Franklin was born in 1851 in Shelby County, Ohio, the son of William P. Davis and Matilda Ann Davis. His mother died when Franklin was about 8 or 9 years old and Franklin was likely placed in the care of another family until his father remarried in 1862. Franklin grew up in the Montra area in Dinsmore Township, Shelby County and started working as a teacher. In 1879, he married Nellie Louise Davis in Shelby County. They lived initially in North Lewisburg in Champaign County, Ohio where Franklin was teaching, and soon moved to Cleveland, Ohio and by 1887 to Findlay in Hancock County, Ohio. He had five children together Nellie, one of whom died young. In about 1891, the family moved to Waterloo in Black Hawk County, Iowa where his wife Nellie was born. Nellie died there the same year in 1891. At some point, Franklin became a traveling salesman, dealing in insurance and later representing an oil company. By 1895, Franklin had become a member of the Christian Science Church and it may there that he met Sara R. Beem, a music teacher, who he married in 1896 in Waterloo. They did not have children. Franklin was ill for at least a year before he died in Waterloo in 1916. He is buried together with his second wife and two of his children in Elmwood Cemetery in Waterloo, Iowa.
Children with Nellie:
Wilbourne LeRoy 'Roy', 1880-1960; m. Freda Martha Fricke, 1910
Helen Dora, 1882-1883
Marian C., 1884-1956; never married
Florence Donbey, 1887-1969; m1. James George Clark, 1913; m2. Otto Denver Shamhart, 1938
Naneen, 1889-1960; never married
Second Wedding
The Courier (Waterloo, Iowa), 15 Jan 1896, p. 9; accessed at Newspapers.com, 27 Mar 2021.
Society and Amusements
The wedding of Miss Sara R. Beem and Mr. F. R. Davis took place today at noon at Marengo, Iowa. The many friends of the contracting parties wish Mr. and Mrs. Davis much joy. They will return to Waterloo in a day or two. Miss Beem has been a teacher in the public schools here for a number of years. The past two years she has had charge of the musical department in both eat and west Waterloo schools. She gave entire satisfaction and was deservedly popular. Mr. Davis is traveling agent of the Standard Oil Company and is highly respected by all. He is worthy of the woman he has won. Their friends are glad that Waterloo will be the home of Mr. and Mrs. Davis.
Event Place (Original): Shelby, Ohio, United States
Performed by: W. N. Scoles, U. H. M.
Sex: Male
Spouse's Name: Nellie Davis
Spouse's Sex: Female
"Iowa, County Marriages, 1838-1934," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XJH4-RZN : 3 November 2017), Franklin Reed Davis and Sarah R. Burn Or Beem, 03 Jan 1896, Marengo, Iowa, Iowa, United States; citing reference p186 cn531, county courthouses, Iowa; FHL microfilm 988,207.
Name: Franklin Reed Davis
Event Type: Marriage
Marriage license issued: 3 Jan 1896
Event Date: 03 Jan 1896
Event Place: Marengo, Iowa, Iowa, United States
Performed by: F. E. Judd, Minister
Witnesses: J. T. Beem, Mrs. F. Beem
Residence: Waterloo, Iowa
Occupation: Traveling salesman
Sex: Male
Age: 44
Marital Status: M
Number of marriage: 2
Birth Year (Estimated): 1852
Birthplace: Shelby Co., Ohio
Father's Name: William P. Davis
Mother's Name: Matilda A. Davis
Spouse's Name: Sarah R. Beem
Spouse's Sex: Female
Spouse residence: Waterloo, Iowa
Spouse's Age: 33
Spouse number of marriage: 1
Spouse's Birth Year (Estimated): 1863
Spouse birthplace: Marengo, Iowa
Spouse's Father's Name: John Craig Beem
Spouse's Mother's Name: Margaret A. Tanner
"Iowa, Death Records, 1904-1951," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q24Z-GMVF : 8 November 2017), F R Davis in entry for Sara Beem Davis, 02 Jan 1928, Waterloo, Black Hawk, Iowa, United States; citing certificate #72590, State Historical Society of Iowa, Des Moines; FamilySearch digital folder 101768568.
