Thomas M. Davis Burial Plot

Davis Burial Plot - Smithland Cemetery

Richard Graham Davis of Paducah has generously allowed us to publish his sketch of the Davis burial plot in Smithland Cemetery. He has numbered and identified each grave within the plot. Buried here are Thomas M. and Emily (Roach) Davis, their children and connections. An atmosphere of haunting beauty envelopes the Davis plot.

Thomas M. Davis was the son of John Davis and Harriet Cook, both of Livingston County, Kentucky. Tom M. Davis had two  brothers, John N. and William R. Davis, who were both deceased. [1] John Davis died before 6 December 1830, when his widow, Harriet, was granted letters of administration upon her husband's estate.[2] Harriet remarried in 1833 to Stephen Lyon.[3]

Thomas M. Davis and Miss Emily Roach married 4 July 1843 in Caldwell County, Kentucky. Giving consent for the bride was her father, William Roach.[4]

The 1850 and 1860 Livingston County census records both list merchant as the occupation of Tom M. Davis.  He was also a Constable and Deputy Sheriff in Smithland.[5]

Thomas M. Davis died 4 January 1869, leaving a 42-year-old widow, Emily, and several several children.  Emily outlived her husband by 35 years.  Her obituary gave the following information: [6]

"Mrs. Emily Davis died this morning ... at  the residence of her daughter, Mrs. W.H. Sanders, in Arcadia..

Mrs. Davis was born in Lyon county, but lived most of her life in Smithland. She was the wife of Mr. Thomas Davis, of Smithland, who died about 35 years ago, and two children survive her, Mrs. W.H. Sanders and Mr. Charles B. Davis, of Smithland, besides several half brothers and sisters who reside in Paris, Texas.

"The remains were brought to the city this morning and are at the residence of Mrs. Wm. Hughes, on West Jefferson street. The funeral will be tomorrow at Smithland. A boat will be chartered to take the remains and the family and friends to Smithland Sunday morning and the funeral services will be held at the Smithland Methodist church of which Mrs. Davis was an old and zealous member."

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[1] Livingston County, Kentucky Deed Book 1, p 539-540, 8 March 1852. Mrs. Harriet Lyon of Smithland conveys to Thomas M. Davis all her interest in the real estate of John David Dec'd which she inherited upon the deaths of her sons, John N. and Wm. R. Davis, brothers of Thos M. Davis and children of John Davis. John N. David died in 1848 and William R. Davis died in 1851. Both are buried in Smithland Cemetery.

[2] Brenda Joyce Jerome. Livingston County, Kentucky Estate Records 1799-1842, (Evansville, IN: Evansville Bindery), 2004, p. 82-83.

[3] Joyce M. Woodyard. Livingston County, Kentucky Marriage Records, Vol. I (October 1799-July 18 39), (Smithland, KY: n.p.), 1992, p. 126. Marriage bond was issued 7 Oct 1833; no return recorded.

[4] Brenda Joyce Jerome. Caldwell County, Kentucky Marriages 1833-1853, (Evansville, IN: Evansville Bindery), 1997, p. 74.

[5] Livingston County Court Order Book J, p. 191 (1 March 1847) and J, p. 132, (5 Oct 1846).

[6] Long Life Ends," Paducah Evening Sun, 10 September 1904. 

Published 17 November 2016, Western Kentucky Genealogy Blog, http://wkygenealogy.blogspot.com/