Our Historical Past and Present

George Davis Jr. and wife Jane Bridges Davis

He was born: 27 Mar 1849 died Dec 28 1929, George Jr., was 80 years old at his death. He married 3 Jan 1869 to Jane Bridges born: 15 Feb. 1847 died: 23 Aug. 1926. His parents: George Davis, Sr. and Lucinda Womack Davis. Jane Bridges parents: Alexander Bridges and Hetty Daves (or Davis) Bridges. George Jr., and Jane Bridges Davis are buried at Walls Baptist Church cemetery in Rutherford County, North Carolina. Individual character is shaped, not only by genetic traits and family training, but also by the world of events into which a person is thrust by the times and the age. Thus it was with George Davis, Jr. He was the tenth child of George Davis, Sr., and Lucinda Womack Davis. George Jr., grew up during the War Between the States and its aftermath, the Reconstruction years. As a lad in his early teens, he knew the agony of losing four older brothers, who died of injuries received while they were serving in the Confederate States army. He saw an old way of life disappear, and society change all around him, but had developed a sense of values that would help him to maintain his integrity and sense of responsibility. During the war, his father had accumulated "a flour sack full of Confederate money," which became worthless after the defeat of Confederacy, but the family had based its existence on the practice of using skills that were valuable to the greater community. There was still the need for a... continued

...wagon-maker; his father had owned one of the best equipped blacksmith shops in the county. Also needed were a miller, and a tanner, and a wheelwright, all skills practiced by someone in the family. And there was the land and farming. At the death of his father and mother, George received a large tract of land, all his father's tools, and a grist mill.

   George was never a leader; he never sought public office, but was always known as a solid citizen of his community. Perhaps he never regained the affluence of his father before him, but he prospered and lived comfortably. Besides raising a family of ten children, he also provided for nine grandchildren when tragedy struck their own families.

                Nor was George a leader in the church. He  is  not known to have served in any church office, but was faithful, loyal, and dedicated to church attendance and in contributions to the church and the needy. It is said that during his last years, he read his Bible faithfully, reading it through a total of nineteen times.

                At her  death at age 79, Jane Bridges Davis  still  had  pretty black hair. Many of her daughters and granddaughters have had the same trait--their hair never turns gray. "Granny Jane" spoke with an old-country brogue, dropping H's at the beginning of words. When disgusted, it was her habit to say, "Ah, Sh--!"

                According  to  records at  the church, the cemetery  at Walls Baptist Church was opened on land given to the church by George Davis. The first grave, according to the memory of George Shytle (Ray Shytle's grandfather), was that of Octavia Wall, who died September 30, 1877, 33 years after the organization of the church. Since this was after the death of George Sr., it is assumed that the land was given by his son, George Davis, Jr.

Excerpts above from book: Davis Diggings by Ray D. Shytle

Page 1
Page 2
Page 3
Page 4
Page 5
Page 6