Name: Sara Beem Davis
Event Type: Death
Event Date: 02 Jan 1928
Event Place: Waterloo, Black Hawk, Iowa, United States
Event Place (Original): Waterloo
Address: 432 Western Ave
Length of residence in town: 28 yrs
Sex: Female
Marital status: widowed
Age: 64y 11m 2d
Birth Year (Estimated): 1864
Birth date: 27 Jan 1863
Birthplace: Marengo, Iowa
Father's Name: John C Beem
Father birthplace: Kentucky
Mother's Name: Margaret Tanner
Mother birthplace: Kentucky
Spouse's Name: F R Davis, deceased
Occupation: Christian Science Practitioner, Teacher and Practitioner of Christian Science
Informant: James G Flack, Waterloo, Iowa
Cause of death: Apoplexy
Burial: Elm Wood, 4 Jan 1928
Certificate Number: 72590
Residence in Ohio
Franklin's mother died in the late 1850's and Franklin's father was living without the children on a farm in Shelby County, so Franklin and his brother Horace would have been under the care of another family (or families) at the time of the census in 1860. The most promising candidate has Franklin about 125 miles away from Shelby County in Muskingum County, but in a Simpson household, and ten years later in the 1870 census, a Simpson was living with the William P Davis household:
Event Place: Dinsmore Township, Shelby, Ohio, United States
Event Place (Original): Dinsmore, Shelby, Ohio, United States
Post Office: Yoramus
Sex: Male
Age: 18
Race: White
Birth Year (Estimated): 1852
Birthplace: Ohio
Page Number: 41
Note: living near George and Catherine Allenback
Household (Role Sex Age Birthplace):
William Davis, M, 50, Farmer, real estate value: 5500; personal estate: 1033; Ohio; adult male citizen
Magdalena Davis, F, 23, Keeping house, France;
Franklin Davis, M, 18, Teaching school; Ohio;
Horace Davis, M, 16, Works on farm; Ohio;
William Davis, M, 5, at home; Ohio; mother foreign born
Mary Davis, F, 4, at home, Ohio; mother foreign born
John Davis, M, 2, at home, Ohio; mother foreign born
Edwin Davis, M, 0 [7/12], at home, Ohio; mother foreign born; birth month: Oct
James Simpson, M, 52, Farm overseer; real estate value: 4000; personal estate: 208; England; parents foreign born; adult male citizen
"United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MZ1N-LSV : 19 February 2021), Franklin R Davis, North Lewisburg, Champaign, Ohio, United States; citing enumeration district ED 26, sheet 333B, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), FHL microfilm 1,254,998.
Name: Franklin R Davis
Event Type: Census
Event Date: 21 Jun 1880
Event Place: North Lewisburg, Champaign, Ohio, United States
Event Place (Original): North Lewisburg, Champaign, Ohio, United States
Sex: Male
Age: 29
Marital Status: Married
Race: White
Race (Original): W
Occupation: School Teacher
Birth Year (Estimated): 1851
Birthplace: Ohio, United States
Father's Birthplace: Ohio, United States
Mother's Birthplace: Indiana, United States
Relationship to Head of Household: Self
Relationship to Head of Household (Original): Self
Sheet Letter: B
Sheet Number: 333
Person Number: 0
Volume: 1
Household (Role Sex Age Birthplace):
Franklin R Davis, Self, M, 29, married, School Teacher, attended school, Ohio, United States; Parents' birthplace: f:Ohio; m:Ind
Nellie L Davis, Wife, F, 23, married, Keeping house, Ohio, United States; Parents' birthplace: Ohio
Residence in Iowa
"Iowa State Census, 1895," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VT3K-28S : 20 February 2021), Frank R Davis in household of John H Mason, Black Hawk, Iowa, United States; citing p. 589, 1895, State Historical Society, Des Moines; FHL microfilm 1,021,712.
Name: Frank R Davis
Event Type: Census
Event Date: 1895
Event Place: Black Hawk, Iowa, United States
Sex: Male
Age: 43
Birth Year (Estimated): 1852
Record Number: 28830
Household (Role Sex Age Birthplace):
John H Mason, M, 30, married, Black Hawk, Mer., Methodist, subject to military duty, entitled to vote
Mattie Mason, F, 26, married, Black Hawk, Keeping house, Methodist
Orbie Mason, F, 3, Black Hawk,
Hattie Mason, F, 2, Black Hawk,
Lewis F Vogt, M, 28, single, Ill., Father foreign born; mother ?; Manager, no religion, subject to military duty, entitled to vote
Mattie Darling, F, 24, single, Ill., ?k [clerk?], Meth.
Mary Carney, F, 22, married, Delaware Co., father foreign born, [clerk?], Cath.
Kate Gaffrey, F, 25, single, Delaware Co., father foreign born, [clerk?], Cath.
John A Coughlan, M, 26, single, Webster Co., father foreign born, ?rnalist [Journalist], Cath., subject to military duty, entitled to vote
M C Malony, M, 27, single, Penn, father foreign born; ?rnalist [Journalist], Cath., subject to military duty, entitled to vote
Frank R Davis, M, 43, widowed, Ohio, ? Salesman; Christian Scientist, subject to military duty, entitled to vote
M Leny Davis, M, 14, single, Ohio
Jerome W Hoot, M, 35, single, Ohio, ? Owning?; Christian, subject to military duty, entitled to vote
Thadeus B Carpenter, M, 21, single, BlackHawk, ?ing Mer., no religion, subject to military duty, entitled to vote
"United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M9K3-83C : accessed 27 March 2021), Frank R Davis, Waterloo Township Waterloo city Ward 1, Black Hawk, Iowa, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 21, sheet 12B, family 336, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1972.); FHL microfilm 1,240,418.
