful about this time because it was used to buy an entertainment place on the main street of Cottage Grove. This became known as Davis Hall and was a "live theatre" presenting all of the plays of traveling theatrical units that made stops at Cottage Grove. Between times Davis Hall was available and rented out for special gatherings or functions. Sometimes the chairs were removed so that it could be used as a skating rink. Chester Davis was the proprietor of Davis Hall so for several years he dressed well making a good appearance befitting his position as a businessman. Chester and Ida acquired many good friends

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