Isham Johnson Davis

By Vonda Dihm 5 April 2012

Research to date has not determined the parents of Isham Johnson Davis. 1850 and 1860 census records indicate he was born about 1814 in Tennessee. He evidently married Sarah Stanton Harp about 1834 in Tennessee (as per 1850 census - based on date of birth of first child).

After the Civil War on 10 July 1873 Isham J. Davis filed a claim with the Southern Claims Commission. The claim was disallowed but his deposition to the Commission furnished a great deal of information about his life during the war.

Before the Commissioners of Claims It is herby certified that on the 10th day of July 1873 at Jasper in the County of Newton and State of Arkansas personally came before me the following persons, viz: Isham J. Davis, Claimant, Sam Murphy Counsel or Attorney, and Anderson Carlton, Archibald W. Reynolds and James W. Henson Claimant's Witnesses.

Deposition of Isham J. Davis

There were 41 general questions ask in the deposition. The one that gave family information was #30.

Question #30: "Had you any near relatives - any husband, son, brother or nephew in the Confederate army? If yea, state his name, whether he is now living, and where he resides. Did you furnish him with any military equipment, any clothing, any money? Did you contribute in any way to aid or support him while in the rebel service? (Each of the questions under No. 30 must be fully answered)"

Isham J. Davis answered: "I had one son in the rebel service. My son's name was Henderson L. Davis he died the first year of the war. I gave him one pair of shoes that was all I furnished him. I contributed nothing more for his aid and support. My brother's name was Jacob S. Davis. I did not furnish him with anything."

Question #1 "What is your name, age, residence, and occupation" Answer: My name is Isam J. Davis, my age 59 years, my residence Newton County, in the State of Arkansas and my occupation a Farmer."

Question #2 "Where did you reside from the 1st of April 1861, to 1st of June 1865? If on your own land, what is the size of your farm? How much of your farm was cultivated, and how much was woodland? Where is it situated? What was your occupation during that time? Did you change your residence or business during thattime? If so, where was your new residence, and what was your new business?"

Answer Question #2 "When the war commenced I was living in Newton County Arkansas where I now live and remained to continued to live there until about the 25 day of December 1864 at which time I went to Missouri (near Springfield) for protection where I remained until in September 1865. I was living on my own land in Newton County. I owned one hundred and twenty acres of land and had about sixty five acres in cultivation and about fifty five acres was in timber. I have followed farming all my life. As before stated when I left here I went to Missouri and followed farming.

Question #22 "Did you leave the so called Confederate States between the 19th of April 1861 and 19 April 1865? If so, when and how did you leave; where did you go, for what purpose; how long were you absent; in what business were you engaged while absent, and when and to what place did you return in the so called Confederate states?

Answer: "I left about the 29th December 1864 with Capt McPherson Company of the 2nd Arkansas US Vol Infantry and accompanied them to Forsyth Missouri from which point I with other citizens with their families went to Green County, Missouri near Springfield Missouri. I went there to be protected by the government and remained there in September 1865. While in Missouri I was engaged in farming and in Sep 1865 returned to my farm in this county,

Question # 27 "Were you ever molested or any way injured on account of your Union sentiments? If so, state fully all the particulars."

Answer: "Yes, by being compelled to leave home and accompany the Union forces I was shot and badly wounded by the rebels on account of my Union sentiment"

(Depositions from witnesses in support of Claim of Isham J. Davis)

Deposition of Carlton Anderson The witness having been duly sworn in to tell the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth testifies as follows: My name is Anderson Carlton, my age is forty six years. My residence is Newton County, Arkansas. My occupation is farmer. I am not related to the claimant. I have no interest in this claim. I have resided in this county for twenty years and have lived within about one half mile of the claimant the most of the time. I lived within one half mile of the claimant from the commencement of the war till about the twenty eighth or ninth of December 1864 at which time I accompanied him to Missouri. I owned a farm of forty acres which was improved joining claimant. I was personally well acquainted with claimant before and during the war and that I conversed with the claimant on the subject of secession and considered him a union man. That he gave information and furnished supplies to the union forces __?_ __?__ his means would admit he was regarded as a union man and went to Missouri for protection and support The union forces never questioned his loyalty. I was a union man and did duty frequently as a soldier from the time the forces came in the county in the latter part of 1862 till the close of the war.

I was present at the time Captain Stevens camped at his house. I suppose there were over one hundred men and horses. They stayed over night and left the next day. Claimant furnished the command with provisions and forage. I think the amount furnished by the claimant at that time was reasonably worth eighty dollars.

Captain Vanderpool with his command camped at Claimant's house at different times and used claimant's supplies but I do not know what amount. There was no regular price for corn and but little sold. I purchased corn once at one dollar per bushel.

                                                                                            Anderson Carlton (signed)

Subscribed in my presence and sworn to before me on the 10th day of July 1873

                                                                                             John m. Doubleday

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