Name: Frank R Davis
Event Type: Census
Event Date: 11 Jun 1900
Event Year: 1900
Event Place: Waterloo Township Waterloo city Ward 1, Black Hawk, Iowa, United States
Event Place (Original): ED 21 Waterloo Township Waterloo city Ward 1, Black Hawk, Iowa, United States
Sex: Male
Age: 49
Marital Status: Married
Race: White
Race (Original): W
Years Married: 4
Birth Date: Jun 1851
Birthplace: Ohio
Marriage Year (Estimated): 1896
Father's Birthplace: Ohio
Mother's Birthplace: Indiana
Relationship to Head of Household: Head
Relationship to Head of Household (Original): Head
Sheet Letter: B
Sheet Number: 12
Address: 208 Washington; Rented house; all can read, write, speak English
Household (Role Sex Age Birthplace):
Frank R Davis, Head, M, Jun 1851, 49, married, yrs married: 4; Ohio; Parents' birthplace: f:Ohio; m:Indiana; Commercial Trav., months out of work:0;
Sarah B Davis, Wife, F, Jan 1863, 37, married, yrs married: 4; children born:0; living:0; Iowa; Parents' birthplace: Ohio; Occupation: [blank]
Roy W Davis, Son, M, June 1880, 20, single, Ohio; Parents' birthplace: Ohio; At school, attended school: 9 months
Marion C Davis, Daughter, F, Sept 1884, 16, single, Ohio; Parents' birthplace: Ohio; At school, attended school: 9 months
Florence D Davis, Daughter, F, Dec 1887, 13, Ohio; Parents' birthplace: Ohio; At school, attended school: 9 months
Naneen Davis, Daughter, F, Oct 1889, 11, Ohio; Parents' birthplace: Ohio; At school, attended school: 9 months
Marie Hanson, Servant, F, Mar 1875, 25, single, Denmark; Parents' birthplace: Denmark; Yr immigrated: 1896; yrs in US: 4; Servant, months out of work:0;
"Iowa State Census, 1905," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2SZ2-135 : 20 February 2021), Frank R Davis, Black Hawk, Iowa, United States; citing card #B328, State Historical Department, Des Moines; FHL microfilm 1,430,276.
Name: Frank R Davis
Event Type: Census
Event Date: 1905
Event Place: Black Hawk, Iowa, United States
Event Place (Original): Black Hawk, Iowa, United States
Address: 432 Western Ave
Sex: Male
Can read and write
Age: 53
Marital Status: Married
Birth Year (Estimated): about 1852
Birthplace: Ohio
Father's Birthplace: Ohio
Mother's Birthplace: Ohio
Own home or farm? no
Yrs in Iowa: 10 [or 15?]
Occupation: Insurance Agent
Month unemployed in 1904: none
Military service: [blank]
Card Number: B328
Household members living at 432 Western Ave.
Frank R Davis
Sarah B Davis
Marian Davis
Florence Davis
Nanine Davis
"United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:ML13-CSC : accessed 27 March 2021), Franklin R Davis, Waterloo Ward 1, Black Hawk, Iowa, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 13, sheet 4B, family 95, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 392; FHL microfilm 1,374,405.
Name: Franklin R Davis
Event Type: Census
Event Date: 18 Apr 1910
Event Place: Waterloo Ward 1, Black Hawk, Iowa, United States
Event Place (Original): Waterloo Ward 1, , Iowa
Sex: Male
Age: 59
Marital Status: Married
Race: White
Race (Original): White
Birth Year (Estimated): 1851
Birthplace: Ohio
Father's Birthplace: Ohio
Mother's Birthplace: Ohio
Relationship to Head of Household: Head
Relationship to Head of Household (Original): Head
Sheet Letter: B
Sheet Number: 4
Address: 432 Vermont Street; Rented house; all can read, write, speak English
Household (Role Sex Age Birthplace):
Franklin R Davis, Head, M, 59, married, 2nd marriage, yrs married: 14; children born:4; living:4; Ohio; Parents' birthplace: Ohio; Salesman, oil company, wages; not out of work previous day; Weeks out of work: 24;
Sara B Davis, Wife, F, 49, married, 1st marriage, yrs married: 14; children born:0; living:0; Iowa; Parents' birthplace: Indiana; Occupation: none
Marian C Davis, Daughter, F, 26, single, Ohio; Parents' birthplace: Ohio; Occupation: none
Florence D Davis, Daughter, F, 22, single, Ohio; Parents' birthplace: Ohio; Occupation: none
Ancestry.com. Iowa, U.S., State Census Collection, 1836-1925 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2007.
