The Scales Mound American Legion Auxillary Unit #1058 compiled a list of Scales Mound High School graduate names, and published them in “Scales Mound High School Through the Years 1896-1993”. Graduates from 1924-1945 are listed. Class of 1924 Lester Berryman Myrtle Eversoll Laity Marcella Horan Huizinga Kenneth Hughes Camilla Miller Mahoney Eugene Miller Jessie Paquette Rodham Carl Schoenhard Myrtle…
Category: Davis
Pictures of Me
So I was going through some of my grandmother’s pictures and found a few of me as a child. This was a good reminder to me that not all history is from other generations. It’s good to take a look at your own history. All pictures taken at the home of Grandma and Grandpa Davis…
God Made a Farmer
When I was young, my parents and grandparents listened to Paul Harvey. I enjoyed listening to his stories and I can still hear his voice signing off with the words “Paul Harvey…. Good day.” While watching the Super Bowl, it was Dodge Ram’s commercial with pictures of the American farmer and a story told by…
Marriage: Viola Bausman and Percy Davis
I found a newspaper clipping of a marriage announcement for my maternal grandfather’s parents Viola Bausman and Percy Davis while going through some genealogy files once belonging to Viola’s sister, Gertrude (Bausman) Schoenhard. I enjoyed reading the description of Viola’s wedding dress. I have a picture of their wedding (posted below next to the article…
Marriage Announcement: Viola Bausman and Percy Davis
A few months ago, I was going through some of the genealogy files I received after my maternal grandmother died in 2011. It was an unexpected pleasure to find the marriage announcement for my mother’s paternal grandparents Viola Edith Bausman and Percival Leland Davis. The announcement was in pristine condition, in an envelope addressed to…
Scales Mound High School, Class of 1933
This is a picture of my grandfather Stanley “Spud” Davis’ high school graduation class. He graduated from Scales Mound High School, Scales Mound, Illinois, in 1933. The Scales Mound Class of 1933 had eleven graduates. The photograph includes the graduates and the superintendent, W.D. Stephenson. Written on the back of photo: Stanley P. Davis Kenneth…
Five Generations of Loretta (Cherry) O’Neil Boyle’s family
When I was finishing my book, I wanted to include a bit of family history of my grandfather’s first wife, Cleone O’Neill, whose parents were Joseph Patrick O’Neil and Loretta Bernice Cherry. Both Joseph and Loretta died young. Joseph was 28 when he died in a mining accident in 1917. Loretta remarried a few years…
Publishing My Family History
For the past several years, I’ve been working on a family history book of my maternal grandparents, Stanley “Spud” Davis and Marian Bohnsack. After my grandma died late last year, completing the book became a priority. I knew it was something she’d appreciate and completing it is my way of honoring her and my grandfather’s…
Viola Bausman’s oration from her 1912 Scales Mound High School Commencement
My great-grandmother, Viola (Bausman) Davis Hickman, was a teacher and educator. I discovered the oration that she gave at her Scales Mound, Illinois, commencement on June 7, 1912. She had written her speech in her graduation memory book. The Tercentennial of Henry Hudson by Viola Edith Bausman There was a time when Americans lacked distinction….
Letter from George Davies to Jacob Davis 3rd
Below is a transcribed letter that the widow of David Mayo Davis gave to my mother and grandmother, Marian Davis, in the early 2000s. David and my grandfather, Stanley Davis, were cousins. (Read all of David’s research.) Written in 1868, the letter is from George Davies to his nephew Jacob Davis III. George Davies (1803-1880)…
1940 Letter from William Passmore Davis
William Passmore Davis was the son of James T. Davis and Elizabeth Edna Passmore. William’s grandfather Jacob Davis III was a brother of John B. Davis, my gg-grandfather. William Passmore Davis was born in Marshall county, Iowa on 12 Nov 1881 and died 21 Jul 1959 in Murdo, Jones county, South Dakota. He married Florence May…
Obituary for Gladys (Ray) Davis
Gladys Cecilia (Ray) Davis was the wife of Laban Davis, brother of my great-grandfather Percy. Gladys was 21 years old when she died in childbirth at Mercy Hospital in Dubuque, Dubuque Co, Iowa. Her baby girl died a few days later. The baby was not named. Mother and baby are buried together at Scales Mound…
Funeral Card: Gladys (Ray) Davis
Funeral card for Gladys Cecelia (Ray) Davis. She was the wife of Laban Davis, brother of my great-grandfather Percy Davis. Gladys was born January 21, 1896. She was a mail-order bride, marrying Laban on November 23, 1915, in Dubuque, Dubuque Co, Iowa. Gladys died in childbirth on October 24, 1917. Their unnamed baby girl died…
Death Notice: Elizabeth (Davis) Wear
Elizabeth Davis was the daughter of John Davies II and Jennifer “Jane” Blewett. She was born in Cornwall, England on December 6, 1834, the fourth of five children. Her siblings were Jacob Davis III, William Davis, Mary Davies, and John B. Davis (my gg-grandfather). Elizabeth’s father died about 1840 in Cornwall. Jane immigrated with her…
Obituary: Mary (Davies) Jeffery
Mary (Davis/Davies) Jeffery was a daughter of my ggg-grandparents, Jacob Davies II and Jennifer “Jane” Blewett. She was a sister to my gg-grandfather, John B. Davis. Mary was born on July 27, 1832, in Cornwall, England. A few years after her father died, Mary immigrated to the United States with her mother and siblings, first…
Death Notice: Margaret Jane (Hicks) Davis
Margaret Jane (Hicks) Davis was my great-great grandmother, and the wife of John B. Davis. Her parents were Henry Hicks and Hester Ingram. Margaret was born on June 17, 1843 in Guilford Twp, Jo Daviess Co, Illinois. She died June 14, 1915 in Council Hill, Jo Daviess Co, Illinois. Margaret and John had six children:…
Wedding Announcement: Marian Bohnsack and Stanley Davis
Marian Bohnsack and Stanley Davis, my grandparents, married in Apple River, Illinois, on August 1, 1941. I found the marriage announcement in genealogical files at Grandma Davis’ house. The citation is unknown. Transcription of Wedding Announcement: Bohnsack-Davis Apple River, Ill. – Special: Announcement was made here Thursday of the marriage of Miss Marian Bohnsack, daughter…
Percy Davis Public Sale
On December 21, 1937, my great-grandfather Percy Davis retired from farming and held a public sale. The sale was held on the farm of his mother-in-law, Catherine (Hebenstreit) Bausman. I found the poster advertising the sale while looking through pictures at my grandma’s house. Transcription of advertisement: Percy Davis’ Closing Out Sale! As I intend…
Obituary: Laban Davis
Laban Davis was an older brother of my great-grandfather Percy Davis. Laban was born October 12, 1873, in Council Hill, Jo Daviess Co, Illinois, to John B. and Margaret (Hicks) Davis. He was the third of six children. On November 23, 1915, he married Gladys Cecelia Ray in Dubuque, Iowa. She was a mail-order bride….
Singer Catholic Cemetery
I’ve been wanting to visit Singer Catholic Cemetery in Guilford Twp, Illinois. Clement, the infant brother of my great-grandmother, Viola (Bausman) Davis Hickman, is buried here. I tried to find this cemetery by myself but was unable. Fortunately, my mom’s friend Tom Townsend had been to the cemetery and graciously volunteered to take my parents…
Forgotten History 