Biographies

SAMUEL MILLAN DAVENPORT, who is engaged in farming on section 26, township 11 north, range 5 west, was born July 21, 1841, in Wayne County, Ohio, and is of Scotch-Irish descent.

He is one of a family of nine children, whose parents were William S. and Emily (Poulson) Davenport, the former a native of Ohio, and the latter of Virginia. When our subject was only three months old the father brought his family to Henderson County, Ill., locating at Oquawka. The six sons and three daughters of the family are as follows: William, now living in Montana; Thomas, deceased; Samuel M.; Mary J., wife of D. A. Campbell, a farmer of Oquawka; Marion W., who carries on farming in Oquawka Precinct, Henderson County; John W., an agriculturist living in Rozetta, Ill. ; Charlotte, wife of William Welsh, who carries on farming in Fall Creek Precinct, Henderson County, Ill; and Perry and Ellen, who died in infancy.

Mr. Davenport of this sketch has lived in Henderson County since his early infancy, and was reared to manhood amid the wild scenes of the frontier. The family experienced many of the hardships and trials of pioneer life. His education was acquired in the district schools of the community, and at the age of seventeen he began earning his own livelihood by working as a farm hand, receiving in compensation for his services $20 per month. He was thus employed until he entered the army.

On the 5th of August, 1862, Mr. Davenport enlisted, and was assigned to Company G, Eighty- fourth Illinois Infantry, under the command of Col. L. H. Waters. He participated in the battles of Perryville, Stone River, Woodbury, Chickamauga, Lookout Mountain, Missionary Ridge, Dalton, Buzzard's Roost, Resaca, Burnt Hickory, Kennesaw Mountain, Smyrna, Atlanta, Jonesboro, Franklin, Nashville, and many skirmishes. He was in the hospital at Pulaski for two weeks, but with the exception of this short period he was always found with his regiment, faithful to the Old Flag and the cause it represented. He enlisted as a private, but was afterwards made Corporal, and later became Sergeant When the war was over, he was honorably discharged in Springfield, Ill., June 19, 1865.

After his return home, Mr. Davenport purchased forty acres of laud in Pottawattamie County, Iowa, and began farming. To this tract he added until he had sixty acres, to the cultivation of which he devoted his time and attention until 1876, when he returned to Henderson County, Ill. He was then employed as a laborer until 1893, when he resumed farming. He now has thirty-five acres, pleasantly located a mile and a-half to the southeast of Oquawka, and his farm is well cultivated.

On the 14th of January, 1876, Mr. Davenport was united in marriage with Miss Sarah Talford, daughter of William Talford, and by their union have been born four children, three sons and a daughter, namely: Jessie, wife of Burke Logan, of Oquawka Precinct; Paul, deceased; and John and Cephas, who are still at home. The parents and their daughter hold membership with the Methodist Episcopal Church, and Mr. Davenport is a member of Ellsworth Post No. 172, G. A. R., of which he has served as Junior Commander. He exercises his right of franchise in support of the Republican party, with which he has affiliated.

Since casting his first Presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln. He is now serving as School Director, and for six years has filled the office of Supervisor.

He is a valued and highly-respected citizen of the community, and his many excellencies of character and sterling worth have gained for him the warm regard of a large circle of friends and acquaintances.

From the Portrait and biographical record of Hancock, McDonough and Henderson counties, Illinois : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county (1894)
May, 1894. Lake City Publishing Co.