Name: F R Davis
Age: 63
Birth Year: abt 1852
Birth Place: Ohio
Residence Date: 1915
Residence Place: 432 Western, Waterloo, Black Hawk, Iowa, USA
Race: White
Gender: Male
Marital status: Married
Father Birth Place: Ohio
Mother Birth Place: Ohio
Occupation: none
Note: Unable to work an acct of sickness
Education: 8 Grammar; college 1 year
Can read, write
Religion: Christian Science
Yrs in US: 63; in Iowa: 24
Household Members (Name Age):
F R Davis, 63
Children
"Ohio, County Births, 1841-2003", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q236-H2HG : 8 March 2021), Franklin Reed Davis in entry for Wilbourne Leroy Davis, 1880.
Name: Wilbourne Leroy Davis
Event Type: Birth
Event Date: 27 Jun 1880
Event Place: North Lewisburg, Champaign, Ohio, United States
Event Place (Original): North Lewisburg, Champaign, Ohio, United States
Sex: Male
Father's Name: Franklin Reed Davis
Mother's Name: Nellie Louise Davis
Certificate Number: 421
"Ohio, County Births, 1841-2003", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X6XP-P77 : 8 March 2021), Franklin R. Davis in entry for Hellen Davis, 1882.
Name: Hellen Davis
Event Type: Birth
Event Date: 17 Jan 1882
Event Place: Cleveland, Cuyahoga, Ohio, United States
Event Place (Original): Cleveland, Cuyahoga, Ohio, United States
Sex: Female
Race: White
Father's Name: Franklin R. Davis
Mother's Name: Nellie
"Ohio, County Births, 1841-2003", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XDTL-K73 : 8 March 2021), Frank Davis in entry for Davis, 1884.
Name: Davis
Event Type: Birth
Event Date: 24 Sep 1884
Event Place: Cleveland, Cuyahoga, Ohio, United States
Event Place (Original): Cleveland, Cuyahoga, Ohio, United States
Birthplace: 27 Eagle Street
Sex: Female
Race: White
Father's Name: Frank Davis
Father's Birthplace: Ohio
Father's Age: 31
Father's Birth Year (Estimated): 1853
Mother's Name: Nellie Davis
Mother's Birthplace: Iowa
Mother's Age: 26
Mother's Birth Year (Estimated): 1858
Midwife: Mrs. C. F. Auspacher, 39 Orange St
Frame Number: 1620
"Ohio, County Births, 1841-2003", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X64W-RWR : 8 March 2021), Franklin R. Davis in entry for Nancen Davis, 1889.
Name: Nancen Davis
Event Type: Birth
Event Date: 5 Oct 1889
Event Place: Findlay, Hancock, Ohio, United States
Event Place (Original): Findlay, Hancock, Ohio, United States
Sex: Female
Race: white
Father's Name: Franklin R. Davis
Mother's Name: Nellie E. Davis
Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 23 March 2021), memorial page for Franklin Reid Davis (1 Jun 1851–23 Sep 1916), Find a Grave Memorial no. 68133691, citing Elmwood Cemetery, Waterloo, Black Hawk County, Iowa, USA ; Maintained by Donna Heuer (contributor 47091598) .
Name: Franklin Reid Davis
Birth: 1 Jun 1851 Shelby County, Ohio, USA
Death: 23 Sep 1916 (aged 65) Waterloo, Black Hawk County, Iowa, USA
Burial: Elmwood Cemetery, Waterloo, Black Hawk County, Iowa, USA
Memorial #: 68133691
Family Members
Parents: William P. Davis 1819-1908, Magdalena Heintz Davis 1841-1910
Spouse: Sara R Beem Davis 1863-1928
Siblings: William Jacob Davis 1864-1906, Mary Catherine Davis Allenbaugh 1866-1940, John Philip Davis 1868-1953, Edwin Lewis Davis 1869-1931, Ann Elizabeth Davis Linker 1872-1947, Rudolph Henry Davis 1873-1951, Christina Magdalena Davis 1875-1898, George Michael Davis 1876-1903, Albert August Davis 1878-1900, Martha Mathilda Davis 1880-1884, Charles Otto Davis 1882-1952
Children: Marian C. Davis 1884-1956, Naneen Davis 1889-1960
Created by: Donna Heuer (47091598)
Added: 9 Apr 2011
Photo?: yes; located next to Sara Beem Davis, 1863-1928
Source: Cemeteries Black Hawk County, Iowa; Vol. 1 - 4
Page Number: 114
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