- IRA M. DAVENPORTE, a practical and enterprising farmer residing
on section 9, in the town of
- Union, was born in Albany County, N.Y., Feb. 23, 1831, and
is a son of William D. and Phoebe C. (MARSHALL) DAVENPORTE. Both
parents were born in West Chester County, N.Y., and there their
marriage was celebrated. William D. DAVENPORTE was a blacksmith
by trade, following that occupation until about forty-eight years
of age. He located in Albany County about ten years after his
marriage and there made his home for many years, on the farm
which is still in possession of the family. He and his wife were
the parents of seven children, and with the exception of one
who died in infancy all attained to mature years. David M. died
on Long Island in 1881; Lydia C. wedded Hebron BRIGGS, and both
are now deceased, having left a family of two children, Phoebe
C. and Charles A., the latter having since died; Marilla K. wedded
C. RUSHMORE, a resident of Albany County, N.Y., and to them have
been born two children - Florence and Willie - the latter being
dead; Samuel B., who resides on the old homestead in Albany County,
is married and has two children, Elisha and Mary; Mary T. is
the wife of Horace CARPENTER, a resident farmer of La Salle County,
Ill.; Elizabeth, who is living in Brooklyn, N.Y., is the widow
of Henry MILLER, by whom she had one child, Carrie. Mr. and Mrs.
DAVENPORTE have both passed away. The death of the former occurred
March 3, 1876, at the age of eighty-six years, and his wife departed
this life at the age of seventy-six. Both were members of the
Society of Friends, and were honored and respected people. In
politics the husband was a Whig until the organization of the
Republican party, when he joined its ranks.
- The subject of this sketch received his primary education
in the common district school of his native
- county, after which he attended a select school for several
terms. He was reared to manhood upon his father's farm, and under
the parental roof remained until twenty-two years of age. In
1853 he went to New York City and for two years engaged in carting
in that great metropolis. He there became acquainted with Miss
Annie E. CARPENTER, and on the 14th day of February, 1855, they
were married. The lady was born in West Chester County, N.Y.,
and is a daughter of Enock and Seviah (LANE) CARPENTER, who were
also natives of the Empire State. The death of the father occurred
Nov. 27, 1831, and his wife died on the 3d day of March, 1860.
They were also members of the Society of Friends, and had a family
of four children, three of whom are yet living - James, who was
for a number of years in the United States Quartermaster's Department,
is a prominent citizen of Omaha, Neb.; David is engaged in Merchandising
in Omaha; and Emor died in West Chester County, March 7, 1842.
- On the 8th of September, 1855, Mr. and Mrs. DAVENPORTE left
New York and moved to
- Richland County, Wis., where the husband purchased 120 acres
of wild land making it his home until 1860, when he traded that
farm for one in Dane County, Wis., also comprising 120 acres.
He placed both farms under a high state of cultivation, and in
1870 bought 126-1/2 acres of land on sections 9 and 16, Union
Township, Rock County, taking up his residence thereon in 1871.
He has made many fine improvements upon the land, and in connection
with the development of the farm has been engaged extensively
in raising stock for some years. He has also been engaged for
some time in the dairy business, keeping at first short-horn
cattle for this purpose, but finding that the jersey breed was
better for the dairy, he disposed of the former stock, entirely
replacing them with the latter. His sheep are the best grades
and in times past he has kept as high as from 200 to 400 head
per year. His hogs are of the Poland-China stock, and he frequently
sells as high as seventy-five head annually, receiving the highest
market price. Of later years he has also given considerable attention
to the breeding of horses, keeping on hand Normans, Clydesdales
and roadsters.
- Mr. and Mrs. DAVENPORTE have a family of four children -
William H., born Feb. 20, 1856,
- in Richland County, Wis., wedded Miss Nellie FRANCIS of Union
Township, a daughter of David FRANCIS, who is now residing in
Dakota, and unto them was born Sept. 17, 1883, a son, Lesley
C.; Enoch Franklin, who was born in Richland County, Dec. 18,
1859, and is engaged in farming near Marshalltown, Iowa, married
Miss May LYONS of La Salle County, Ill., and they have two children,
Leroy and Alice; Charles B., who was born in the town of Oregon,
Dane County, June 19, 1862, was united in marriage Jan. 1, 1889,
with Miss Rettie PIERCE, a native of Union Township, and is now
residing in Clinton, Iowa; Mary T., born in Dane County, Wis.,
July 30, 1864, Addie M., born Jan. 21, 1871, died June 24, 1872.
- Mr. DAVENPORTE is a progressive and energetic farmer, and
though eighteen years have
- passed since he became a resident of Rock County, his honorable,
upright life has won him the confidence of all with whom business
or pleasure have brought him in contact, while by his many friends
he is held in the highest regard. He and his wife are members
of the Society of Friends, and are earnest workers for the Master.
They have given their children good educational advantages and
all are well qualified to fill responsible positions. Politically,
Mr. DAVENPORTE is a Republican, but has never sought or desired
public office. He has always given his aid and influence in behalf
of the social and moral development of the county, and is a worthy
and loyal citizen.
-
- Taken from "The Portrait and Biographical Album of
Rock County, Wis." (c)1889, pp. 276-277.
-
- Courtesy of Carol
|